Ballistic Pendulum Experiment
Lab Partner: Bruce Herman
Date: 2-22-2015
Lab Partner: Bruce Herman
Date: 2-22-2015
Purpose:
To examine/calculate individual quantities to derive an equation for muzzle velocity
Theory:
Using a ballistic pendulum that is assumed to have little energy lost, we can use equations to find velocity as the bullet embeds itself into the pendulum hammer. Additionally, the change of KE into PE between the moments of the pendulum at its lowest and highest points can be used (see work below).
Experimental Technique:
Put together the ballistic pendulum lab.
Picked own launcher setting (3rd setting) at exactly 0 degrees.
Calibrated the setup to match center of gravities to closest possible.
Manually find the pendulum hammer's center of mass and radius (in Data section).
Used equations to find muzzle velocity.
Compare to velocity found by firing multiple shots using photogates and DataStudio.
Compare measured result to experimental result.
Picked own launcher setting (3rd setting) at exactly 0 degrees.
Calibrated the setup to match center of gravities to closest possible.
Manually find the pendulum hammer's center of mass and radius (in Data section).
Used equations to find muzzle velocity.
Compare to velocity found by firing multiple shots using photogates and DataStudio.
Compare measured result to experimental result.
Data:
Analysis:
Conclusion:
The purpose of this lab was to find the muzzle velocity of the ball by making drawings, deriving equations, and comparing/using data collected from DataStudio in the finished equation. With a %-diff of 2.08%, the answer wasn't far off. Reasons for this error are most likely due to slight inaccuracies while using DataStudio, energy loss due to friction, and any small inaccuracies caused by the alignment between the ball's center-of-mass and the pendulum's. Overall, the experiment was a success.
References:
Help retrieved from: lahsphysics.weebly.com
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/class/phscilab/balpen.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/class/phscilab/balpen.html