Question1: Fire the spring gun several times and record the time taken between the photogates for each run. These times should be very close. If necessary, take several measurements and average the results. Then calculate the ball velocity as v = d/t, where d = 0.1 m.
Question 2: Ballistic pendulum experiment:
1. Measure the mass of the projectile ball.
Measure the mass of the pendulum arm.
2. With the pendulum in position to capture the ball, fire the ball into the pendulum five or six times from the "medium" position and record the angle, 0, to which the pendulum is raised.
3. Find the center of mass of the pendulum-projectile combination and use it as your length L.
Question 3: Calculations and analysis
1. Calculate the initial velocity of the projectile ball. Note that θaverage is the average height from the small m is the mass of the projectile ball, and the capital M is the mass of the pendulum arm.
2. What is the unbiased percent difference between the two results for the initial velocity?
Question 4:
1. This question is from the Colorado State driver's license exam: A car at 30 miles per hour skids 40 feet with locked brakes. How far will the car skid with locked brakes at 90 miles per hour? (Hint: think about Kinetic Energy)
2. Suppose that you and two friends are discussing the design of a roller coaster. One friend says that each summit must be lower than the previous one. Your other friend says this is nonsense, for as long as the first one is the highest it doesn't matter what height the others are. Explain which one is correct and why. (Assume no energy losses due to friction or air resistance).
3. When a jet plane lands on the deck of a carrier, is this an elastic or an inelastic "collision?" In this "collision" the before is just before landing and the after is after the plane has come to a stop.
4. In the measurement of v by the free-flight method, what would be the effect on the measurements if
a) the front of the launcher were lower than the rear?
b) the distance between the photogates was long enough to let the ball drop 1 cm between the photogates?