Introduction

I used to enjoy playing with a slingshot with my friends in my childhood and had great memories with my

friends. Finding my IA topic made me remember that I could do something related to a slingshot which I

would build myself as a hobby but thinking of a more complex thing than a slingshot made more sense than

what I thought was a catapult.Once deciding upon projectile motion, the variables which I choose to research

upon were the dependence of horizontal range travelled by the projectile on the angle of the projection with

the horizontal. I also understood that with the equipment I had with me, angles could easily be measured and

changed to a certain extent which made me fix my independent and dependent variables. While thinking

about its execution, the initial velocity was considered to be constant. Therefore, My IA research was ready

for me to write about and the research question for the same is.

Figure 1: Example of a slingshot which was used in my childhood

Research Question: How does changing the angle at which a projectile launched affect its horizontal range

of flight whilst keeping the initial velocity constant?

Background Information

Projectile motion is a method which is required for calculating the travelling path of a projectile as it is

travelling in the air. such as a tennis ball or even a book . Projectile motion only occurs when there is one

force applied at the beginning on the trajectory, after which the only interference is from gravity. There are

different components during a projectile motion which are required to be understood for a projectile motion.

These components are the ones which make up a projectile motion and help us understand how the ball travels

through air .

When projectile motion is being analysed, investigation is done upon how different factors affect the

horizontal range of the projectile. It is defined as the horizontal distance travelled by the projectile before

landing. When a projectile is launched with a constant initial velocity, the range will depend on the angle of

launch, the initial velocity and the acceleration due to gravity.

Projectile motion contains horizontal and vertical components. When evaluating the range of a projectile the

components must be analysed separately. Firstly horizontal motion, It remains constant because of no

acceleration in the horizontal direction when we consider that air resistance is negligible. The horizontal

distance travelled by the projectile is given by the range. Then vertical motion, It changes due to the

acceleration of gravity. The time which the projectile travels is found by the vertical motion of the project ile.
With the help of the catapult I have made and a software called tracker, Projectile motion can easily be tracked

and data can be found out regarding the initial velocity, distance travelled etc which is what the research

questions suggests above.

Figure 2 : A projectile1 motion diagram with it’s components clearly visible from origin to point A to B.

Derivation of the equation

Components of velocity

When u is considered the initial velocity of the projectile and θ is the angle of launch of the projectile.

Horizontal component of velocity will be ux = u cos θ

Vertical component of velocity will be uy = u sin θ

Time of flight

1
Projectile Motion Diagram
The time of the flight is the amount of time taken for the projectile to go back to the same y level from where

it was launched. Therefore, we will use the vertical motion equations to derive the equations for the same.

1
The vertical displacement(y) of the projectile is: 𝑌 = 𝑢 sin θ × 𝑇 − 𝑎𝑡 2
2

But as the projectile returns to the initial y level, y = 0

1
Therefore 0 = 𝑢 sin θ × 𝑇 − 𝑔𝑡 2
2

If we solve for T,

2𝑢 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
𝑇=
𝑔

Range of the Projectile

The range as given above is the horizontal distance travelled during the time when the projectile is in flight.

This can be calculated using the formula

𝑅 = 𝑢𝑥 𝑡

2𝑢 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
As 𝑢𝑥 = 𝑢 cos θ and 𝑇 = 𝑔

2𝑢 𝑠𝑖𝑛θ
R = (𝑢 cos θ) × ( )
𝑔

𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2θ
𝑅= 𝑔

Complementary Anlges
Angles whose measures add up to 90° are said to be complementary. Thus, if a body is projected with the

same initial velocity at two complementary angles, for example 30° and 60°, under the action of some

negligible air resistance, they will have the same range.

This is because the vertical and horizontal components of the velocities at complementary angles are in

equilibrium. For a small angle, say 30°, the horizontal component of the velocity is relatively larger while the

vertical component has been reduced, thus giving a lower but speedier trajectory. While for a steeper angle,

say 60°, it increases the vertical component of the velocity and prolongs the time of flight of the projectile;

however, it reduces the horizontal velocity.

Since the product of time of flight and horizontal velocity is the same for complementary angles, each of

those angles gives the same horizontal range. That's key in understanding how the projection angle directly

impacts projectile trajectory and therefore its horizontal range.

Therefore,

𝑢 sin 2(𝜏−2𝜃)
We can write 𝑅′ = 𝑔

As (sin 𝜏 − 2𝜃) = sin 2𝜃

𝑢 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2θ
𝑅′ = 𝑔

This shows a relationship between the horizontal range, launch angle and initial velocity.
Experimental Variables

Independent variable: Angle of projection

The angle of projection is the angle made by the initial velocity with the horizontal.

Angle at which a projectile is launched is the independent variable because the angle here changing would

cause an effect on how the projectile travels in the air. Increasing the angle can affect the peak height the

projectile travels.

The angle which I will be using for the experiment will be 0, 10,20,30,40 and also for the complementary

50,60,70,80,90 to prove that complementary angles have the same angle.

Dependent variable: Range of flight motion

The horizontal range of flight motion is the horizontal distance which has been travelled by the projectile

from the original y level and when it reaches the original y axis again.

The horizontal range of flight motion is the dependent variable because the horizontal range of flight will

always have different aspects of the projectile motion just as how the angle shall affect how it moves.

Controlled variables:
Sr no Variable Why keep it constant How to keep it constant

1 Mass of the ball The mass of the ball must be kept constant Balls of the same mass

because the range might differ from the mass must be used throughout

of the ball and the launch angle could differ the experiment.

through the same.

2 Type of the ball Different types of balls can have different Again using the same type

aerodynamic properties which can affect air of ball or with the same

resistance and the range of projectile travelled material for all the trials.

3 Projectile’s initial The range of a projectile is heavily influenced The projectile must be

velocity by the initial velocity. To find the relationship, released with zero force or

the initial velocity must be kept constant. no time must be used for

Now since the initial velocity had to be the releasing the projectile

same, and changes in horizontal range would

have then been only because of changes in

launch angle, one can, therefore have an

effective investigation of the dependence of

range on angle.

4 Temperature of the Temperature affects the density of the air Performed in a physics lab

ball which can affect air resistance which can in with closed room and

turn affect the range of flight. Temperature windows were shut and air

must be controlled so that accurate readings conditioners were switched

could be taken off

5 Air resistance Air resistance can affect how the ball travels by Performed in a physics lab

the horizontal range of flight. It being constant with closed room and

can help for accurate readings to be taken. windows were shut and air

conditioners were switched

off
Hypothesis

The investigation here has an aim to determine the relationship between the launch angle and the horizontal

range of the projectile while keeping the velocity constant. With the help of some internet research 2, I found

out that as the launch angle increases from 0 to 45 degrees, the horizontal range with increase but as the launch

angle increases from 45 onwards, the horizontal range starts to decreases which helps us reach our first

hypothesis that 45 will have the maximum range. The angles which are complementary3 must also have equal

range of motion. The relationship here will be parabolic throughout due to the increase and decrease. Whilst

all this, the initial velocity must be constant. Although, that might not be perfectly possible due to some

imbalances with the use of the equipment present while doing the experiment but the initial velocities must

be close to same for all angles.

Methodology:

1. First, we will make sure that the catapult is properly set to a proper launch angle for example 10

degrees here which must be measuerd properly before launching the projectile.

2. After the angle is set, we will set up a camera which will help us see the whole experiment properly

and we must make sure that the entire journey of the ball must be visible.

3. Set up the apparatus as shown in the figure making sure that the angle wanting to experiment on is the

same angle between the surface and the catapult. Make sure that the catapult is stable so that all

uncertainties are eliminated.

4. Pull the rubber band to a certain constant every time it is pulled so that there is a constant force applied

to the band and the initial velocity stays constant again removing the chances of an uncertainty.

5. Now we start filming the investigation by releasing the launcher.

6. Before stopping the video, allow the ball to land to the surface and stop the video when the first bounce

is visible and note the reading of the distance.

2
3.3: Projectile Motion - Physics LibreTexts
3
Projectiles - Summary – The Physics Hypertextbook
 7. Repeat the steps mentioned above with the same launch angle in the methodology to ensure that there

is no systematic error during the experiment.

8. Repeat the steps mentioned above now with different launch angles such as 15,20,30,45 and also

80,75,70,60 using the same material of the mall and the same catapult for accurate readings.

9. To find the initial velocity, we will put our recorded video on the camera on the tracker software where

first we mark the initial positions of the ball.

10. This will help us create a graph for horizontal distance versus time and with the slope of the graph,

we can find the initial velocity of the ball.

11. Repeat step 9 and 10 for all trials to find the initial velocity of the ball.

Risk assessment:

The safety precautions required in this experiment are quiet negligible. Nonetheless, there is a chance that a

person might get hit by the projectile. Therefore, to prevent this issue, The experiment was done in a large

area where no one was present and also the projectile being ping-pong balls which makes the projectile close

to harmless. There are no environmental or ethical issues present within the experiment.

Raw data

The table above shows the raw data which was received after the data collection done according to the

methodology. Anomalies here will be ignored during the calculation for the processed data
Processed data

Processed data is shown here with the average, maximum, minimum and uncertainty of the range of the

projectiles and their initial velocities.

Sample calculation
Graphs

Range of the projectile versus Launch angle of the ball

350 305.2
Range of the projectile/ cm

300 265.7 275.0 276.2 264.5

242.5 253.7 253.7 244.2
250

200

150

100

50

0
10 15 20 30 45 60 70 75 80
Launch angle of the ball / degrees

Average Initial Velocity of the ball versus Launch angle

of the ball
Initial Velocity of the Ball / m/s

1.84 1.84 1.83 1.89 1.83 1.87 1.84

2.00 1.79 1.78

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
10 15 20 30 45 60 70 75 80
Launch Angle of the ball/ degrees

Data analysis

From graph 1, there is an observed positive tendency in the range of the projectile as the angle of projection

increased to a maximum of 45 degrees. For the said range, the distance traveled by the projectile increases

from 242.5 to a maximum of 305.2. On the other hand, an observable decline is realized with the range of the

projectile falling from a maximum of 305.2 down to 244.2 when the angle is above 45 degrees. This decline

is indicated using a negative trend line showing that there is an existing relationship between the angle of

projection and the resultant range of the projectile. For the initial velocity, readings were in between 1.79 to

1.89. Such a range no doubt proves that the initial velocity is practically constant, hence it proves that the

initial velocity is constant. Data gathered supported the hypothesis which was incepted initially without much

change and very few uncertainties within the results.

Evaluation:

The biggest problem of keeping initial velocity constant is that essential equipment for making this easier is

not readily available. To me, this presents an exciting opportunity, and more than glad to take on the challenge

head-on. Also, to prove the complementary angles, more readings needed to be taken which made this IA

more time-consuming and difficult. Even with the limitations mentioned of keeping the initial velocity

constant, the initial velocity was very close to constant with the help of proper use of the equipment which

helped us provide the close to constant initial velocity values. Having a controlled, constant initial velocity

was important in ensuring that a number of key variables, including those related to the overall conditions of

the experiment, could be continuously controlled throughout the process of the experiment as a whole. Control

maximized in this way can help maximize the accuracy and precision of the measurements and readings that

we were ultimately taking. While several limitations posed a wide range of challenges during my experiment,

I was able to overcome them by hard work and sheer determination.

Conclusion

This experiment aims to establish how variations in the angle of a projectile launch, keeping the velocity of

launch constant, would affect the range traveled horizontally. The experimental data shows that the range is

very much determined by the launch angle; it clearly indicates a relation of a parabolic characteristic. When

up to about 45°, it increased in a manner predicted by the hypothesis-the range itself became greater and then

decreased. This does confirm the theoretical expectation that, if ideal conditions prevailed, a projectile

launched without air resistance would reach its maximum horizontal range for a launch angle of 45°.

For small angles, or close to 0°, the range of the projectile was reduced because a great proportion of the

initial velocity was in the horizontal direction, so a smaller time of flight ensued but the range increased as

the angles increased from 242.5 to 305.2. Large angles, or close to 90°, also experienced a reduction in range

such as from 305.2 to 244.2 because a large part of the velocity was in the vertical direction and consequently

increased the time in air while a small horizontal distance was traveled simultaneously.

It must be said that these experimental results agree well with the theoretically expected ones, which are

derived using the theory of projectile motion-the horizontal range depends on the interaction between vertical

and horizontal components of velocity. The data measured showed a very slight deviation from the theoretical

values, and this is most probably because of extraneous factors like air resistance, friction, and possibly small

measurement errors. However, such differences were relatively small, hence suggested that this experiment

had satisfactorily demonstrated the relation between launch angle and horizontal range

From the experiment, it was found that the projection angle greatly influences the range of a projectile and

45° is just the right angle to reach the farthest distance. This aspect of projectile motion spreads its uses to

sports engineering, ballistics, and flying more in reiteration to further solidify the view that this simple concept

has very essential elements in physics. Other research, on the other hand, could be based on changing the

initial velocity or mass of the projectile to enhance analysis.