PURPOSE
Will the spring with constant "k" hit the target set at specified height and launched from a specified angle and distance from the ramp?
procedure
Construction of the ramp :
1) Two pieces of the wood were attached together by the hinge.
2) Protractor was used to mark all different angle on the ramp.
3) Measuring tape in cm were attached to the ramp in order to measure the value of 'x' i.e, the distance through which spring is stretched.
Determining the value of the spring constant 'k' :
1) Set up the rod clamp and fix the meter stick to measure different heights of the spring.
2) Different masses ( 1kg , 2kg) were hung on the spring.
3) Difference of the spring's height were recorded in the table with their respective masses.
4) Graph was plotted to determine the equation and slope of the graph i.e, the value of 'k' was recorded.
1) Two pieces of the wood were attached together by the hinge.
2) Protractor was used to mark all different angle on the ramp.
3) Measuring tape in cm were attached to the ramp in order to measure the value of 'x' i.e, the distance through which spring is stretched.
Determining the value of the spring constant 'k' :
1) Set up the rod clamp and fix the meter stick to measure different heights of the spring.
2) Different masses ( 1kg , 2kg) were hung on the spring.
3) Difference of the spring's height were recorded in the table with their respective masses.
4) Graph was plotted to determine the equation and slope of the graph i.e, the value of 'k' was recorded.
Spring launch day
Caption : Design of the ramp, calculating the spring constant 'k' and launching the spring to hit the target.
Calculations
VARIABLES
- Spring constant = k = 196 N/m
- Height at which target was placed = 5 books
- Height at which ramp was placed = 0.905 m
- Mass of the spring = m = 0.0166 kg
- Range = R = 3.25 m
- Angle of the ramp = 25 degree
Analysis & Discussion
According to the calculations, the spring was stretched at a distance of 6.3 cm and launched at a ramp angle of 25 (degree) from the distance of 3.25 m. There were three trails. At the first trail, the spring was stretched at a distance of 6.3 cm and launched. The spring didn't hit the target nor the surrounding box, instead the target went further away from the target. At the second trail, the spring was stretched from the same distance of 6.3 cm with different applied force and launched. This time also the spring didn't land in the target but instead it was very close to the surrounding box. At the third trail, the spring was stretched again with different applied force and launched, the spring landed in the box surrounding the target.
Sources of error
The source of error was the force with which the spring was stretched. For all the three trails, the force never remained constant. Different individuals of the group were applying different forces. The force wasn't determined in our derived equation. In order to successfully launch the spring that would hit the target, applied force should remain constant and it should be determined from the equation before experiments were to be conducted.
Result
The third trail was successful in launching the spring stretched at a distance of 3.25m with launch angle of 25 degree and placed at an distance of 3.25m.