Projectile Exploration

Purpose

Determine what hits the ground first, an object that drops straight to earth or one that is projected horizontally.

Problem

What will hit the floor first when released from the same height, a penny along a curved path or a penny along a straight path?

Materials

• ruler
• table
• 2 pennies

Procedure

1. Place a ruler near the edge of a table with a penny on it. Extend the ruler out so it is over the table’s edge. Place a second penny on the table next to the ruler.
2. Quickly slide the ruler so that it hits the penny on the table causing it to leave the table as a projectile. This should simultaneously cause the penny on the ruler to drop to the ground.
3. Repeat the experiment 3 times, observing whether the pennies hit the floor at the same time or at different times by listening to the sound when they hit.

Discussion

1. Describe what happened in each trial. Compare your results with other groups.
2. Discuss and explain the overall results. Were the results what was expected in the original problem? What was the cause of the observed results?
3. Explain, in terms of relevant physics concepts, why the penny that is on the ruler falls straight to the ground.