Angles and parabolas
How does the angle affect the time it takes to reach the maximum point on the parabola?
Hypothesis
The two predictions are as follows:
1) The 15 degree angle will take the least time to reach the maximum of the parabola.
2) The 90 degree angle will take the most time to reach the maximum of the parabola.
1) The 15 degree angle will take the least time to reach the maximum of the parabola.
2) The 90 degree angle will take the most time to reach the maximum of the parabola.
Procedure
Step One: Go to http://www.physicsclassroom.com/PhysicsClassroom/media/interactive/ProjectileSimulator/index.html
Step Two: Set the starting height to 0 m. Set the speed to 60 m/s. Set the angle to 15 degrees (the experiment doesn't work with 0 degrees).
Step Three: Launch the ball. Use step-by-step mode to find when the ball hits its maximum.
Step Four: Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the following angles: 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, and 90 degrees.
Step Two: Set the starting height to 0 m. Set the speed to 60 m/s. Set the angle to 15 degrees (the experiment doesn't work with 0 degrees).
Step Three: Launch the ball. Use step-by-step mode to find when the ball hits its maximum.
Step Four: Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the following angles: 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, and 90 degrees.
Data table
results
The data gathered shows a relationship between the angle and the required time to reach the "maximum" point on the parabola. As the angle increases, so does the time required to reach that distance.
conclusion
The hypotheses made for this experiment were both proven true. The 15 degree angle had the lowest time, 1.55 seconds, and the 90 degree angle had the highest time, 6.09 seconds. Since the angle increasing means that the ball must travel higher up vertically, the time needed to travel higher up vertically increases. This teaches us that angle affects the time the ball travels if all other factors like starting height and speed remain the same.