Bridget+and+Brian

TITLE: Punkin’ Chunkin’! LAB GOAL: To simulate the “Punkin’ Chunckin’” events to model how the mass of a pumpkin and the angle of the launch affects the distance the “pumpkin” would launch. To show a typical Punkin Chunkin event, click the following link: [|Punkin Chunkin] Part 1- To see how mass affects initial velocity and launch distance. Part 2- To see how launch angle affects launch distance. Procedure: Part 1- 1) Collect materials for lab including video camera, projectile launcher, 3 different size marbles, meter stick, scale and a protractor. Open Graphical Analysis. 2) Set up launcher on table, setting it to one click. Lay 2 meter sticks on the floor in front of the launcher. 3) Measure the mass of each of the three marbles. Place the one with the least amount of weight into the launcher. 4) Launch the marble and record the distance it travels. Repeat this process for the other two marbles and create a data table. Use Graphical Analysis, find the trend between distance and mass. 5) Using these distances, find the initial velocities for each marble. Record data in data table and find the trend between mass and initial velocity using Graphical Analysis. *Use timer in order to determine a drop time.  Part Two-  1) Use same materials as listed above. 2) Set up launcher on table, setting it to one click. Use the marble with the largest mass. 3) Set launcher to an angle of 30 degrees. Video tape the launch. Repeat this at the angles of 45, 60, and 75 degrees. 4) Using the video camera footage, determine the distance the marble travels at different degrees. 5) Compare the results in a data table and graph.

Data: Part One 1) Distance Measurements
 * Type of Marble || Mass of Marble (kg) ||
 * Small Silver Marble || .08 ||
 * Medium Silver Marble || .11 ||
 * Big Silver Marble || .16 ||


 * Type of Marble || Trial 1 Distance (m) || T2 Distance (m) || T3 Distance (m) || Average Distance (m) ||
 * Small Silver Marble || 1.55 || 1.52 || 1.51 || 1.53 ||
 * Medium Silver Marble || 1.39 || 1.4 || 1.43 || 1.41 ||
 * Big Silver Marble || 1.32 || 1.31 || 1.3 || 1.31 ||

Mass v. Distance :
 * Mass (grams) || Distance (m) ||
 * .08 || 1.53 ||
 * .11 || 1.41 ||
 * .16 || 1.31 ||



2) __** Initial Velocity calculations **__ * Using the timer, determined time to be .31s

∆d= Vi × t + ½ × a × t ^2 SSM- 1.53m = Vi × .31s+ ½ × -9.8m/s × .31^2, Vi= 6.45 m/s MSM-1.41m = Vi × .31s+ ½ × -9.8m/s × .31^2, Vi= 6.07m/s LSM- 1.31 m = Vi × .31s+ ½ × -9.8m/s × .31^2, Vi= 5.74 m/s
 * Mass(grams) || Initial Velocity (m/s) ||
 * .08 || 6.450 ||
 * .11 || 6.070 ||
 * .16 || 5.740 ||

**Mass v. Initial Velocity:**



**Part Two** **Launch 30 degrees- 2.045 m** Video of Launch: Launch Data: **45 degrees- 2.03 m** Video of Launch: Launch Data: **60 degrees -1.428m** Video of Launch: Launch Data:  **75 degrees- .834 m** Video of Launch: Launch Data: **Angle vs. Distance Graph**

Conclusion:

Through our experiments, we discovered the best way to win a Punkin' Chunkin' event. We discovered through our use of different sized marbles and measuring launch distance that the lower the massof the pumpkin, the farther the launch. Also, the less the pumpkin weighs, the greater the initial velocity. The two of these things are inversly related, as can be seen through our graphs. Most launchers are launched at angles during the event. By doing these experiments, we wanted to discover the best launch angle to launch the marble the farthest. By keeping the mass a constant by using the largest marble, we were able to compare a launch distance of 75 degrees, 60 degrees, 45 degrees and 30 degrees. Launch angle and distance are inversly related, as shown by our graphs. However, the launch distance of 180 degrees is about 1.31 meters, while the launch distance of 30 degrees was 2.45 meters and for 45 degrees 2.4 meters. This shows that a smaller angle does have a benefit in the launch. While there may be human error, we see that these trends could be applied in real life. By magnifying the scale of the launcher, these principles still apply. Any good Punkin' Chunker can learn from our experiments.