Testing the model

You now have a working spread sheet that will enable you to predict the landing position of an object knowing its initial horizontal velocity.

Your task now is to use this to place a plastic cup in the correct position so that a horizontally launched marble falls into the cup on your first try!

You will have determine the initial velocity using energy considerations and a ramp.

1. The ball usually falls short, can you explain why?

2. Use your actual distance to predict the speed that the ball left the ramp.

3. Can you determine how much work was done due to friction on the ramp?

4. How does air resistance factor in your calculations?

5. Draw a diagram of the ball with the forces acting as it travels through the air.

6. What would happen if you changed the mass of the ball?