Sir Khurram abbas

Last date: 18 nov,2020

LAB REPORT: 04
Ballistic pendulum
 GROUP MEMBERS

SHAYAN ALI 200101001

TAIMOOR AHMED 200101029

JAVERIA NASEEM 200101045

M.FAIZAN SAJID 200101047

ANOOSHA NOOR 200101091

HUZAIFA BIN ZAHID 200101014

Ballistic Pendulum:
“It is a device used to measure the initial/launch velocity of
high-speed projectile’’.
o Initial momentum: The momentum of one or more than
bodies before fire or we can say before collision.
Representation: Initial momentum = 𝑚𝑣𝑜  In the ballistic
pendulum experiment the initial momentum will be 𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑣𝑜 
In case of rockets the initial mass ′𝑚′ can be′𝑚𝑜 ′.
o Final momentum: The momentum of body a body or more
the one bodies after firing or collision.
Representation: Final momentum = MV  In case of experiment
of ballistic pendulum the mass of ball and ball catcher pendulum
will be added as (𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 + 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑. ) V
 Equations: Momentum of ball before the collision will be
equal to the momentum of ball-catcher system immediately after
the collision so,
𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑣𝑜= MV______ (1)
During collision the small amount of Kinetic energy converted
into thermal energy because of the air friction and the friction
between the surfaces of ball and ball catcher system. After
collision the ball-catcher system definitely move upward and we
assume that the energy is conserved that all the kinetic energy
converted into gravitational potential energy therefore,

L is the distance between the center of the mass to the axis the
rod rotates around, θ is the angle the rod makes before stopping.
 h =L(1-cosθ)
1/ 2 𝑚𝑣^2 = mgh=mgL (1-cosθ) ______ (2)
o Equation for initial velocity:
By rearranging equation (2) we get
V;
V =√2𝑔ℎ
So, by putting V into equation (1) we drive;
𝑉𝑜= 𝑀 𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 √2𝑔ℎ
As we M = 𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 + 𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑.
so;
𝑉𝑜= 𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙+𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑. 𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 √2𝑔ℎ
Hence this equation can be used for finding the initial velocity.
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PROCEDURE
Apparatus
• Rod having catcher at its one end.
• Rotary sensor to calculate of maximum angular
displacement of ballistic pendulum.
• A ballistic Launcher to launch ball into catcher of
pendulum
• A clamp for photogate bracket and a steel rod to connect
the apparatus
Procedure
• Set the apparatus on a flat surface
• To load the launcher, swing the pendulum out of the way,
place the ball in the end of the barrel and, using the pushrod
included with the launcher, push the ball down the barrel
until the trigger catches desired position from 1-3
• Ballistic launcher has protector (Angle definer) at one end to
specify angle at which ball is to be shot
• There is plunger in in ballistic launcher, this plunger has
spring at one end which is compressed and due to its
 restoring force, it launches ball, there are three points in
plunger at which ball is compressed differently
• Click RECORD.
• press trigger, ball is launched and fits in catcher of pendulum
which in turn moves towards right side and certain angular
displacement is achieved by Pendulum is measured by
rotary sensor
• Return pendulum to its normal hanging position. Wait until
it stops moving.
• Launch the ball so that it is caught in pendulum.
• After the pendulum has swung out and back, click STOP.
• Repeat for a total 3 times.
• Movement of Pendulum is converted into electrical signal by
optical encoder.
• From angular dis placement and center of Mass (L) height is
calculated as
h = L (1-cos𝜽)

• From this Height after applying Law of Conservation of

(𝒎𝒃 + 𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 )
𝑽𝒐 = √𝟐𝒈𝒉
𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅
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 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
In this experiment our objective is to find the initial velocity
of the ball.
The experiment is started by releasing/shooting the ball from
ballistic launcher with some initial velocity.
When the ball is released, it possesses some kinetic energy.
The ball is then caught by the catcher where it transfers it
kinetic energy to the pendulum containing the catcher. Due
to this kinetic energy, pendulum achieves some height (h) so
its potential energy becomes:
Mgh = MgL(1-cos𝜃)
According to law of conservation of energy:
1/2(mv^2) = MgL(1-cos𝜃)
Where M is combined mass of pendulum and ball, 𝜃 is the
angular distance and L is the distance between the center of
the mass to the axis the rod rotates around.
This formula can be used to find the initial velocity of the
ball.
At launcher position 1,2 ,3 the runs are shown in graphs
below respectively.
In these graphs we will plot the angular velocity of the
pendulum, taking time (independent variable) along x-axis
and angle along y-axis. Now to get the initial velocity we will
use the ‘maximum tool’ which will give us the value of max
angle. In the next step we will plot this maximum value in
the column 1 of the table, from different runs of position 1-
3. The entered formulas in the calculator will help of initial
velocity along with the height.

Similarly,
 This is the average velocity calculated on different launcher
position.
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QUESTION AND ANSWERS
❖ If we increase the mass attached to the bottom of the catcher,
how will this affect the initial velocity of the ball? What will be
 the effect on the initial velocity of the ball if we decrease the mass
attached to the bottom of the catcher? Explain.
Ans: As initial velocity of the ball is given by the formula:
vo = [(mball + mpend) (√2gh)]/mball
From the equation it can be seen that initial velocity vo of the
ball is directly proportional to mass of pendulum mpend so if mass of
pendulum increases, initial velocity also increases and vice versa.
❖ What will be the effect on the initial velocity of the ball if we
increase the distance between the catcher and the barrel of the
Mini Launcher? (Hint: The air resistance will increase).
Ans: If we increase the distance between the mini launcher and
catcher, it decreases the initial velocity of the ball before it reaches
the catcher because of the opposition due frictional forces like air
resistance. If distance between launcher and catcher is large, it is
also possible that ball may not reach the catcher and fall down due
to gravity.
❖ What will be the kinetic energy of the catcher-ball system at the
moment pendulum reaches its maximum amplitude?
Ans: As the catcher of the pendulum reaches the maximum point
of its amplitude, it stops for a moment and its velocity becomes
zero at that point. So, its ‘Kinetic Energy’ becomes zero at highest
point.
❖ During launch, the ball was pushed down the barrel until the
trigger caught the third position. What will be the effect on the
initial velocity of the ball if we pushed the ball down to first or
second position?
Ans: If we push down the ball to 2nd position the trigger of the
launcher will be less compressed so less force will be exerted by
trigger and initial velocity of the ball will be less than that of the 3rd
position. Similarly, on moving the trigger to position 1 initial
velocity will decrease further.
❖ Calculate the standard deviation of the initial velocity of the ball?

❖ Ans: Initial velocities found from the above calculations are

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