Name: K.F.

Date: 10/23/14
Per:
I.

The Effects of an Angle on the Distance when a Marble is Launched

Purpose and/or Hypothesis

The purpose of this investigation is to find how the angle on a marble launcher
will affect the distance a marble will go. At angle 0 degrees , the ball will go straight but
not far enough. If you put it at angle 90 degrees, the ball will only go straight up then
back down. Therefore I predict that the ball will go further at 45 degrees, because it will
go high up and far away.
II.

III.

Materials

IV.

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)

Marble
Marble launcher
measuring tape
a flat surface
safety glasses

Procedure
First, you have to take your marble launcher outside in a flat surface.
Second, you have to put on your safety glasses.
Third, you have to set the angle of the barrel at the desired spot.
Fourth, stretch the measuring tape far from the launcher and put the beginning of
the measuring tape so that it is touching the launcher.
Fifth, pull the pin on the marble launcher on the desired spot and insert the marble
inside the barrel.
Sixth, once you are ready to fire, shift the pin on the barrel to the side so that it
launches the marble.
Seventh, record the distance the marble went and repeat it one more time at the
same angle.
Eight, count by five as you switch the angle on the marble launcher and repeat the

process two times for each angle.

Figure 1. This is how the process, which is the series of steps needed to do the
project, should look like when you are launching the marble.

Figure 2. This is a template of the marble launching process

Data/Observations
Table 1. Average Distances for Marbles Launched at Angles 10-80 Degrees.
V.

Angle (
degrees)

Trial 1 Distance (
cm )

Average Distance
(cm)

Trial 2 Distance (cm)

10

400

350

375

15

490

470

480

20

510

500

505

25

580

530

555

30

640

590

615

35

650

650

650

40

660

720

690

45

700

710

705

50

690

685

687.5

55

680

650

665

60

420

480

450

65

340

410

375

70

210

260

235

75

250

220

235

80

170

140

155

Figure 3. The Effect of an angle on distance

Analysis and Conclusion

The purpose of this investigation is to find how the angle on a marble
launcher will affect the distance a marble will go. At angle 0 degrees , the ball will go
straight but not far enough. If you put it at angle 90 degrees, the ball will only go straight
up then back down. Therefore I predict that the ball will go further at 45 degrees, because
it will go high up and far away. As the angle increases from 0-80 degrees, the distances
increase but begin to decrease once it reaches angle 50 degrees. The greatest distances
were achieved at angle 40 degrees with the average of 690cm., and at angle 45 degrees
with the average of 705 cm. The shortest distances were achieved at angle 10 degrees
with the average of 375 cm., angle 75 degrees with the average of 235 cm., and angle 80
degrees with the average distance of 155 cm. According to my data, my hypothesis was
supported because at angle 45 degrees, the marble had the average of 705 centimeters
which was the greatest distance out of all the angles. Because me and my group had to
share the tape measurer, we did not get very accurate results. The way me and my group
could improve on the accuracy of the data was by putting the tape measurer so that it is
touching the base and is straightforward. when it was time to measure the distance me
and my group should have used a ruler to connect the tape measurer and the spot where
the marble landed to get accurate results. Another way my group and I could have
improved on the accuracy of the data was to set the marble launcher on a flat surface so
the angle would be more accurate too.
VI.

Lab Report :
PSUSD lab
report
Teacher
Name:
Student
Name: ___
__________
__________
__________
_______
CATEGORY
Purpose
and/or
Hypothesis

4 advanced
The purpose of
the lab or the
hypothesis to be
tested during the
lab is clearly
identified, stated
logically, and
supported with
evidence.
Procedure (as Someone could
required)
reproduce the
experiment by
following the
procedure.

3 proficient
Purpose and/or
hypothesis is
clear.

2 basic
Purpose and/or
hypothesis is
unclear.

1 below basic
Purpose and/or
hypothesis is
erroneous or
irrelevant

Procedures are
listed in clear
steps.

Procedures are
not clear.

Procedures are
not accurate.

Data/observati Graphs and

ons
tables are neat,
clear, accurate,
well labeled and
make it easy to
understand the
results.
Analysis and Uses specific
Conclusion
details from the
(for reports
results to support
with a
or reject the
hypothesis)
hypothesis.
Relates the
results to topics
covered in class.

Clear, accurate,
and correctly
labeled.

Not completely
Disorganized and
clear, well made, inaccurate.
or complete.

Uses evidence
Correctly
from the results to supports/rejects
correctly
the hypothesis,
support/reject the but doesn't use
hypothesis.
evidence.

Incorrectly
supports/rejects
the hypothesis

Format and
There are few if There are some
conventions of any errors in the errors, but a
language
use of grammar, reader can still
punctuation, and understand the
spelling. The
report. Complete
report is complete and follows the
and follows the format.
format.

Many errors. One Serious errors. It

or two parts are is hard to
hard to
understand the
understand.
report. Missing
Missing a section. two or more
sections.