The triple ball projectile kit: an innovative apparatus in the teaching of physics

• Main Author: Pedro, Fidel A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1983
• Subjects: Physics > Study and teaching > Audio-visual aids; Physics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1050
• Institution: De La Salle University

Using demonstration apparatus in physics teaching makes the subject lively and comprehensive. This study attempted to design, construct and use two apparatus that would demonstrate projectile motion using three balls: one ball demonstrates the actual trajectory while the other two illustrate the related rectangular component motions. In projectile motion analysis, most projectile kits show only the vertical component of projectile motion. This study tried to introduce an innovation. The kits designed in this study can show the vertical component and the horizontal component of projectile motion simultaneously or separately. Specifically, this study attempted to answer the following questions: 1. What materials are needed for the construction of a mechanical triple ball projectile kit? 2. What materials are needed for the construction of an electrical triple ball projectile kit? 3. How are the materials assembled to construct the apparatus? 4. What is the total cost of the materials? 5. How does each of the apparatus operate? 6. What percent of trials does the electrical triple ball projectile kit demonstrate successfully? 7. What percent of trians does the mechanical triple ball projectile kit demonstrate successfully? 8. What are the advantages of the triple ball projectile kit over the twin ball kit? The findings are summarized as follows: 1. The materials needed for the construction of the mechanical triple ball projectile kit are plywood, blocks of wood, tin or galvanized iron sheets, nails, galvanized wire, stove bolts, screws, aluminum tables edge and curtain rods, rubber bands, and golf balls. 2. Except for the aluminum curtain rod, all the materials used for the construction of the mechanical kit are also used for the construction of the electrical kit. Added to these are: copper wire, switch, connecting wires, alligator clips, and solder. 3. The construction of the apparatus starts with the assembling of the board and its support. The track supports cut to the proper sizes and shapes, are attached t