Acceleration Due To Gravity Lab
Uploaded by
Dawood SubedarAcceleration Due To Gravity Lab
Uploaded by
Dawood SubedarOmar Subedar
March 9, 2010
SPH3UE
Acceleration Due to Gravity Lab
Purpose: to determine/check the acceleration due to gravity of a Vernier Pickett Fence falling
close to the earths surface.
Hypothesis: The Gravitational Constant, G, is equal to ( 6.67 x 10
-11
)
Let m
1
= the mass of the earth in kilograms ( 5.98 x 10
24
kg).
Let m
2
= the mass of the object that gravity is exerting its force on.
Let r = the distance between the centre of the earth and the centre of the object on the
earths surface ( 6.378 x 10
6
).
From Newtons First Law, the following conclusion can be formed:
F
g
=( m
1
x m
2
)( G ) / ( r )
F
g
= ( 6.67 x 10
-11
)( 5.98 x 10
24
) ( m
2
) / ( [6.378 x 10
6
] )
F
g
= ( 9.805 )( m
2
)
Apparatus/Method
T.I. 83 Plus
CBL
Retort Stand
Photogate
Motion Sensor
Vernier
Pickett
Fence
1. Connect the Calculator, CBL device, and motion sensor/retort
stand together as seen in the diagram above.
2. On the Calculator, press [APPS] and press physics
3. Set number of probes to one
4. Under [SELECT PROBE], choose Photogate.
5. Under TIMING MODES, choose Motion.
6. Under [MOTION TIMING], choose Select Device.
7. Under SELECT DEVICE, choose Vernier Pickett.
8. Go back to MOTION TIMING, select Collect Data.
9. Drop the Vernier Pickett Fence through the Photogate.
10. Collect the data (acceleration in m/s) from the graph.
Mini Jack Cable
Connector
Cable
Observations:
Attempt # Acceleration (m/s [])
1 9.750
2 9.734
3 9.744
4 9.671
5 9.854
6 9.959
7 9.937
Calculations:
Average Acceleration = (9.750 + 9.734 + 9.744 + 9.671 + 9.854 + 9.959 + 9.937) / 7 = 9.807 m/s
[]
Percent Error = (Actual / Theoretical) * 100
= [(9.807/9.805) * 100] - 100
= [100.02] 100
= 0.02% error
Experimental Uncertainties:
1. The first experimental uncertainty is that the Vernier Pickett Fence was not dropped
vertically. The black tape marks on the instrument are taped exactly five centimetres
apart from each other. However, should the instrument fall at an angle to the motion
sensor that isnt perpendicular to it (90), the results will not be 100% accurate as the
distance between the two marks on the fence is less than five centimetres, so when the
device is calculating the acceleration of the object based on these results, the acceleration
towards the center of the earth will appear to be larger in value than it really is.
2. The second experimental uncertainty is in the air resistance against the Pickett Fence
being dropped. When testing with an object at such a low velocity, it is taken for granted
that the influence of the air resistance would be minimal. However, in this case, when the
acceleration is being tested to four significant digits, it is imperative that all factors are
accounted for, as in this case, air resistance push against the gravitational acceleration.
3. The third experimental uncertainty is the precision of the measuring tool (in this case the
CBL device which records time to the nearest hundredth of a second. Also, the precision
of the Vernier Pickett Fence has to be taken into account as the distance between the
black tape pieces is supposed to be exactly 5 centimeters but was worn around the edges
suggesting that the distance wasnt exact, and these so-called nominal amounts begin to
stack up, causing an even greater percent error in the lab results.
Conclusion:
The acceleration of the Vernier Pickett Fence that was dropped was 9.807m/s
2
[down] which
was 0.02% above the accepted acceleration of 9.805 m/s, an acceptable out considering the
errors.
