Scribd
Upload
78 views

Physics Lab: Measuring The Acceleration Due To Gravity

This physics lab experiment aims to determine the acceleration due to gravity near the earth's surface using three different methods: measuring the free fall of objects from varying heights using kinematic equations (Method A), and hand timing their falls with a stopwatch (Method B). The student will record drop times for small and large balls released from 0.7, 1.3, and 1.7 meters in Method A, and hand time falls from 0.75, 1.5, and 2 meters in Method B. Acceleration due to gravity will be calculated for each trial and averaged, with the standard value of 9.8 m/s^2 used for comparison.

Uploaded by

Prichebelle Gerona Grafia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
78 views

Physics Lab: Measuring The Acceleration Due To Gravity

This physics lab experiment aims to determine the acceleration due to gravity near the earth's surface using three different methods: measuring the free fall of objects from varying heights using kinematic equations (Method A), and hand timing their falls with a stopwatch (Method B). The student will record drop times for small and large balls released from 0.7, 1.3, and 1.7 meters in Method A, and hand time falls from 0.75, 1.5, and 2 meters in Method B. Acceleration due to gravity will be calculated for each trial and averaged, with the standard value of 9.8 m/s^2 used for comparison.

Uploaded by

Prichebelle Gerona Grafia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Physics Lab: Measuring the acceleration due to gravity.

Objective:
to determine the acceleration due to gravity near the earth’s surface
by three different methods.

Theory:
We all know that gravity makes things fall. But just what is
gravity?
Sir Isaac Newton tried to give operational meaning to the idea
of gravity by seeking out the laws according to which it acts. Bodies
near the earth fall toward it with a certain acceleration due to the
gravitational attraction of the earth. How can the earth make a body
at a distance fall toward it? How is the gravitational force transmitted?
Has the acceleration due to gravity always stayed the same? These
and many other questions about gravity have yet to be answered
satisfactorily.
In doing this lab, you will become more familiar with the effects
of gravity by finding the acceleration due to gravity experimentally.
The standard value will be 9.8 m/sec2.
Method A:
Measuring g from a free-fall apparatus

The acceleration due to gravity (g) can be most easily measured by


the use the of the basic motion equations. An object is dropped from
a known height, the time is measured, and the equation

d = v i t + ½ a t2

is used to calculate the acceleration due to gravity g.

Procedure:
1) Place the small diameter ball in the apparatus at a height
approximately .7 meters above the landing pad. Measure the actual
distance from the bottom of the ball to the pad and record.
2) Release the ball and record the drop time. Repeat 2 more times
and calculate/record the average for that ball and height.
3) Repeat the procedure at the same height with the large diameter
ball, making sure to reset the timer after each drop.
4) Repeat procedures 1-3 at heights approximately 1.3 meters and
1.7 meters, recording the actual measured heights and drop times in
the appropriate locations.
5) Calculate g for each height and each ball, for a total of 6 values.
Record on the results table.
6) Calculate an average g value from the six values, and calculate the
percent discrepancy for this method from this average. Record this
average g and its percent discrepancy in the separate results table.
Method B:
Measuring g by hand timing an object in free-fall

The acceleration due to gravity can also be measured by timing a


free fall with a stop watch. The method of determining the time is a bit
different the method A, but the equation used is the same.

Procedure:
1) Hold a small ball about .75m above the floor. Measure and record
this height. Drop the ball, timing the fall with a stopwatch. Be sure to
have one person drop and another time the fall. Repeat 2 more times
and calculate/record the average time in the table.
2) Repeat at the same height with the large ball. Record the average
time in the table.
3) Repeat procedures 1-2 with both balls at two additional heights,
approximately 1.5 and 2.0 meters above the floor. Record the heights
and average times.
4) Calculate g for each height and each ball, for a total of 6 values.
Record on the results table.
5) Calculate an average g value from the six values, and calculate the
percent discrepancy for this method from this average. Record this
average g and its percent discrepancy in the separate results table.
DATA SHEET

Method A:

Height Small ball Large ball Small ball g Large ball g


time time value value

Average g value: _____________

Percent Discrepancy: __________

Method B:

Height Small ball Large ball Small ball g Large ball g


time time value value

Average g value: _____________

Percent Discrepancy: __________


Summary Table

Method g value Percent discrepancy


A: free fall apparatus

B: free fall hand


timing

Questions:

1) Based on your data, which method gave the best results? Was this
what you expected?

2) Based on your data, which method gave the worst results? Was
this what you expected?

3) Why are the times and g values in method A and B averaged

You might also like