Copy of FreeFallSE - Google Docs
Copy of FreeFallSE - Google Docs
Vocabulary:acceleration, air resistance, free fall,instantaneous velocity, terminal velocity, velocity, vacuum
1. Suppose you dropped a feather and a hammer at the same time. Which object would hit the ground first?
the Hammer
2. Imagine repeating the experiment in an airless tube, orvacuum. Would this change the result? If so, how?
Yes, since there is no air resistance they woul fall at the same time.
izmo Warm-up
G
TheFree-Fall LaboratoryGizmo allows you to measurethe motion of an object infree
fall. On the DESCRIPTION tab, check that theShuttlecockis selected, theInitial height
is3 meters, and theAtmosphereisAir.
1. C
lickPlay( ) to release the shuttlecock. How longdoes it take to fall T=.90
to the bottom?
2. Select the GRAPH tab. The box labeledh(m)shouldbe checked, displaying a graph
of height vs. time. What does this graph show?
3. T
urn on thev(m/s)box to see a graph ofvelocityvs. time. Velocityis the speed and
direction of the object. Velocity is also referred to asinstantaneous velocity.
Because the shuttlecock is falling downward, its velocity is negative.
4. T
urn on thea(m/s/s)box to see a graph ofaccelerationvs. time. Acceleration is the rate at which the
velocity changes over time. What does this graph show?
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hows that the shuttlecock accelerates, then tarts to steady its velocity with a
S
slight deceleration at the end.
1. O
bserve: Drop each item throughAirfrom a heightof3 meters. Record how long it takes to fall below.For
the tennis ball, try to clickPause( ) when it hitsthe ground.
2. Form a hypothesis: Why do some objects fall faster than others?
Some objects fall faster than others because they have a larger weight.
3. Predict: A vacuum has no air. How do you think theresults will change if the objects fall through a vacuum?
The results will change as they will fall at the same velocity.
4. Experiment: On theAtmospheremenu, selectNone. Dropeach item again, and record the results below.
hen the objects fell through a vacuum, they all hit the ground at the same time
W
at0.78s
6. D
raw conclusions: Objects falling through air are slowed by the force ofair resistance. Which objects were
slowed the most by air resistance? Why do you think this is so?
he objects slowed the most by air resistance were the rock (0.79s), the pebble
T
(0.80s)and the shuttlecock (0.90s). I think this is so because the lightest object will
arrive at theground last because it has the greatest air resistance and is slowed down
the most bythe air resistanc
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7. C
alculate: Select theShuttlecock. Check that theInitial heightis3 metersand theAtmosphereis
None. ClickPlayand wait for the Shuttlecock to fall.Select the BAR CHART tab and turn onShow
numerical values.
A. How long did it take the shuttlecock to fall to the bottom? 0.78
B. What was the acceleration of the shuttlecock during its fall? -8.81m/s
C. W
hat was the velocity of the shuttlecock when it hit the bottom? -7.7s
(Note: This is an example of instantaneous velocity.)
8. M
ake a rule: If the acceleration is constant and thestarting velocity is zero, what is the relationship
between the acceleration of a falling body (a), thetime it takes to fall (t) , and its instantaneousvelocity
when it hits the ground (v)?
9. Test: ClickReset. On the DESCRIPTION tab, set theInitial heightto12 meters. ClickPlay.
A.How long did it take for the shuttlecock to fall 12 meters? 1.56s
B.Assuming the acceleration is still -9.81 m/s2, whatis the instantaneous velocity of the
shuttlecock when it hits the ground? Show your work below.
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v=
C.Select the BAR CHART tab. What is the final velocity of the shuttlecock? -15.35s
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Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity B:
C
● lickReset.
Terminal velocity ● Set theInitial heightto12 meters.
● Set theAtmospheretoAir.
1. Observe: Select theShuttlecock. Choose the BAR CHARTtab, and clickPlay. What do you notice about
the velocity and acceleration of the shuttlecock?
I notice the acceleration is almost 0 m/s (-0.01 m/s²) and the velocity rose to -5.81m/s
hen objects fall through air for a long time, they will eventually stop accelerating. Their velocity at this
W
point is calledterminal velocity.
2. Form hypothesis: How will an object’s size and massaffect its terminal velocity?
The smaller the object, the higher the mass, the higher the terminal velocity.
3. Experiment: ClickReset. On the DESCRIPTION tab, selectManual settings. Set theHeightto 100 m and
the air density (ρ) to 1.3 kg/m3, close to actualair density at sea level.
or each combination ofmassandradiusin the chartsbelow, find the terminal velocity (vterminal) ofthe
F
object. Use the BAR CHART tab to find the terminal velocity. (Hint: Turn onShow numerical values.)
4. Analyze: Your data show how mass and radius affectterminal velocity.
A. What was the effect of increasing mass? Higher terminal velocity
B. What was the effect of increasing radius? Lower terminal velocity
5. Apply: If you wanted to use a device to slow yourfall, what properties should it have?
the device should have a low mass, large and flat surface area and radius.
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Activity C: Get the Gizmo ready:
C
● lickReset.
cceleration,
A ● SelectCommon objects.
distance, and time ● Set theAtmospheretoNone.
Question: How long does it take an object to fall from a given height?
1. O
bserve: Select theRock, and set theInitial heightto3 meters. Choose the GRAPH tab, and clickPlay
to drop the rock through a vacuum. Turn on all three graphs.
A. What is the shape of the graph of velocity vs. time? iagonal line
D
(acceleratingdownwards
B. What is the shape of the graph of acceleration vs. time? Flat line under the x-axis
A. T
he starting velocity was 0 m/s, and the final velocity was -7.68 m/s. Based on this, what was the
averagevelocity of the rock?
B. In general, how do you find the average velocity of any object falling in a vacuum? (Assume you
know the final velocity.)
3. Calculate: Distance, average velocity, and time arerelated by the equation,d=va verage •t
A. How much time did it take the rock to fall? 0.78 s
B. What is the product of the average velocity and time? -7.68 m
C. Does this equal the distance that the rock fell? no
alculate: The acceleration of any object due to Earth’sgravity is -9.81 m/s2. For every second an object
4. C
falls, its velocity changes by 9.81 meters per second. For several different times on the table, multiply the
time by the acceleration.
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B. If you know the acceleration and time, how can you calculate the final velocity?
C. Challenge: If you know the acceleration and time, how can you calculate theaveragevelocity?
5. M
ake a rule: So far you have figured out two rulesthat relate time, acceleration, average velocity, and
distance. Review these rules now.
A. How do you find average velocity (vaverage) from acceleration(a) and time (t) ?
6. A
pply: Use your rule to solve the following problems.Check your answers with the Gizmo. Assume that
each fall takes place in a vacuum with an acceleration of -9.81 m/s2.
A. A rock falls for 1.43 seconds. How far did it fall? 11m
B. How long will it take for a rock to fall 12 meters? 1.56s
C. A rock falls for 4 seconds. How far did it fall? 15m
D. A
rock falls for 3 seconds. What was its velocity when -7.98s
it hit the ground?
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