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physics lab 4 report

The lab experiment aimed to understand gravitational acceleration by dropping two objects of different masses and measuring their fall times. The results showed that mass does not affect the rate of acceleration, confirming that all objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum, with the constant acceleration on Earth being 9.8 m/s². The hypothesis that heavier objects fall faster was proven incorrect, although factors like air resistance were acknowledged as influencing free fall in non-vacuum conditions.

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15 views

physics lab 4 report

The lab experiment aimed to understand gravitational acceleration by dropping two objects of different masses and measuring their fall times. The results showed that mass does not affect the rate of acceleration, confirming that all objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum, with the constant acceleration on Earth being 9.8 m/s². The hypothesis that heavier objects fall faster was proven incorrect, although factors like air resistance were acknowledged as influencing free fall in non-vacuum conditions.

Uploaded by

jose camacho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics Lab: Experiment 4 – Gravitational Acceleration

For this lab, we conducted a series of experiments to try to understand gravitational


acceleration better as well as prove the laws that define it. We used two objects with different
masses (a golf ball and a small steel ball), and performed a series of drops measuring the
heights from which the objects where being dropped as well as the time they took to hit the
floor. For this experiment we used a meter stick to measure the heights, and a drop box that
measured the exact time between drop and impact with the floor.
Even tough most of us already understood the main principles of gravitational acceleration, its
relation to the mass of the object, as well as if it was a constant or not, we performed the
experiments as if we had no previous knowledge of these laws.

Hypothesis
When dropped from the same height, two objects with different masses will fall at a different
rate of acceleration. The object with greater mass will fall faster and hit the ground sooner than
the lighter one. In other words, gravitational pull will act with a stronger force on the object
with greater mass. The accelerations and speeds might be affected by factors like the wind
because they represent a resistance to the gravitational acceleration.

Question 1: For this experiment, is it logical to use a ruler that can measure up to
two meters and is accurate up to one centimeter but spends thousands of dollars
to acquire a clock that can measure up to two seconds and is accurate to nanosec-
onds? How does the inaccuracy in the measuring length mute any advantages of
the clock?
The margin of error in the results from the calculations of acceleration and when graphing time
vs height will be affected in precision even if it is only one of the factors that is not accurate. In
this case, even if the clock is obtaining incredibly accurate measurements, the potential
inaccuracy of the height will give random errors that will vary from one trial to the other and
will affect the results of the experiment.
Results (Data charts and plot graphs)
After performing the drops from 10 different height for each of the balls, we collected the data
in a chart and proceeded to plot it (t2 vs height). Based on the results we obtained and the
linearity of the graph in both objects, we concluded that acceleration is a constant. Our
calculations of T statistics proved how the variable of mass did not have an impact on the value
of rejected our hypothesis that the mass of the object would affect the acceleration of the
object when free falling. Expanding our knowledge and understanding of this principle we now
know that this value on earth is equal to 9.8m/s2. Because of this constant acceleration we can
explain that objects with different masses (in this case a small steel ball and a golf ball) fall at
the same rate and if dropped from the same height, will hit the ground at the same time. This
experiment could be performed with very dramatic differences in mass to prove these laws in a
better way. For example, in a vacuum environment with no air resistance, if a 1,000 pound
sphere and a small feather where dropped from the same height, the would hit the ground at
the same time. We know that if this same experiment was done on the exterior, air resistance
would slow down the feather a lot more, however this is a different phenomenon.
In conclusion, we were able to prove through experimentation, plotting a graph for each of the
objects’ and our calculations that acceleration is a constant value, that the mass of the object
does not affect the speed of the free fall, as well as understand the phenomenon of free fall
better. We conclude that our hypothesis was incorrect regarding gravitational acceleration,
however our statement that factors like air resistance in a non-vacuum environment have an
effect on the rate of free fall remains.

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