Hypothesis:

The hypothesis is an educated guess as to what you think you will find from your data. Write a
sentence or two about what you think you will find and why, read through the lab and think about
what we talked about in class on the topic before you write your statement.
I hypothesise that our graph will give us the rate of acceleration until (if) the object reaches terminal
velocity. Since gravity is a constant, I also believe that the acceleration rate will remain constant over
time, and probably more or less the same as the average acceleration. The only inconsistancies will
be due to air resistance and human input.
-9.81 m/s2 is the acceleration of gravity, which I belive the entire acceleration will be roughly.
Write a
ink about

hes terminal
onstant over
ancies will

ghly.
Time (s) Distance (m) Change in Distance (m) Average Velocity (m/s)
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.100 0.178 0.178 1.780
0.200 0.393 0.215 2.150
0.300 0.697 0.304 3.040
0.400 1.095 0.398 3.980
0.500 1.569 0.474 4.740
Average Acceleration (a̅) (m/s2) Spark Generator Frequency: 10 Hz
0.000 Object Mass: 0.100kg
1.780 Total Displacement (d): 1.747m
0.370 Average Change in Displacement (∆d̅): 0.314
0.890 Average Velocity (v̅) (m/s): 3.138
0.940 Average Acceleration (a̅) (m/s2): 9.480
0.760 Range 2.960
+/- Approx Range
a̅ +/- Approx range
Distance (m)
Everything
Polynomial (Distance (m))
Change in Distance (m)
Polynomial (Change in Distance (m))
Average Velocity (m/s)
Polynomial (Average Velocity (m/s))
 Displacement vs. Time
1.800

1.600
f(x) = 3.95 x² + 1.13928571428572 x + 0.00842857142857122
1.400

1.200
Displacement (m)

1.000

0.800

0.600

0.400

0.200

0.000
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500

Time (s)
0.500 0.600
 Average Velocity (v̅)
5.000

4.500
f(x) = 8.91142857142857 x + 0.387142857142857

4.000

3.500

3.000
Velocity (m/s)

2.500

2.000

1.500

1.000

0.500

0.000
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500

Time (s)
00 0.500 0.600
Interpreting the Graphs
1. What is the shape of your free fall graph for displacement vs time? What does the changing slope of this
graph mean?

The upwards curved slope of the graph signifies a increasing velocity, in which the acceleration seems pretty constant.

2. Find the slope of your free fall graph for average velocity vs time? What does the slope mean? Using the
equation y = mx + b, derive an equation for the line for the free fall graph of average velocity vs time.

The straight line on the velocity vs. time graph shows a relatively constant acceleration.
The equation of the line is:
y = mx + b
y = 8.9114x + 0.3871

(8.91m/s2) (rounded to 3 sig figs)

3. What does the area under your velocity vs time represent? Find the area for all your data on this graph.
What is the percent difference between this area and the corresponding value on your table of data?

Area = (0.500s*4.740m/s)/2 = 1.19 m

This area represents object displacement

4. Find the slope at .2 second of the line of best fit for the free fall graph of displacement vs time. What does
this slope signify?

y = 3.95x2 + 1.1393x + 0.0084

y = 7.9m(0.200s) +1.1393
y = 2.72m/s

signifies 2.72 m/s which is velocity at that point in time (0.200s)

5. Find the slope at .2 second of the equation for the free fall graph of velocity vs time. What does this slope
signify?

y = 8.9114x + 0.3871
y = 8.9114(0.200s) + 0.3871
y = 2.17m/s2

signifies 2.17m/s2 which is the acceleration at that point in time (0.200s)

6. The terminal speed of a falling object is the speed at which it stops accelerating. Sketch the graphs of an
object, from start to after it has reached terminal speed, for a Velocity vs Time graph and a Displacement vs
Time graph?

Attached in classroom
 ing slope of this

tion seems pretty constant.

mean? Using the

tion.

a on this graph.
e of data?

s time. What does

at does this slope

he graphs of an
Displacement vs
In conclusion I do believe I was mesuring acceleration due to gravity (aswell as
air resistance). Due to the fact I simply let go of the object and did not assist it
or hinder it fromletting it free fall.

My hypothesis was a fair bit off, which may be due to air resistance and drag,
or human error not factored in. Overall I still think if it were placed in a
vaccum it would fall at the hypothesied rate, call it hypothesis 2.0 .