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experiment to investigate gravity using free fall apparatus
acceleration due to gravity method
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Experiment 4: Free Fall
Objective: To calculate the acceleration of a mass as it falls toward earth’s surface and calculate the average velocity when measuring the total distance that the mass moved during some period of time. We had to determine the acceleration due to gravity and compare it to the standard value of 980 cm/s2. Then plot the velocity versus time, find the slope which in turn will provide the experimental value of g. (Air resistance wasn’t considered for the mass in free fall).
Theory: According to Newton’s second law acceleration is produce when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass the greater amount of force needed. This law gives us an exact relationship between force, mass and acceleration. Which can be expressed as:
F=MA or FORCE =MASS times ACCELERATION
For free falling objects, the net external force is just the weight of the object:
F=W
Substituting into the 2nd law equation gives:
a = W / m = (m*g)/m=g
The average, or standard, value of g is 9.8 m/s2 or 980 cm/s2
Galileo Galilei first proposed that all free falling objects fall with the same acceleration nearly 400 years ago. He used a ball on an inclined plane to determine the relationship between the time and distance traveled. When measuring total distance that an object moves during some period of time, you can calculate the average velocity:
=
where ∆d is the total distance (final distance minus initial, or ) and ∆t is the total time (final time minus initial, or - ) For the case of a falling object, = = since di =0 and t1=0 ∴ =
If an object moves in constant acceleration you can fi...
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Then we used the calculated slope and the accepted value of 980 cm/s2 to calculate the experimental error:
Experimental value – accepted value = 100%
Accepted value
1000 – 980 = 20 = .02 off by 2%
980 980
Conclusion: The objective of the lab was met, because for each trial the acceleration remained constant during each trial. There was no external force such as a vacuum used during this free fall to effect weight of the object nor was air resistance not considered in this free fall object. The gravitational acceleration equals the acceleration of the object. Regardless of the weight or size all objects free fall with the same acceleration until it hits the ground unless it is acted upon by another force. The values were compared to the theoretical values and the percent error of 2% shows the experiment was successful.
In this experiment we positioned a marble ball on a wooden roller coaster positioned on a physics stand in the sixth hole. Throughout the experiment, we used an electronic timer to record the time of the marble where it passed through the light beam of its clamp. We positioned the clamp at a certain point on the roller coaster and measured the distance from the marble to the clamp; the height of the clamp; and finally the time the ball traveled through the clamp. After we recorded these different figures we calculated the speed of the marble from the given distance traveled and the time. We repeated the step 14 times, then proceeded to graph the speed and the height. Next, we took the measurements of position of the clamp, height, and speed and calculated the potential energy, the kinetic energy, and the total energy. Total energy calculated as mentioned before. Potential energy is taking the mass (m) which is 28.1g times gravity (g) which is 9.8 m/s2 times the height. Kinetic energy is one-half times the mass (m) times velocity (v2). Finally we graphed the calculated kinetic, potential, and total energies of this experiment.
We tested an apple being dropped from a constant distance of 2.4m above the ground, this was used as a representation of a person falling from a high distance. We also tested a blood-like substance being dropped from a medicine dropper from a constant distance of 1.5m above the ground, this was used as a representation of a simple nose bleed.
Newtons second law can be indentified more easily using the equation F=ma. This is an equation that is very familiar to those of us that wish to do well in any physics class! This equation tells us many things. First it tells us the net force that is being exerted on an object, but it also tells us the acceleration of that object as well as its mass. The force on an object is measured in Newtons (I wonder where they got that from). One Newton is equal to one (kg)(m)/s^2. For example, if superman pushes on a 10,000kg truck and it is moving at a rate of 2m/s^2, then the force that superman is exerting on the truck is 20,000N. For those of us that wish to move on in the field of physics, Newtons second law (F=ma) will forever haunt us!
Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion states that acceleration is directly proportional to net force when mass is constant. This experiment dealing with variable forces has as its objective the verification of this law. In this experiment this law is tested for verification in straight forward way. Through the use of a Force Sensor and an Accelerometer, data collection of observations and measurements that a force exerts on a small cart along with the cart’s accelerations are to be determined. The sensors’ measurements will be employed to give meaningful relationships between the net force on the cart, its mass, and its acceleration under these conditions. The resultant measurements revealed will verify and determine the force and acceleration relationship as stated by Newton.
This paper will explain a few of the key concepts behind the physics of skydiving. First we will explore why a skydiver accelerates after he leaps out of the plane before his jump, second we will try and explain the drag forces effecting the skydiver, and lastly we will attempt to explain how terminal velocity works.
In the experiment these materials were used in the following ways. A piece of Veneer wood was used as the surface to pull the object over. Placed on top of this was a rectangular wood block weighing 0.148-kg (1.45 N/ 9.80 m/s/s). A string was attached to the wood block and then a loop was made at the end of the string so a Newton scale could be attached to determine the force. The block was placed on the Veneer and drug for about 0.6 m at a constant speed to determine the force needed to pull the block at a constant speed. The force was read off of the Newton scale, this was difficult because the scale was in motion pulling the object. To increase the mass weights were placed on the top of the ...
F = ma : where F is force; m is the mass of the body; and a is the acceleration due to that particular force
The acceleration of a body or object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the body or object and is inversely
The acceleration of a body or object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the body or object and is inversely proportional to its mass. (F=ma)(Newman)
the equation X = X0 + V0t – 1/2gt2, or D= V0t – 1/2gt2 .A quadratic
The second law is, “the relationship between an objects mass (m), its acceleration (a), and the applied force (f) is F= ma.” The heavier object requires more force to move an object, the same distance as light object. The equation gives us an exact relationship between Force, mass, and acceleration.
The point of collision is the point where the graph of the ticker tape stop...
For example, if we were to punch a wall, there would be force being applied to the wall and force being repelled from the wall. In his honor, there was even a new unit created, the newton or N which equaled 1 kilogram. Isaac Newton 's laws opened a million of possibilities and theories that still help with the now day modern science.
... resultant speed and, by the definition of the tangent, to determine the angle of which the object is launched into the air.