Investigating Free-falling Objects and Projectile Motions

Investigating Free-falling Objects and Projectile Motions

Aim:

The aim of my experiment is to obtain results/ data and see whether a

pattern can be distinguished or whether my data agrees with a theory

or law. I'm going to try to undergo two investigations using the same

apparatus, and look at the outcome of my results and see whether a

firm conclusion can be made.

For the two investigations, I'm going to look at free-falling objects

and projectile motions:

Investigation 1:

Isaac Newton firstly discovered gravity when an apple fell on his

head. He then discovered that every object has a mass and that two

masses attract each other. This attraction has a gravitational field

strength, Newton wanted to calculate the gravitational field strength

of the earth. Newton discovered that when a force is applied to an

object, it will cause the object to accelerate, therefore the object

will change its velocity. The acceleration will be proportional to the

magnitude of the force and in the same direction as the force. The

proportionality constant is the mass, m, of the object.

F = ma

To prove this, astronauts on the moon dropped a hammer and a feather

on the moon's surface. Both reached the ground at the same time,

because there is no air resistance. Both objects fell with increasing

spped. They accelerated at a rate called the acceleration of free

fall/ acceleration due to gravity. On earth the acceleration, g is

close to 9.8m/s/s.

However, we usually associate the idea with objects dropped

vertically, but can F=ma be applied to objects that moves at angle for

example on an elevated ramp? But this can't be done because the theory

states that free falling objects fall at a constant acceleration of

9.8m/s/s ONLY if gravity is the only force acting on it. To prove

this, I will undergo an experiment involving vectors and mechanics.

Apparatus:

· Toy car

· [IMAGE]

Ramp with the length of 1m