Lab Report
Free Fall Experiment
Ingtawan Tritrakoolsin (Ing)
Pemika Phattanakittichai (Pair)
Natwadee Puncha-Arnon (Mint)
Sumate Saelow (Jew)
Introduction
Free falling objects are objects that fall under the influence of gravity
alone without any external force or restraints, for instance, air resistance. All
free falling objects have the same acceleration which is 9.8 m/s2 regardless of
their mass. As for the calculation of the distance, we use the formula =
1 2
2
to determine the total distance the objects has travelled. In free
falling objects, we use the letter g to represent acceleration, or in this case,
gravity. The distance is represented by the letter d and we use meter as the
unit. The time is represented by the letter t and we use second as the unit. We
can also calculate the velocity of a freely falling object by using the formula
= to determine how fast an object is falling.
This theory was proven by Galileo Galilei in the sixteenth century. Galileo
conducted an experiment to test whether or not two objects would reach the
ground at the same time regardless of their masses, if they are released at
the same time with no interference of air resistance. He conducted the
experiment at the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, dropping two spheres of
different mass to the ground to see if all objects fall at the same rate.
Galileo's theory was approximately correct. Thus, Galilei s Law of Fall ensues.
In this experiment, we will do something similar to Galileo s
experiment. We will use two balls of different masses from the same height
and we will also prove that free-falling objects will reach the ground at the
same time regardless of their masses.
Objectives
1. To understand the concept of Free Fall.
2. To prove that regardless of the mass, objects will reach the floor at the
same time.
Materials/Set up
4. Worksheet
Procedures
1. Assign roles for each member:
a. 3 timers on 4th floor (with extra task each)
i. Timer A: Drop balls
ii. Timer B: Take note
iii. TImber C: Measure with a measuring tape
b. 1 ball collector on ground floor
2. Timers go to 4th floor with
a. 6 balls (3 futsal + 3 volley balls)
b. Measuring tape
c. 3 stopwatches (phones)
d. Worksheet
e. Pen/pencil
3. Timer C use measuring tape to measure the height from the balcony to the
ground with assistance from ball collector on the ground floor
4. Timer B note down the measured height
5. All timers get ready to record the data
6. Timer A drop the ball and at the same time, give a signal to start time
recording until the ball hit the ground. (All timers measure the time
separately)
7. Timer B write down all timers measurement in the worksheet
8. Repeat for trail #2 and #3. Then move on to the next object (3 more trials)
9. Ball collector bring all the balls back to the lab
Data and Results/Calculation
A. Height of 4th Floor Balcony using heavy object
Measured height = ____14.71____ meters
Trials Time, second Time(average) Distance, % Difference
meters
1 2.19 2.34 2.24 2.26 25.54 53.81%
2 2.06 2.14 1.95 2.05 21.01 35.27%
3 2.08 1.96 1.98 2.01 20.20 31.45%
Total average 2.11 22.25 40.18%
Show your calculation for distance and % difference
Distance % Difference
Trial 1 Trial 1
1
=
2 2(
=
+
1
= 2 10/2 2.26 2.26 100
2(14.71 25.54)
= 25.54/2 100
14.71 + 25.54
21.66
100
40.25
53.81%
Trial 2
Trial 2
1
=
2
2(
1 =
= 2 10/2 2.05 2.05 +
100
= 21.01/2
2(14.71 21.01)
100
14.71 + 21.01
12.6
100
35.72
35.27%
Trial 3
1
= Trial 3
2
1
= 2 10/2 2.01 2.01 2(
=
+
= 20.2/2 100
2(14.71 20.2)
100
14.71 + 20.2
10.98
100
34.91
31.45%
B. Height of 4 Floor Balcony using light object
Measured height = ____14.71____ meters
Trials Time, second Time(average) Distance, % Difference
meters
1 2.47 2.10 2.08 2.22 24.64 50.47%
2 2.08 1.95 1.86 1.96 19.21 26.53%
3 2.24 2.14 2.42 2.27 25.76 54.61%
Total average 2.15 23.20 43.87%
Show your calculation for distance and %difference
Distance %difference
Trial 1 Trial 1
1
=
2 2(
=
+
1
= 10/2 2.22 2.22 100
2
2(14.71 24.64)
= 24.64/2 100
14.71 + 24.64
19.86
100
39.35
50.47%
Trial 2
Trial 2
1
=
2
2(
1
= 2 10/2 1.96 1.96
=
+
100
= 19.21/2
2(14.71 19.21)
100
14.71 + 19.21
9
100
33.92
26.53%
Trial 3
=
1
Trial 3
2
1
= 2 10/2 2.27 2.27
2(
=
+
= 25.76/2 100
2(14.71 25.76)
100
14.71 + 25.76
22.1
100
40.47
54.61%
C. Instantaneous Velocity from both objects
Instantaneous Heavy object Light object
velocity
Time (s) V (m/s) Time (s) V (m/s)
When the 1.055 10.55 1.075s 10.75
object is
midway
At the instant 2.11 21.1 2.15 21.5
the object hit
the ground
Show your calculation for instantaneous velocities
Heavy object Light object
Midway: Midway:
= =
= 10 1.055 = 10 1.075
= 10.55 / = 10.75 /
Hit The Ground: Hit The Ground:
= =
= 10 2.11 = 10 2.15
= 21.1 / = 21.5 /
Analysis of result
According to the recorded data, the time it took for the three heavy balls to
reach the ground are 2.26, 2.05, and 2.01, respectively. With the datas mentioned
before, we can now calculate the distance the balls took to reach the ground, the
distances are 25.54, 21.01 and 20.20. The difference of the distance between the
measured height and the experimental height of the heavy balls is 40.18%.
The time it took for the three light balls to reach the ground are 2.22, 1.96,
and 2.27, respectively. With the datas mentioned before, we can now calculate the
distance the balls took to reach the ground, the distances are 24.64, 19.21 and
25.76. The difference of the distance between the measured height and the
experimental height is 43.87%.
To conclude, the difference of the distance between the measured height and
the experimental height of both types of balls are drastically different. We suspect
it might be because of air resistance and human error as well. Seeing as the timers
might not record the stopwatch at the same time as the others.
Conclusion
Overall, this experiment is quite helpful in helping us understand the concept
of free fall. We also learned that the velocity of the objects increase at a regular
pace of 9.8 /2 , despite the fact that the calculation isn t exactly accurate. This
might be due to the interference of air resistance and human errors as well.
Work log
Date Name Job
31/8/2017 Mint, Jew, Pair, Ing Researched information and started typing the
introduction, objectives, and materials
1/9/2017 Pair Timer A : Dropped the balls
Continued typing the introduction and calculated
data (Time average, distance, and % difference for
heavy objects)
Mint Timer B : Recorded data
Typed the procedures and helped with typing and
creating tables
Ing Timer C : Measured height
Typed the recorded data and created tables
Jew Ball boy
Helped calculating data (Time average, distance, and
% difference for heavy objects)
2/9/2017 Mint, Jew, Pair, Ing Continued calculating data (Time average, distance,
and % difference for light objects)
3/9/2017 Mint Typed in the calculation tables
Pair and Ing Finalized the introduction
Jew Checked the calculated data for any mistakes
4/9/2017 Pair, Ing, Mint, Jew Continued calculating data (Instantaneous velocity
from both objects) and typed in the calculation table
5/9/2017 Pair, Mint, Ing, Jew Started working on analysis of result and conclusion
6/9/2017 Pair, Mint, Ing, Jew Started working on decorations
7/9/2017 Mint Finalized the work log
Ing Worked on decorations
Jew Checked the report for any mistakes
Pair Finalized the analysis of result and conclusion,
worked on decorations, and printed
References
- http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1Dkin/u1l5a
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_fall
- Physics Textbook
- Physics Notebook
