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