Free-Fall Experiment

Lab Report

By: Don, Napat, Sorawit, Varunya

A physics project made possible by Ms. Susan

Table of content
2 Introduction

Objective

Materials

3 Procedure

4 Set up

5 Data and Results

11 Analysis and Results

Conclusion

Recommendation

12 References

Work Log

1
Introduction

Free-fall is the motion of an object in which gravity is the only force

acting on it. Any object that is upon this force is in the state of free fall (falling

without any influences of any other forces). In free fall, objects move

downwards towards the earth with a constant acceleration of 9.8m/s^2

Objective

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the recorded time,

calculated time, velocity, and calculated distance between 2 objects. with

different densities.

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Materials

- 3 tennis balls

- 3 table tennis balls

- Measuring tape

- 3 stopwatches

- Worksheet

- Pens

Procedure

1.) Assign roles to each of the 4 members.

2.) Person A, B, and C go to the 4th floor carrying 3 tennis balls, 3 table

tennis balls, a measuring tape, 3 stopwatches, the worksheet, and a pen.

3.) Person D waits and collects the balls on the second floor.

4.) Person C use the measuring tape to measure the height from the

balcony.

to the ground with the assistance from Person D.

5.) Person B note down the measured height.

6.) Person A drops the 1st tennis ball while signaling Person B and C to

start.

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their stopwatches (separately).

7.) The 3 people stop their stopwatches (separately) when they see the

ball.

hit the ground.

8.) Person B record the 3 measured times on the worksheet.

9.) Repeat until the time of all 3 tennis balls are recorded. Then move on

to the 3 table tennis balls.

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Data and Results

A. Height of 4th floor balcony dropping a heavy object (tennis ball)

Height Measured = 9.5 meters

Trials Time(seconds) Average Distanc %

Time e Difference
Timer Timer B Timer C (seconds) (meters)
A

1 1.41s 1.28s 1.50s 1.40s 9.60m 1.04%

2 1.50s 1.50s 1.47s 1.49s 10.87m 12.80%

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 3 1.31s 1.57s 1.37s 1.42s 9.88m 3.10%

Total average 1.43s 10.11m 5.64%

B. Height of 4th-floor balcony dropping a light object (table tennis ball)

Height Measured = 9.5 meters

Trials Time(seconds) Average Distance %

Time (meters) Difference
Timer Timer B Timer C (seconds)
A

1 1.66s 1.75s 1.50s 1.63s 13.01m 31.18%

2 1.81s 1.50s 1.85s 1.73s 14.66m 42.71%

3 1.80s 1.81s 1.93s 1.84s 16.58m 54.29%

Total average 1.73s 14.75m 42.72%

C. Calculated the instantaneous velocity (V) from both objects by using the

formula: Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2gΔy

Instantaneous Heavy Object Light Object

Velocity
Time(s) V(m/s) Time(s) V(m/s)

When the 0.49s 9.64m/s 0.49s 9.64m/s

object is
midway:

At the instant 0.69s 13.64m/s 0.69s 13.64m/s

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of the object:

Calculations

A. Height of 4th-floor balcony dropping a heavy object (tennis ball)

Calculated the distance that the object traveled by using the formula:

1
𝑦𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑦2
2

1
Trial 1: 𝑦𝑦 =0 + 0(1.40) +2(-9.8)(1.40)^2

𝑦𝑦 = -9.604

Trial 2: 𝑦𝑦 =0 + 0(1.49) + ½(-9.8)(1.49)^2

𝑦𝑦 = -10.878

Trial 3: 𝑦𝑦 =0 + 0(1.42) + 1/2(-9.8)(1.42)^2

𝑦𝑦 = -9.880

Total average: -10.11 meters

Calculated the difference in percentage by using the formula:

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2(height measured - height calculated) / height measured + height calculated *

100

Trial 1: 2(9.5 - 9.6) / 9.5 + 9.6 * 100

= -1.047

Trial 2: 2(9.5 - 10.8) / 9.5 + 10.8 * 100

= -12.807

Trial 3: 2(9.5 - 9.8) / 9.5 + 9.8 * 100

= -3.108

Total average: 5.64%

B. Height of 4th-floor balcony dropping a light object (table tennis ball)

Calculated the distance that the object traveled by using the formula:

1
𝑦𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦 𝑦 + 𝑦𝑦2
2

1
Trial 1: 𝑦𝑦 =0 + 0(1.63) +2(-9.8)(1.63)^2

𝑦𝑦 = -13.018

Trial 2: 𝑦𝑦 =0 + 0(1.73) + ½(-9.8)(1.73)^2

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 𝑦𝑦 = -14.665

Trial 3: 𝑦𝑦 =0 + 0(1.42) + 1/2(-9.8)(1.84)^2

𝑦𝑦 = -16.589

Total average: -14.75

Calculated the difference in percentage by using the formula:

2(height measured - height calculated) / height measured + height calculated *

100

Trial 1: 2(9.5 - 13.01) / 9.5 + 13.01 * 100

= -31.186

Trial 2: 2(9.5 - 14.66) / 9.5 + 14.66 * 100

= -42.715

Trial 3: 2(9.5 - 16.58 ) / 9.5 + 16.58 * 100

= -54.294

C. Calculated the instantaneous velocity (V) from both objects by using the

formula:

Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2gΔy

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Tennis Ball

When the object is midway:

= √0 + 2(-9.8)(-4.75)

= 9.64 m/s

Δx = vavΔt

4.75 = 9.64t

t = 0.49s

At the instant the object hits the ground:

= √0 + 2(-9.8)(-9.5)

= 13.64 m/s

Δx = vavΔt

9.5 = 13.64t

t = 0.69s

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Table Tennis Ball

When the object is midway:

= √0 + 2(-9.8)(-4.75)

= 9.64 m/s

Δx = vavΔt

4.75 = 9.64t

t = 0.49s

At the instant the object hits the ground:

= √0 + 2(-9.8)(-9.5)

= 13.64 m/s

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Δx = vavΔt

9.5 = 13.64t

t = 0.69s

Analysis and Results

From the experiment, the difference in the calculated time and final

velocity of the 2 objects is 0, due to gravity being the only force considered in

the calculation. In free fall, every object falls with the same acceleration,

velocity, and time (if released at the same height at the same time) regardless of

mass, density, volume, or size. The recorded time of the 2 objects, however,

largely differ due to the circumstances not being true free fall. Both objects are

affected by air resistance, the table tennis ball more than the tennis ball due to

its significantly lower density.

Conclusion

Objects in true free fall falls at the same velocity, acceleration and time (if

released at the same height at the same time) regardless of mass, density,

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volume, or size due to gravity being the only force affecting the objects with the

constant acceleration of 9.8m/s^2. Falling objects in our daily life, however, are

almost never in free fall as there is always air resistance on earth, except in

some instances that air resistance is negligible.

Recommendation

In this experiment, many steps are prone to human errors, such as, the height

and time of the balls’ release, the time that the group members start and stop

their stopwatches, etc. These inconsistencies can be fixed by using specialized

devices such as motion sensing timers.

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References

https://www.mwit.ac.th/~physicslab/applet_04/physics_classroom/Class/1DKin/U1L5

a.html

Work Log

Members Work done

Don Procedure, Analysis and Results, Recommendation, drop balls

Napat Calculation, Conclusion, Objective, Taking notes

Soravit Table of contents, Data and Results, measuring with the

measuring tape

Varunya Introduction, Setup, Material, ball collector

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