Danny Duong - DP Physics 11 HL

Obtaining the acceleration due to gravity

In this experiment, a golf ball is dropped at different heights and the time for the golf ball
to drop to the ground is measured. This is repeated two more times to reduce random errors
and check consistency, eliminating any outliers. A table of the falling time squared against the
height would be produced. This would create a linear graph with the equation ​t2​ ​ = g2 s , ​allowing
us to calculate the gradient produced in the equation, which is​ ​2 divided by gravity. By
calculating the gradient in the graph, it allows us to obtain the experimental value of gravity in
m*s​-2​.

RAW DATA & PROCESSED DATA

Time/s ± 0.31s
Height/m ± Average Time Average Time
0.03m T1 T2 T3 ± 0.31s squared
1.00 0.41 0.46 0.41 0.43 0.18
2.00 0.64 0.53 0.55 0.57 0.33
3.00 0.73 0.83 0.80 0.79 0.62
4.00 0.80 0.80 0.91 0.84 0.70
5.00 1.10 1.03 1.03 1.05 1.11
6.00 1.30 1.15 1.15 1.20 1.44
7.00 1.30 1.23 1.30 1.28 1.63
8.00 1.33 1.33 1.28 1.31 1.72

UNCERTAINTY PROPAGATIONS
- The uncertainty for time is obtained by using Andy’s reaction time, as he was the only
person using the stopwatch throughout the entire experiment.
- The uncertainty for height is given by the measuring tape, since we cannot fully measure
the height exactly; and it will always be about 3 cm off.
QUALITATIVE DATA
- Andy used his sense of sight when determining when the ball fully drops to the ground.
We used sight because there could be a very tiny delay when we use hearing to
determine when the ball reaches the ground.

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Danny Duong - DP Physics 11 HL

- When trying to measure a certain height, for example 5 meters, we used a measuring
tape and it usually never is a completely vertically straight line.

GRAPH

- The gradient of the graph is ​0.2399​ ​± 0.0983 s​2​*m​-1​. ​This is given by the largest value of
uncertainty when calculating the difference between the best-fit line and the minimum
line gradient.
- The uncertainty of height is negligible.

CALCULATION OF ​g

2 / 0.2399 ~ 8.33 m*s​-2​.

Calculating ​absolute uncertainty​,

(0.0983 / 0.2399) * 100% ~ 40.9%
8.33 * 40.9% = 3.41 m*s​-2​.

Therefore, the value of ​g​ is ​8.33 ± 3.41 m*s​-2​.

(9.81-8.33)/9.81 * 100% = 15.1% ​error percentage

CONCLUSION

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Danny Duong - DP Physics 11 HL

The value of ​g​ that was obtained was 8.33 m*s​-2​, which had a 15.1% error percentage
from the theoretical value of acceleration due to gravity on Earth, which is 9.81 m*s​-2​. However,
the value of ​g​ obtained also had a high uncertainty value, which makes the data readings less
reliable.

There is evidence of random errors. The error percentage in calculating the gravity was
40.9%, which is a high percentage of error in an experiment. The first data point was 0.43
seconds at 1 meter, which had a 72.1% percentage uncertainty due to Andy’s reaction time,
which is also a significantly high percentage of error. Additionally, by taking a look at the graph,
the data points are also slightly scattered, which affects the precision of the data collected.

However, there is also evidence of systematic errors. This is clearly shown in the graph.
In the equation, having a y-intercept that is not 0 would suggest in this context that it would take
a certain time for the golf ball to fall to the ground at 0 meters, which doesn’t make logical sense
in a real life situation. This is because the accuracy of the data readings were inaccurate,
causing the graph to shift away from the origin, where it is supposed to pass through.

EVALUATION

The methodology used in the experiment had some strengths.

One strength in the methodology is that we had the same person measure the time for
all the experiments, which made determining the uncertainty for time significantly easier than it
would be if we had multiple people testing the time, which would cause us to consider different
reaction times. With one person, we only need to account for that one person’s reaction time.

Another strength in the methodology in the experiment is that we used consistent

methods of tracking when the ball reaches the ground. There are two ways to determine when
the ball reaches the ground; using sight and using sound. In this experiment, we used sight
instead of sound for all the trials, so that the data points are consistent throughout.

LIMITATION EFFECT AND SIGNIFICANCE IMPROVEMENT

When conducting the This could cause the actual I could try as best as I can to
experiment, the measurement to be off by a few make the measuring tape
measuring tape is centimetres, which can affect the vertically straight, by using
usually never vertically data severely, especially for greater my foot as an anchor for the
straight. values for height. measuring tape and
determining whether the
line is straight or not.

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