PHYSICS 71.

1:
FREE FALL

Presentation by
B. Butac, T. Canaya, V. Mercado
November 27, 2018
 I. Introduction

Outline
A. Concept of free fall and
related equations
B. Objectives
II. Methodology
III. Results and Discussion
A. Data gathered and
interpretation
B. Discussion
IV. Conclusion
V. Recommendations

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 2/22

 FREE FALL

All bodies at a particular location fall with the

same downward acceleration, regardless of their
size or weight.

● Acceleration due to gravity

g = 9.81 m/s^2

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 3/22

 KEY CONCEPTS

● Kinematic Equations

v = vₒ + at
x = xₒ + vₒt + 1/2(at^2)
Where:
v = velocity
a = acceleration
t = time
x = position

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 4/22

 OBJECTIVES ● Experimentally measure
the acceleration due to
gravity using the Vernier
LabQuest.

● Use graphical analysis

to describe the motion
of an object in free fall

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 5/22

 METHODOLOGY

Materials:
- Vernier LabQuest
- Picket Fence
- Photogate
- Iron stand and clamp
- USB storage device

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 6/22

 METHODOLOGY

The materials were

gathered and the
Photogate and
LabQuest set up were
prepared for
gathering of data.

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 6/22

 METHODOLOGY
The picket fence was
held right above the
center of the photogate
and released when
steady to allow it to fall
vertically and without
touching the photogate.

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 6/22

 METHODOLOGY

4. The LabQuest gathered data from the fall and

presented graphs of position vs time and speed vs
time.

5. The slope of the speed vs time graph were

recorded as the acceleration of the picket fence.

6. Steps 1-4 were repeated to establish reliability.

BUTAC, CANAYA,
BUTAC, CANAYA,MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 20182018 9/22
8/
 METHODOLOGY

7. An estimation of the acceleration due to gravity

was calculated using the three best trials. The
percent error and theoretic value was calculated.

8. The gathered data was saved in USB storage

devices and used to create position vs time and
speed vs time graphs.

BUTAC, CANAYA,
BUTAC, CANAYA,MERCADO
MERCADO NOVNOV
27, 27,
20182018 10/22
9/
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

TABLE W1: Results of the acceleration per trial

Trials Acceleration of the Picket Fence

Trial 1 9.61 ± 0.09 m/s2
Trial 2 9.62 ± 0.08 m/s2
Trial 3 9.63 ± 0.08 m/s2
Best Estimate 9.6 ± 0.1 m/s2
Percent Error 2.04 %

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 11/22
10/
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

FIGURE 3: Position vs Time plot of the picket fence

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 12/22
13/
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

FIGURE 2: Speed vs Time plot of the Picket Fence

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 13/22
12/
 CONCLUSION
- The acceleration of a free falling object is
constant due to gravity.
- Since the acceleration is constant, the
position gradually increases in a
non-linear fashion.

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 14/22
13/
 If picket fence was thrown downward...

FIGURE 4: Position vs Time plot of the picket fence thrown downward vs

free fall

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 15/22
14/
 If picket fence was thrown downward...

FIGURE 5: Speed vs Time plot of the picket fence thrown downward vs

free fall

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 16/22
14/
 If picket fence was thrown upward...

FIGURE 6: Position vs Time plot of the picket fence thrown upward vs

free fall

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 17/22
15/
 If picket fence was thrown upward...

FIGURE 7: Position vs Time plot of the picket fence thrown upward vs

free fall

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 18/22
15/
 If picket fence was thrown upward...

FIGURE 8: Speed vs Time plot of the picket fence thrown upward vs free
fall

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 19/22
15/
 Conclusion

Compared to the picket fence in free fall…

When thrown downwards, the picket fence gained

velocity because of the force exerted by the hand

When thrown upwards, the velocity of the picket

fence decreased because it is acted upon by
gravity on the opposite direction.

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 20/22

 Recommendations

● Require a certain height for the picket fence to be

dropped from to keep it from bouncing back up to
the photogate

BUTAC, CANAYA, MERCADO NOV 27, 2018 21/22

 References ● Physics 71.1
Student Manual -
Free Fall Experiment

● University Physics
with Modern Physics

BUTAC,
BUTAC,CANAYA,
CANAYA, MERCADO
MERCADO NOV 27,27,
NOV 2018
2018 22/22
16/