See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/337857988

Experiment to find the value of acceleration due to gravity

Experiment Findings · December 2019

CITATIONS READS
0 10,259

3 authors:

Nikhita V Gautam Kharanshu Solanki

Ahmedabad University Ahmedabad University
3 PUBLICATIONS   0 CITATIONS    21 PUBLICATIONS   0 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Alen B Kuriakose
Ahmedabad University
10 PUBLICATIONS   0 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

The Fine-Tuned Universe View project

General Proof for Euler's Identity View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Kharanshu Solanki on 09 March 2021.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Experiment to find the Acceleration due to Gravity
Nikhita Gautam∗, Alen Kurikose†, Kharanshu Solanki‡

December 20, 2019

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce yet another way of finding the value of experimental value of acceleration
due to gravity. The apparatus is easy to set-up with basic raw materials, and the experiment is easier to
perform as compared to other popular experiments.

1 Aim
To find the value of acceleration due to gravity g.

2 Apparatus
A ball, a smartphone (to be used as a stopwatch), a wooden plank (to be used as a ramp), horizontal support
(book, table, another wooden plank).

3 Theory
We take into consideration the mechanics of a ball rolling down a ramp. The following notation is used
throughout the paper:

• Length of plank used as a ramp = s.

• Height of highest point on the ramp = h.

• Time taken by ball to reach lowest point on ramp = t.

• Angle made between horizontal support plank and ramp plank = β.

• Magnitude of acceleration of the ball at any point on the ramp = a.

The magnitude of the force F on the ball, along the length of the ramp is given as,

F = ma = mg sin β

Here, g is the acceleration due to gravity. The set-up that we used is shown in figure 1 below.
∗ nikhita.g@ahduni.edu.in;
School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad - 380009, India.
† alen.k@ahduni.edu.in;
School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad - 380009, India.
‡ kharanshu.s@ahduni.edu.in; School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad - 380009, India.

1
 Figure 1: The experimental set-up.

Here, the acceleration of the ball will be given as,

a = g sin β (1)
From basic trigonometry, we know that if the support is kept orthogonal to the ground, then,

h
sin β =
s
Hence, the acceleration from equation (1) takes the form,

h
a=g (2)
s
Now, we can use the kinematic equations to find an expression for the velocity of the ball at any point on
the ramp at a given instant of time. We have the first kinematic equation,

υ = u + at
Here, υ is the velocity of the ball at any time t, and u is the initial velocity of the ball. Since we are merely
releasing the ball, so its initial velocity, u = 0. Substituting the expression for the acceleration in the first
kinematic equation, we have,

h
υ =0+g t
s
h
⇒υ=g t
s
Squaring the above equation on both sides, we have,

h2 2
υ2 = g2 t (3)
s2
Now, we consider the second kinematic equation, i.e.,

υ 2 − u2 = 2as
Taking u = 0, and substituting equation (2) in the second kinematic equation, we have,

h
υ 2 − 0 = 2g s
s

⇒ υ 2 = 2gh (4)
Now, comparing equations (3) and (4), we have,

h2 2
g2 t = 2gh
s2

2
Hence, we get the expression for the acceleration due tot gravity g in terms of the other parameters as,

s2
g=2 (5)
ht2
We will use equation (5) to calculate the acceleration due to gravity, in our experiment.

4 Procedure1
1. Obtain a long wooden plank (the longest you can get!) and place it against a table or some horizontal
support, so that the plank can be used as a ramp. Measure its length s using a measuring tape and
note it down somewhere.

2. Measure the height h of the ball, i.e., the vertical distance between the point from where you are going
to release it on the ramp, to the ground. This can be done using any length measuring tool (we did it
using a measuring tape).

3. Release the ball and measure the time it takes to traverse the entire length s of the ramp. Note this
time t in seconds, using a smartphone or any stopwatch.

4. Increase or decrease the height h considerably and measure time taken in each case.

5. Repeat the experiment three to five times for different values of h.

6. It is recommended that one takes at least 6 readings of time for each height h. One can then calculate
the average time taken. This is to increase the precision of measurements.

7. Calculate the value of acceleration of the ball due to gravity g using the equation we derived in the
theory, i.e., equation (5).

5 Observations
The observations for (h, s, t) and the consequent values of g are recorder in table 1 below.

Sr. No. Height h (in m) Length of ramp s (in m) Time taken t (in sec.) Acceleration due to gravity g (in ms−2 )
1. 1.125 2.44 1.11 9.45
2. 0.94 2.44 1.16 9.65
3. 1.41 2.44 0.85 9.85

Table 1: Observation table.

6 Calculations
• For h = 1.125m,

Sr. No. t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6
Time taken (in sec.) 1.13 1.13 1.11 0.98 1.11 0.98

Hence, the average time will be,

t1 + t2 + t3 + t4 + t5 + t6
t=
6
⇒ t = 1.11s

3
 Sr. No. t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6
Time taken (in sec.) 1.12 1.11 1.18 1.17 1.18 1.11

• For h = 0.94m, Hence, the average time will be,

t1 + t2 + t3 + t4 + t5 + t6
t=
6
⇒ t = 1.16s

• For h = 1.41m,

Sr. No. t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6
Time taken (in sec.) 0.85 0.79 0.91 0.91 0.85 0.79

Hence, the average time will be,

t1 + t2 + t3 + t4 + t5 + t6
t=
6
⇒ t = 0.85s

• The average experimentally calculated value of acceleration due to gravity is given as,

9.45 + 9.65 + 9.85

g=
3
⇒ g = 9.65ms−2

7 Error Analysis
• The uncertainty in height h is,

4h
= ±1.12154 = 0.00012154 × 10−4 m
h

• The uncertainty in time t is,

4t
= ±1.127 × 10−3 = ±0.1127 × 10−4 s
t

• The uncertainty in acceleration due to gravity g is,

s 2  2
4g 4h 4t
= +
g h t
4g
⇒ = ±0.006716ms−2
g

8 Results and Conclusions

We conclude that the value of acceleration due to gravity calculated through this experiment (9.65 ms −2 )is
close to the theoretical value (9.8 ms −2 ), with an uncertainty of ±0.006716ms−2 .
1 This is the procedure we followed. However, there are many other ways of creating the experimental set-up. The reader

may choose to follow their own path.

4
 9 Precautions and Sources of Error
• The length of the ramp should be measured keeping in mind the geometrical position of the centre of
mass of the ball, i.e., for more accurate results, twice the radius of the ball should be subtracted from
s, when measuring s.
• The height h should be measured from the centre of mass of the ball to the ground zero level.
• While releasing the ball, make sure no significant external force is applied on it.

• Make sure to stop the stopwatch at the exact instant when the ball reaches the end of the ramp, while
measuring the time taken.
• There can be human errors in measuring the height h, time t, and length s. So make sure to calculate
the uncertainty in the time, height and acceleration due to gravity.

View publication stats