St Thomas Aquinas High School “Life is beautiful” Mr. N.

Cune

Name_________________Blk _____

LAB: Determine the value of acceleration due to gravity

Objective: The object of this experiment is to determine the value of the acceleration of gravity “g”
by measuring the rate of acceleration of a freely falling object. In addition, one will be able to
compare theory with experiment for constantly accelerated motion.

Discussion: An object dropped near the earth’s surface will accelerate uniformly with the
acceleration due to gravity (g) toward the earth. The magnitude of g at the STA is 9.801 m/s2.

The equation of distance travelled by the ball d = 0.5 g t2

Materials:

Assorted ball
Meter Stick
Cell phone

Procedure: One person needs to hold the ball and drop it. The second person measure and record the
time the ball reaches the ground.

1. Drop a tennis ball for each height and record the time it takes to reach the ground. The bottom
of the tennis ball should be level with desired drop height (ie: 200 cm, 190 cm, 180 cm …100
cm)

2. Record the results in a data table (time vs. distance). What is the independent
variable? What is the dependent variable?

5. Graph the results in the data table following the steps in the graphing procedure. What
relationship (linear, quadratic, inverse) is described in the graph?

6. Graph t2 vs d on a separate graph. Calculate the slope. What does the slope represent?
(hint: d = 0.5a t2)

7. Calculate the value of “g” using slope of your graph. (hint: a little bit of algebra is needed here)

8. Calculate the accuracy of your “g” given the accepted value of g = 9.81 m/s2 Note
*use graph paper
*label the graph with an appropriate title
*graph will be graded on neatness and accuracy

Conclusion: - findings of the lab, errors, challenges - what will you do different next time.