Measuring Acceleration Due to Gravity

Objective:
To measure the acceleration due to gravity using a simple homemade apparatus.

Materials Needed:
● A sturdy object to drop (e.g., a small ball, coin, or any small object with minimal
air resistance)
● Stopwatch or smartphone with a stopwatch function

● Meter stick or measuring tape

● Notebook and pen/pencil for recording data

Procedure:

1. Choose a location where you can drop the object without obstruction.
2. Make sure the area is clear of any obstacles and that there's enough space for
the object to fall freely.
3. Using the meter stick or measuring tape, measure and mark a vertical distance
ℎh from where you will drop the object to the surface below. Choose a height that
is safe and manageable for your setup, but large enough to allow for accurate
timing of the fall.

Data Collection:
1. Hold the object at the marked height (ℎh) above the ground, ensuring it is
motionless and ready to drop.
2. Start the stopwatch as soon as you release the object and stop it as soon as the
object hits the ground.
3. Record the time taken for the object to fall (𝑡t).
4. Use the recorded time (𝑡t) and the known distance (ℎh) to calculate the
acceleration due to gravity.
5. Repeat the experiment multiple times (at least 3 times) to ensure accuracy and
calculate the average value of 𝑔g.

Guide Questions:
1. What safety precautions should be taken before conducting the experiment?
2. How does the height from which the object is dropped affect the time it takes to
fall?
3. What factors might affect the accuracy of your measurements?
4. How can you minimize errors in your experiment?
5. What other methods could be used to measure the acceleration due to gravity?
 Projectile Experiment
Objective:
To determine the range and maximum height of a projectile launched from a homemade
launcher.

Materials Needed:
● DIY projectile launcher
- Make the DIY projectile launcher either by following any of these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg1Pz0WUMW4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjEME1HIsQ8

● Tape measure or ruler

● Notebook and pen/pencil for recording data

● Small object to launch (e.g., marble, crumpled paper, etc)

● protractor

Procedure:
1. Set up the DIY projectile launcher on a flat surface in an open area, ensuring
there are no obstructions.
2. Choose a starting point for launching your projectiles.
3. Launch the projectile from the launcher at various angles (e.g., 30°, 45°, and 60°)
by adjusting the position of the launcher and the tension of the rubber bands.
4. Measure and record the horizontal distance traveled by the projectile for each
launch angle using a tape measure or ruler.
5. Measure and record the maximum height reached by the projectile during its
flight for each launch angle. You can estimate this by observing the height of the
projectile at the peak of its trajectory.
6. Use the recorded data to calculate the average range and maximum height of the
projectile for each launch angle.
7. Compare the results for different launch angles and analyze how the launch
angle affects the range and height of the projectile.

Guide Questions:
1. How does the launch angle affect the range of the projectile?
2. Which launch angle produces the maximum range for the projectile?
3. How does the launch angle affect the maximum height reached by the projectile?
4. What factors might influence the accuracy and consistency of your
measurements?
 5. How could you modify the experiment to improve accuracy or investigate other
aspects of projectile motion?

Exploring Newton's Laws of Motion with Marbles

Objective:
To investigate Newton's laws of motion through hands-on experiments using marbles.

Materials Needed:
● Marbles (several)

● Books or blocks for ramps

● Ruler or measuring tape

● Stopwatch or timer (can be on a smartphone)

● Optional: Smooth, flat surface for rolling marbles (e.g., table, floor)

A. Experiment 1: Newton's First Law - The Law of Inertia

Procedure:
1. Place a marble on a flat surface.
2. Give the marble a gentle push and observe its motion.
3. Now, place a book or block in front of the marble to create an obstacle.
4. Give the marble the same gentle push and observe what happens.

Guide Questions:
1. What did you observe when the marble was pushed without any obstacles?
2. Calculate the average speed of the marble when it rolled without any obstacles
3. According to Newton's first law of motion, what is the tendency of an object at
rest or in motion?
4. What happened when the marble encountered the obstacle?
5. How does this relate to Newton's first law of motion?
6. Can you think of any real-life examples where Newton's first law of motion
applies?

B. Experiment 2: Newton's Second Law - The Law of Acceleration

Procedure:
1. Set up a ramp using books or blocks inclined at an angle.
2. Place a marble at the top of the ramp.
3. Measure the height of the ramp and the length of the ramp.
4. Time how long it takes for the marble to roll down the ramp to the bottom.
Guide Questions:
1. What factors affect the acceleration of the marble down the ramp?
2. Calculate the acceleration of the marble as it rolled down the ramp.
3. According to Newton's second law of motion, what is the relationship between
force, mass, and acceleration?
4. How did changing the angle of the ramp affect the acceleration of the marble?
5. Calculate the acceleration of the marble using the data collected.
6. Can you think of any real-life examples where Newton's second law of motion
applies?

C. Experiment 3: Newton's Third Law - Action and Reaction

Procedure:
1. Place two marbles on a smooth, flat surface facing each other.
2. Give one of the marbles a gentle push towards the other marble.
3. Observe what happens when the marbles collide.

Guide Questions:
1. What did you observe when one marble was pushed towards the other?
2. Calculate the momentum of each marble before and after the collision.
3. According to Newton's third law of motion, how do the forces exerted by the two
marbles on each other compare?
4. How did the motion of one marble affect the motion of the other marble?
5. Can you think of any real-life examples where Newton's third law of motion
applies?