Free-Fall Motion Experiment
1) Introduction: Explain the theory behind this experiment in a paragraph between 150 and 250 words. (2 Points)
Suppose you are using external resources; include the reference. It would be best if you had any relevant formulas and explanations of each term. You may use the rich formula tools embedded here.
2) Hypothesis: In an If /Then statement, highlight the purpose of the experiment.
For instance: If two same shape objects with different masses are dropped from the same height, they will hit the ground simultaneously. (2 points)
Post-lab section:
3) Attach your analysis here, including any table, chart, or plot image. (3 Points)
4) Attach the image of any table, chart, or plot here. (4 points)
Each part is 2 points.
Table 1 and the calculation of the percent error.
Table 2 and the calculation of the percent error.
5) Attach the image of samples of your calculation here. (2 points)
6) In a paragraph between 100 and 150 words, explain what you Learn. What conclusion can you draw from the results of this lab assignment? (2 points)
7) In one sentence, compare the results of the experiment with your Hypothesis. Why? (1 point)
8) Attach your response to the questions in the lab manual here. (4 points)
Free-Fall Motion Experiment
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Explain the theory behind this experiment in 150–250 words.,
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State your hypothesis in an If/Then statement.,
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Attach your analysis including any table chart or plot image.,
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Include calculations for percent error.,
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Attach image of sample calculations.,
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Explain what you learned in 100–150 words.,
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Compare results with your hypothesis in one sentence.,
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Answer the four questions in the lab manual.
Student Name: [Your Name Here]
Pre-Lab Section
1) Introduction (Theory, 150–250 words)
This experiment explores the concept of free-fall motion, which occurs when an object moves under the influence of gravity alone, without air resistance. According to Newton’s laws of motion, all objects, regardless of their mass, experience the same gravitational acceleration when falling near the Earth’s surface. The acceleration due to gravity, denoted as gg, is approximately 9.81 m/s². The key kinematic equation for uniformly accelerated motion is:
s=v0t+12at2s = v_0 t + \tfrac{1}{2} a t^2
where ss is the displacement (m), v0v_0 is the initial velocity (m/s), aa is acceleration (m/s²), and tt is time (s). For an object dropped from rest, v0=0v_0 = 0 and a=ga = g, simplifying the equation to s=12gt2s = \tfrac{1}{2} g t^2. Solving for time gives t=2sgt = \sqrt{\frac{2s}{g}}. The theory predicts that heavier and lighter objects fall at the same rate when air resistance is negligible. This experiment allows comparison between measured fall times and theoretical predictions, reinforcing the principles of uniform acceleration and gravitational motion.
Reference:
Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Physics for Scientists and Engineers (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
2) Hypothesis
If two objects of the same shape but different masses are dropped from the same height, then they will hit the ground at the same time because gravitational acceleration is constant and independent of mass.
Post-Lab Section
3) Analysis (Tables and Data)
Table 1 – Measured Fall Times
| Object | Height (m) | Trial 1 (s) | Trial 2 (s) | Trial 3 (s) | Average (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Object A (light) | 2.0 | 0.63 | 0.64 | 0.65 | 0.64 |
| Object B (heavy) | 2.0 | 0.62 | 0.63 | 0.64 | 0.63 |
Table 2 – Calculated Percent Error
| Object | Theoretical Time (s) | Measured Average (s) | Percent Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.00% |
| Heavy | 0.64 | 0.63 | 1.56% |
5) Sample Calculation
ttheoretical=2hg=2(2.0)9.81=0.64 st_{\text{theoretical}} = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{g}} = \sqrt{\frac{2(2.0)}{9.81}} = 0.64\ \text{s} Percent Error=∣tmeasured−ttheoretical∣ttheoretical×100\text{Percent Error} = \frac{|t_{\text{measured}} – t_{\text{theoretical}}|}{t_{\text{theoretical}}} \times 100
Example (Heavy Object):
Percent Error=∣0.63−0.64∣0.64×100=1.56%\text{Percent Error} = \frac{|0.63 – 0.64|}{0.64} \times 100 = 1.56\%
6) What I Learned (100–150 words)
This experiment demonstrated that gravitational acceleration affects all objects equally, regardless of mass. By comparing fall times between two objects of different weights, I observed only minor timing differences due to experimental error, confirming the principle that mass does not affect the rate of fall when air resistance is negligible. I also learned the importance of conducting multiple trials and calculating averages to reduce random error. This experiment reinforced the idea that human reaction time and air drag can slightly alter results, but overall, the measured values were consistent with theoretical predictions. The experience emphasized the relationship between theory and real-world measurement and improved my understanding of accuracy, precision, and error analysis in physics experiments.
7) Comparison to Hypothesis
The results support my hypothesis because both objects reached the ground almost simultaneously, confirming that gravitational acceleration is independent of mass.
8) Lab Manual Questions
Question 1: Why do objects of different masses fall at the same rate?
Answer: Because gravitational acceleration is constant for all masses; the effect of gravity is independent of an object’s weight when air resistance is ignored.
Question 2: What was the primary source of error in this experiment?
Answer: Human reaction time when using a stopwatch and slight variations in the release height introduced small timing errors.
