LABORATORY REPORT

Experiment 2

Free Fall Motion Using Picket Fence

Name: Raphael Fernando T. Adolfo CYS: MEB 31 Grade:

Instructor: Engr. Jennifer B. Igat Date Submitted: 10-6-2016

ABSTRACT:

“Free-fall” motion is a Uniformly Accelerated Motion that takes place in a vertical direction. Anytime an object moves
vertically, either going upwards, or going downwards, we say it is in Free-fall. The constant acceleration of the object is
always directed downwards due to the influence of earth’s gravity; the acceleration due to gravity on earth is referred to as
“g”, and has a value of 9.8 m/s2. When an object is in Free-fall, we will always ignore any effects that air resistance may
have on the object’s motion. In this experiment we have to determine the acceleration due to gravity of a falling object by
measuring the velocity and time of fall of a picket fence dropped through a photogate using Xplorer GLX. We used the
𝑉𝑓2
following formulas to obtain the experimental value of gravity: g = . For this experiment we measured the
2𝑦
acceleration due to gravity in a free-fall experiment. Using a “picket fence” dropped through a photo gate for ten times,
with neglect for air resistance. And also by using the GLX Xplorer to record the velocity and position for each drop of the
picket fence through the photogate head ten times. We calculate our results from the tabulated data and compare it with
the accepted value of 9.8 m/s2.

MATERIALS USED:

 Xplorer GLX
 Digital Adapter
 Picket Fence
 Photogate Head
 Universal Table clamp
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

We say an object is in free fall when the only force acting on it is the earth’s gravitational force. No other forces can be
acting; in particular, air resistance must be either absent or so small as to be ignored. When the object in free fall is near
the surface of the earth, the gravitational force on it is nearly constant. As a result, an object in free fall accelerates
downward at a constant rate. This acceleration is usually represented with the symbol g.

We can measure the acceleration due to gravity using a wide variety of timing methods. In this experiment, first we set up
the iron stand and clamp it properly in the table to align the setup properly. For this experiment we have to use a precise
equipments to measure the velocity and position and that is the GLX Xplorer and a photogate head. The Photogate head
has a beam of infrared light that travels from one side to the other. It can detect whenever this beam is blocked. You will
drop a piece of clear plastic with evenly spaced black bars on it, called a Picket Fence. As the Picket Fence passes
through the Photogate, the GLX Xplorer interface will measure the time from the leading edge of one bar blocking the
beam until the leading edge of the next bar blocks the beam. This timing continues as all eight bars pass through the
Photogate head. We drop the picket fence in the photogate head for ten times for our ten trials. From these measured
times, the GLX Xplorer will calculate the velocities and position for each of the ten trials. After getting all the velocity and
𝑉𝑓2
position of the ten trials we then proceeded in calculating the experimental value of g through this formula g = . After
2𝑦
getting the experimental value of g of all the ten trials. To finish the table we then computed the average of all the velocity,
position, and the experimental value of g of our ten trials that we measured. To calculate the average we add up all the
numbers, then divide by how many numbers there are. After the table was finished we then calculated the percentage
𝑇𝑉−𝐸𝑉
error. We use the formula: % error: | | x 100. The TV or theoretical value was given by our professor which is 9.81
𝑇𝑉
m/s2 and the experimental value is the average of the ten experimental value of g from our ten trials which is 9.82 m/s2
Our percentage error is 0.10% which is good because in most cases, a percent error or difference of less than 10% will be
acceptable. This calculation will help us to evaluate the relevance of our results.

DATA AND RESULTS:

1. Table 1

Trials Velocity, v (m/s) Position, y (m) Experimental value of g

(m/s2 )

1 2.42 0.300 9.76

2 2.41 0.300 9.68
3 2.02 0.200 10.20
4 1.98 0.200 9.80
5 1.74 0.150 10.09
6 2.40 0.300 9.60
7 2.43 0.300 9.84
8 2.41 0.300 9.68
9 2.01 0.200 10.10
10 2.38 0.300 9.44
Average 2.22 0.260 9.82
g = 9.81
% error = 0.10%
COMPUTATIONS:

Vf2 = Vi2 + 2gy

Vi = 0

Vf2 = 2gy

𝑉𝑓2
g=
2𝑦

Average Velocity:

Vave = 2.42 + 2.41 + 2.02 + 1.98 + 1.74 + 2.40 + 2.43 + 2.41 + 2.01 + 2.38 = 2.22 m/s

10

Average Position:

Yave = 0.300 + 0.300 + 0.200 + 0.200 + 0.150 + 0.300 + 0.300 + 0.300 + 0.200 + 0.300 = 0.260 m

10

Average Acceleration:

Gave = 9.76 + 9.68 + 10.20 + 9.80 + 10.09 + 9.60 + 9.84 + 9.68 + 10.10 + 9.44 = 9.82 m/s2

10

Trial 1: Trial 3:

2.422 2.022
g1 = g3 =
2 (0.300) 2 (0.200)

= 9.76% = 10.20%

Trial 2:

2.412 9.81−9.82
g2 = % error: | | x 100
2 (0.300) 9.81

= 9.68% = 0.10%
QUESTIONS AND APPLICATIONS:

1. Sketch velocity-time graph of a free falling object. What does the slope of the time represent?

The line on the graph is a straight, diagonal line. A diagonal line on a velocity
time graph signifies an accelerated motion. Since a free-falling object is
undergoing an acceleration (g = 9,8 m/s2, downward), it would be expected
that its velocity-time graph would be diagonal. As you can see in the graph
the object starts with a zero velocity and finishes with a large, negative
velocity it shows that the object is moving in the negative direction and
speeding up. An object that is moving in the negative direction and speeding
up is said to have a negative acceleration. Since the slope of any velocity
time graph is the acceleration of the object. The constant, negative slope
indicates a constant, negative acceleration. This analysis of the slope on the
graph is consistent with the motion of a free-falling object - an object moving with a constant acceleration of 9.8
m/s2 in the downward direction.

2. What factors do you think may cause the experimental value to be different from the accepted value?

Personal errors - Carelessness, poor technique, or bias on the part of the experimenter. The experimenter may measure
incorrectly, or may use poor technique in taking a measurement, or may introduce a bias into measurements by expecting
(and inadvertently forcing) the results to agree with the expected outcome.

Failure to calibrate or check zero of instrument - Whenever possible, the calibration of an instrument should be checked
before taking data

Environmental factors - Be aware of errors introduced by your immediate working environment like vibrations, changes in
temperature, electronic noise, or air resistance.

Instrument drift - Most electronic instruments have readings that drift over time. This also happens when the instrument
got the wrong measurement due to some factors. This source of error can be significant and should be considered.

3. Can an object have an increasing velocity and constant acceleration? Explain.

Yes. An object experiencing constant acceleration has a velocity that increases or decreases by an equal amount for any
constant period of time. Acceleration is the change in velocity, so constant acceleration basically means that the velocity
is constantly changing. In a freely falling body, this is absolutely true. If acceleration is constant for example 9.8 m/s2 then
the velocity will increase by 9.8 m/s2 every second (in this case).

4. Can the velocity of an object be zero at the same instant its acceleration is non-zero? Elaborate.

Yes. Throw a ball up in the air. It rises, slows down, and stops. Now it has zero velocity. But it does not have zero
acceleration as evidenced by the fact that its velocity continues to change as the ball now begins to fall back to the earth,
faster and faster. During the whole process, the acceleration was constant: about 9.8 m/s2 downward. Also in a projectile
at the peak of the trajectory, a vertically thrown object has gravity acting on it (accelerating it downwards at 9.8 m/s2) while
its velocity is zero.