Trinity University of Asia

St. Lukes College of Nursing

FREE FALL
Experiment _____

SN: 8, 18, 20, 42
Cabral, Nolan
Ceralde, Keith Bryan
Marino, Kristia
Nones, Kevin


February 17, 2014

I. Objective:
This experiment is being conducted to determine the gravitational force acting
on an object and its final velocity when it is being dropped from determined
distance (height).

II. Theory:
Free fall is described as the motion of an object which is ONLY under the
influence of gravity (g) of earth without air resistance. The gravitational force on
a body or an object in a state of free fall is uniform and is constant. The
direction of the gravitational force accelerates downwards and is directed
towards the center of the earth and its value is 32 ft/s
2
or 9.8 m/s
2
or 980 cm/s
2
at sea level.

III. Apparatus:






(1)Golf Ball (1) Marble Meter Stick

Set-up:

Materials:
(1) Golf Ball
(1) Marble
Meter stick
Stop watch

Note: This experiment is not limited to any object being trialed.
Have enough space where these objects may be dropped.



IV. Procedure
After all materials have been gathered, select a member of the group to measure and
mark on the wall 1 meter (m), 1.5 m, and 2.0m. Once that has been done, another
member will grab one of the trial objects, golf ball or marble, and drop it from a certain
height; another member should measure the time of when the object was released to
when it hits the ground. Time is measured in seconds. Once data has been gathered
record and log into data table.

Note: Initial velocity of an object being dropped is 0 m/s
V
oy
and t
o



d
y
(ht.)



V
y
and t
f

Formulas needed to calculate gravitational force and final velocity
Gravity: g
Distance: d
Time: s
Initial Velocity: V
oy

Final Velocity: V
fy
V=d/t
g= V
fy
-V
oy
/ t
d = (V
oy
)(t) + g(t)
2


2gd= (V
fy
)
2
(V
0y
)
2
% difference: actual gravity experimental gravity

Actual gravity





V. Data/Results/Computation :

Marble (heavy ball)
Distance Time V
fy
Distance Time V
fy
Distance Time V
fy
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trail 3
1.0 m
1.0 m
1.0 m
0.48 s
0.48 s
0.40 s
2.08 m/s
2.08 m/s
2.50 m/s
1.5 m
1.5 m
1.5 m
0.53 s
0.67 s
0.49 s
2.83 m/s
2.23 m/s
3.06 m/s
2.0 m
2.0 m
2.0 m
0.77 s
0.72 s
0.64 s
2.60 m/s
2.78 m/s
3.12 m/s
Mean 1.0 m 0.45 s 2.22 m/s 1.5 m 0.56 s 2.68 m/s 2.0 m 0.71 s 2.82 m/s
Gravitational Force:
at distance of 1.0 m: at distance of 1.5 m: at distance of 2.0 m:
g= 2.22 m/s 0 m/s g= 2.68 m/s 0 m/s g= 2.82 m/s 0 m/s
0.45 s 0.56 s 0.71 s
g= 4.93 m/s
2
g= 4.78 m/s
2
g= 3.97 m/s
2

Final Velocity:
2(4.93m/s
2
)(1.0m)= V
fy
2
-(0)
2
2(4.78 m/s
2
)(1.5m) = V
fy
2
-(0)
2
2(3.97 m/s
2
)(2.0m) = V
fy
2
-(0)
2

2(4.93m/s
2
)(1.0m)= V
fy
2
2(4.78 m/s
2
)(1.5m) = V
fy
2
2(3.97 m/s
2
)(2.0m) = V
fy
2

3.14 m/s = V
fy
3.79 m/s = V
fy
3.98 m/s = V
fy

% Difference:
9.8 m/s
2
4.93 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
4.78 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
3.97 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2

% diff. = 0.496 % diff. = 0.512 % diff. = 0.595

Golf ball (light ball)
Distance Time V
fy
Distance Time V
fy
Distance Time V
fy
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trail 3
1.0 m
1.0 m
1.0 m
0.46 s
0.48 s
0.44 s
2.17 m/s
2.08 m/s
2.27 m/s
1.5 m
1.5 m
1.5 m
0.66 s
0.56 s
0.48 s
2.27 m/s
2.68 m/s
3.12 m/s
2.0 m
2.0 m
2.0 m
0.75 s
0.83 s
0.93 s
2.66 m/s
2.41 m/s
2.15 m/s
Mean 1.0 m 0.46 s 2.17 m/s 1.5 m 0.56 s 2.68 m/s 2.0 m 0.84 s 2.41 m/s
Gravitational Force:
at distance of 1.0 m: at distance of 1.5 m: at distance of 2.0 m:
g= 2.17 m/s 0 m/s g= 2.68 m/s 0 m/s g= 2.41 m/s 0 m/s
0.46 s 0.56 s 0.84 s
g= 4.71 m/s
2
g= 4.78 m/s
2
g= 3.91 m/s
2

Final Velocity:
2(4.71 m/s
2
)(1.0 m) = V
fy
2
-(0)
2
2(4.78 m/s
2
)(1.5m) = V
fy
2
-(0)
2
2(3.91 m/s
2
)(2.0 m) = V
fy
2
-(0)
2
2(4.71 m/s
2
)(1.0 m) = V
fy
2
2(4.78 m/s
2
)(1.5m) = V
fy
2
2(3.91 m/s
2
)(2.0 m) = V
fy
2
3.07 m/s = V
fy
3.79 m/s = V
fy
3.95 m/s = V
fy


% Difference:
9.8 m/s
2
4.71 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
4.78 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
3.91 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2
9.8 m/s
2

% diff. = 0.519 % diff. = 0.512 % diff. = 0.601

VI. Analysis of Data:
After all of the data had been gathered withi n this experiment our
group has concluded that the acceleration of an object is similar to one
another as it falls within a certain height or distance.
Acceleration of an object from its height is the difference of final
velocity and initial velocity divided by time (g= V
fy
-V
oy
/ t). The
experimental values of acceleration (gravitational force) on the objects
resulted in similar values like when it was dropped at a height of 1.5
meters. The gravitational force is 4.78 m/s
2
on both experimental
objects even though each object had a different mass. The other heights
as well resulted in nearly similar values showing that they accelerate
downwards at the same speed and time.
The final velocities of ball one (marble) compared to ball two (golf ball)
was just hundredths of a fraction off, showing that the speed of decent
is closely similar to one another.
On the other hand, our percentage difference is 51% to 60% from the
actual gravitational force which indicates experimental variables such as
air resistance, accuracy of time recording on release, and stop of object.
These variables played a large role in making such a big difference in
experimental gravitational force and actual gravitational force since free
fall is the motion of objects that are falling under the sole influence of
gravity.










VII. Conclusion:
In conclusion with this experiment the gravitational force was similar to each object
even though each object did not have the same mass. The variables such as air
resistance and timing affected the experimental values and percentages greatly
indicating that these factors played a major difference in the experiments outcome.
Also, the gravitational force or acceleration of an object is only under free fall when
there are no other forces acting upon it but the force of gravity. The experimental
results indicated a close similarity in values showing that each objects accelerated at
almost the same rate but with the gravitational force being almost 50% to 60% of the
actual gravitational force.

Newtons 2
nd
Law is the net force of an object is equal to its mass times acceleration (F=
m x a). Acceleration due to gravity is then interpreted as (a= F/m). This example is to
show that if the two objects are only under the force of gravity without air resistance
they will accelerate at the same rate regardless of mass.

(10g= 0.01 kg) (1g= 0.001 kg)
Golf ball Marble
F(gravity)
F
g
= 0.098N F
g
= 0.0098N

a= Fnet/mass
a= 0.098 N/ .01 kg a= 0.0098N/ .001kg
a= 9.8 m/s
2
a= 9.8 m/s
2















VIII. Problem Sets:
A rock is dropped 80 meters from a cliff. How long does it take to reach the
ground?


V
o
2gdy=Vf
2 -
Vo
2
2(-9.8m/s
2
)(-80m)= Vf
2
(0)
1568 m
2
/s
2
= Vf
2

d
y
=80 m

a=g

39.60 m/s = Vf

g= V
f
V
0
/t ; t = V
f
V
o
/g
t= 39.60 m/s 0 m/s
9.8 m/s/s
V
f
t= 4.04 seconds.




An object is thrown straight upward with an initial speed of 8 m/s and strikes the
ground 3 seconds later. What is the maximum height the ball reached?

C
V
f
= 0 m/s Total time= AC + CB


2gd
y
= V
f
2
V
0
2

2(-9.8 m/s
2
)dy = 0 (8 m/s)
2
d
y
= - 64 m
2
/s
2

2(-9.8 m/s
2
)
d
y
= 3.26 m

V
0
= 8 m/s

A B