ACCELERATED PHYSICS

FREE
FALL
LAB REPORT

1101, GROUP 3
WITCHAYUT NGARMPORNCHAI
TANAKOM KAWEEWUTHISINP
NICHAPORN NATTAWUT

MISS SUSANA ALULOD

Mahidol University International
Demonstration School
Semester 1 Academic year 2017-2018
 OBJECTIVE
This experiment objective is
to determine the height of
MUIDS fourth floor by
comparing free fall analytical
calculation and measurement
method. Also, to prove Galileo's
theory that different types of
objects will land to the ground
at the same time from the same
distance without air resistance.
 INTRODUCTION
A falling object is the object falling under the
influence of gravity, downward to Earth, and has
an acceleration of 9.8 m/s. Scientists denote an
gravitational acceleration as g symbol.
Scientist came up with a constant value of
acceleration from the exploration of
Galileo Galilei. Galileo Galilei experiment dropping
same kind of objects with the different mass to
determine whether these two objects will drop
to the ground at the same time or not.
And the result came up with two objects with
different mass were accelerated and dropped to
the ground at the same rate.
In this experiment, we use10 m/s as an
gravitational acceleration. We find the height of
MUIDS building by using formula d = 1/2gt. From
dropping the light and heavy balls, we can prove and
determine whether Galileos experiment is correct
or not.
 MATERIALS
1) 6 b al l s
a) 3 f u t s a l b al l s
b) 3 v o l l e y b a l l s
2) 3 stopwatches
3) Measuring tape
SET UP
 PROCEDURE
1. A s s ign roles f o r each member:
- 3 t i m er s a t the f o u r t h f l o o r (with e x t r a t a s k
each)
Timer A : Drop balls
Timer B: Take n o t e
Timer C: Measure th e height of bu ildin g w i t h
a measuring tape
- 1 b a ll coll e ct or a t the ground f l o o r

2. Timers go t o f o u r t h f l o o r wi t h 6 balls (3 f u t s a l
+ 3 v o l l e y balls), measuring tape, 3 stopwatches
(smartphones), worksheet and pen o r pen cil

3. Timer C use measuring tape t o measure th e

height fr o m t h e balcony t o t he ground w it h
assistance f ro m th e b a l l c olle ct or on the ground
f loor .

4. Timer B n o t e down th e measured height.

5. A l l t i m e r s get ready t o record th e data.

 PROCEDURE
6. Timer A drop the b a l l and a t t he same time,
give a sign al t o s t a r t t i m e recor din g u n t i l t he
b a l l h i t the ground. (All t i m e r measure th e t i m e
separately).

7. Timer B w r i t e down a l l t i m er s measurement

i n the worksheet.

8. Repeat f o r t r a i l #2 and #3. Then move on t o

n e x t object (3 more t r a i l s ).

9. B a l l coll e c t or b r i n g a l l th e balls back t o the

lab.
 ANALYSIS
In the fr e e f a l l experiment, the measured length is 14.7
meters while the data recorded b y th ree experimenters
shows t h a t the average calculated distance is 20.20
meters. So, th e percentage difference is equal t o -31.51%
f o r the l i g h t balls. On the ot her hand, the data of the
heavy b al l shows the difference of -12.8% according t o the
average calculated distance is 16.74 meters. This might be
implied t h a t the experiment is not accurate. There are
l o t s of fac tor s t h a t might a f fe c t the experiment which are
a i r resistance, timing, and the height t h a t the balls were
dropped. A i r resistance is negligible in the calculation but
i t is not on th e r e al experiment. W i th o u t calculating i t ,
the r es ults are more than the actual height of the
building because the balls were moving t o the ground
slower than i t a c t u a l l y is. Since the t i m e is increased, the
calculated distance is also increased. Timing is also
another i m p o r tan t fact or . The stopwatch should be
s t ar t e d ti m i n g when the balls s t a r t moving but in t h i s
experiment, i t has been tim ed too f a s t o r too slow. The
height the balls were dropped is also i mportant. When the
experi menter dropped the balls down, th e height is not
always the same. The balls should be dropped a t the
balcony but f o r the f i r s t time, i t has been dropped too
high, meaning t h a t i t tak e s more t i m e t o drop a t the
ground. Both n atu r al effects and human e r r or s are the
main factors t h a t make the experiments went wrong.
 CONCLUSION

Concerning the Galileo concept of

moving, the fr e e-falling objects must
h i t the ground a t the same t i m e no
m a t t e r t h e y are heavy o r l i g h t .
However, in t h i s case, the heavier
object a r r i v es a t the f l o o r f a s t e r than
the l i g h t e r objects. In conclusion, the
experim e nt is inaccurate.
WORK LOG
 REFERENCE

Introduction to Free Fall. (n.d.).

Retrieved September 12, 2017, from
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/
1Dkin/u1l5a

(n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2017, from

http://muse.tau.ac.il/museum/galileo/gal
ileo_low_of_fall.html