ACTIVITY 3: The Acceleration Due to Gravity

OBJECTIVE: To measure the acceleration due gravity on different masses and compare it to the true

value of acceleration due to gravity on Earth ( g = 9. 81 m/s^2 )

INTRODUCTION

To sensibly describe the motion of objects in our universe, we need to understand displacement,
velocity and acceleration. When we use the word “acceleration” we mean the rate at which the velocity
of a moving object changes with time. Accelerations are always caused by “forces.” This is the essence
of Newton’s first law. In today’s activity, we will measure the acceleration due to the gravitational force
exerted by the earth on different kinds of coins.

CONCEPT INVOLVED

Galileo first demonstrated this result when he dropped cannonballs of different masses (weights)
from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to show that although they had different masses, when dropped
together, they landed together. This happened in this manner because they both experienced the same
acceleration.

From the equation of acceleration due to gravity in one dimension, we can determine the
value of acceleration due to gravity by measuring the time and height of fall of different coins.

In this experiment, like Galileo, we will be dropping an object from rest, so that

vi

will be zero. We will assume that the only acceleration present is due to the force of gravity so that we
can set a = g.

PROCEDURE

1. Locate a high-level position in your house to drop the coins.

 2. Measure the elevation of that position using the string and metric ruler.

3. Let one person in your house take the time of fall of coins using the timer in cell phone.

4. Drop the coins several times. In each case, start the timer when the coin is released and stop

the timer when the coin hits ground.

5. Keep track of the time in a table of data.

6. Calculate the value of "g" for each run. "g" should be 9.81

ms2

7. Compare the average value of “g” from the accepted value of” g”

DATA and OBSERVATION 

Trial Acceleration
x2(sec2)
∆ x (meter)  ∆ t (second) due to gravity
∆
(g) (m/s2)
 

10 12 1.13 183.87 92.19

5 12 1.09 171.1 99.08
1 12 1.05 158.76 106.77
0.25 12 1.03 152.77 110.96

Average measured value for g = ADD /4 = _______________

 Accepted value for g = 9.81 m/

s2

% error: % error = [9

CONCLUSION

How did the gravitational acceleration vary with the different masses? Did it become smaller, larger or
remain roughly constant?

Compare your value of g with the accepted value of 9.8 m/s2. Is your value lower or higher than this
value? Why?

3. What did you discover in this experiment?

 I discover the speed the gravity is too fast and the big coin is slow to small coin