ACTIVITY 5

Free Fall
A freely falling body is defined as a body that is moving freely under the
influence of gravity, where it is assumed that the effect of air resistance is negligible.
The body can have an upward, downward, or even zero initial velocity. The constant
acceleration of a freely falling body is called the acceleration due to gravity, or the
acceleration of gravity, and it is denoted by the letter g. At or near the earth's surface
its magnitude is approximately 9.8 m!s
"
, 98 cm!s
"
, or #" ft!s
"
, and it is directed
towards the center of the earth.
$n this activity, you are to calculate the value of g with a free%fall apparatus with
a vertical scale and an electronic timer accurate to &!&, second. The falling ob'ect
is a small steel ball which is inserted into the tube at the top of the apparatus as shown
in the diagram.()lover * +amora, ",-
The wor.ing e/uation is derived as follows0
y = V
o
t + gt
2
g = 2y where V
o
= 0
t
2
Objectives
At the end of the laboratory activity, the students are expected to0
&. 1alculate the value of the acceleration due to gravity (g-.
". 1ompare the results of the standard value of g
#. 2earn patience in constructing a gra3ph showing the relationship between time
(t - and height (y-
4. $nterpret the relationship of time ( t - and height ( y -
!aterials
free%fall apparatus
small steel ball
electronic timer
extension wire

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Fig"re 5#$ Free %all A&&arat"s '(lover ) *a+ora, 200-.
/roce0"re
&. 5et up the apparatus as shown in the figure above. 6a.e sure the apparatus is
set%up vertically so the steel ball will always stri.e the lower trapdoor.
". 5et the distance (y. initially at &. cm and record # time measurements.
$ncreased the increment of the distance 'y. by &. cm until the trapdoor ends at
the bottom of the apparatus. 6a.e # trials for each time measurements for each
value of the distance (y..
#. 7or each y value compute the average of the # time values.
4. 7or each y value compute the value of g#
8. 1ompute the average value of all values of g#
9. 6a.e a graph showing the relationship of y and t , a10 y a10 t
2
ACTIVITY 5
Free Fall
35

:ame0 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; <ating0 ;;;;;;;;;;;;
1ourse!5ection!=ear 0;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; >ate0 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;

2ATA A32 45678T6
Distance (y)
(m)
Time
1
(s)
Time
2
(s)
Time
3
(s)
Time
(average)
(s)
g, 2y
t
2
average
(m/s
2
)
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
Average g ? ;;;;;;;;;;; m!s
"
@ Arror ? ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

= vs. t )raph
36

= vs. t
"
)raph
37

A&&licatio1
&. Bhat are the two factors acting upon a body falling freely through the airC
". >iscus the effect of gravity on an ob'ect thrown upward.
#. 1alculate the displacement and velocity of a roc. thrown straight down with an
initial velocity of ". ft!s from the top of 6arco Dolo Eotel with a height of 88 ft.
at the following time0
a. .8 s
b. &. s
c. &.8 s
38

CO3C876IO3
39