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Laboratory #2
Measurement of the Earth's Surface Gravity
Objective
Galileo Galilei is often referenced as the Father of Experimental Physics, having spent significant
time in the 1590's and early 1600's on experiments related to mechanics. Specifically, Galileo is
known to have used various means to study the uniform acceleration of objects falling near the Earth's
surface. The story of Galileo dropping objects from Pisa's famed Leaning Tower has been told to
generations. Whether or not he actually performed that experiment, showing that objects accelerate
towards the Earth independent of their mass, we know that he performed other, more sensitive tests of
the same concept. In this lab, we will recreate one of his experiments, attempting to measure the rate
of acceleration due to the Earth's surface gravity, known to have a mean value of 9.81 m/s2.
Introduction
The Earth exerts a gravitational force field on all objects with mass (which is practically anything you
can think of). For reasons that we will discuss in class, objects accelerate in this field at a uniform
rate, independent of their mass (i.e. a bowling ball and a ping pong ball fall at the same rate without
the effects of air resistance). Galileo was aware of this, but didn't have a complete answer as to why.
It would be Isaac Newton who put this together with a bigger picture of how the physics of motion
works. Nonetheless, Galileo made measurements of this acceleration due to gravity. Also, given that
he didn't have the bigger picture, Galileo did not realize that the value of this acceleration is actually
dependent on distance from the Earth's surface. It varies slowly enough that you'd need a sensitive
test at sea level and again at a mountain top to see the difference. So, for our purposes, we will
assume that it's a constant that has a value known of 9.80665, the adopted International Standard.
With that mentioned, you should know that the value can be as different as 9.780 m/s2 at the Earth's
equator and 9.832 m/s2 at the Earth's poles due to the oblateness of the Earth (the Earth is an oblate
spheroid, flattened at the poles and slighly bulging at its equator, due to its rotation). In this lab, you
will want to see how close you can get to 9.81 m/s2.
Experimental Procedure
The procedure for this lab is very straightforward. A device called an air track is used to provide a
ramp with an air cushion for a cart or rider which will slide down from the high side to the low side.
We will start by leveling the air track, and then create an inclined plane along the track by raising one
side by a known amount by inserting one or more flat lab weights under the air track foot. Timing each
run of the cart or rider down the track will give us the acceleration, and the surface gravity will come
2
from this acceleration measurement. Specifically, we will be looking to obtain the velocities, v and
2
v o , at two points separated by a known distance, x . Then we can use the time-independent
kinematic formula
2
v v o=2 a x
to determine the average acceleration through the distance traveled. To simplify things, it is
recommended that you use a distance of 1.00 m for x .
The air track will be set up similar to the way shown in the image below. Differences will be in the
width of the flag on top of the air track cart, or rider, and the air pump that feeds pressure into the
track will be resting on the floor, under your lab bench.
the first number displayed from the total, which is displayed when you toggle the little silver
switch, momentarily, to the READ position.
5. You should make ten trials, creating a table of times and resulting velocities through the gates.
The velocities are computed by measuring the width of the flag on the air cart and dividing this
width by the respective times through each gate. Note that you get a velocity at the position of
each photogate.
For each trial, calculate an acceleration value from the formula above. Then calculate an
average and standard deviation of the acceleration.
6. Now, to compute the acceleration due to surface gravity, note the similarity between the
inclined plane of the air track and the triangle formed by the g vector and components
perpendicular and parallel to the plane of the air track. Show this drawing in your lab report.
You should find that:
sin =
g =
a
h
=
g
L
a
L
= a
sin
h