LAB 3

LAB 3
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY
Name : Jammar Allan
ID#: 2103596
Course Code: PHS1005
Activity : Physics Practical
Group: Wednesday 8am - 11am
Lecturer: Chadwick Costley

Experiment : Acceleration due to gravity
Date : September 22, 2021.
Aim : Measure the acceleration of a freely falling body (g) using a Picket
Fence and a Photogate.
Diagram of Experimental Set up
P ick e t
fe n c e
Procedure
1. Using the data provided, a graph of velocity vs time was plotted.

2. A value for the acceleration due to gravity was calculated.
3. The error in the acceleration due to gravity was calculated.
4. Using Excel, a plot of distance vs. time using a quadratic fit was done to determine a value for
the acceleration due to gravity.
5.Calculated measurements were then compared to the generally accepted value of g (from a
textbook or other source).
6. Examined if dropping the Picket Fence from higher above the Photogate change the
acceleration?
7. Examined if throwing the Picket Fence downward, but letting go before it enters the
Photogate, change the acceleration.
8. Examined how adding air resistance affects the acceleration?
9. Examined how rotation about the x, y, or z axes affect the value of the acceleration?
Preliminary Questions
1. Sketch a prediction of a velocity vs. time graph for a freely falling object.
2. Sketch a prediction of a distance vs. time graph for a freely falling object.
3. Does the initial velocity of an object have anything to do with its acceleration?
For example, compared to dropping an object, if you throw it downward would the
acceleration be different after you released it?
 Initial Velocity is independent of the slope of the graph (acceleration), therefore, an
object thrown downward would still accelerate at the constant rate after release as the
object that was released.
Results : Data Set 4- sheet 4
Time/s Distance/m Velocity (m/s)

0.04151 0.050 1.4077
0.07348 0.10 1.7192
0.1005 0.15 1.9827
0.12432 0.20 2.2162
0.14585 0.25 2.4268
0.16567 0.30 2.6198
Calculations
 Acceleration due to gravity from velocity-time graph
Gradient = Y2 – Y1 / X2 – X1
= (2.675 – 1.025) / (0.172 – 0.004)
= (1.65) / (0.168)
= 9.82 m/s2 (gradient = acceleration due to gravity)
 Error in the acceleration due to gravity
Error in Slope = ± [ (0.025/1.65) + (0.002 / 0.168) ] * 9.82

= ± [ (0.015) + (0.012) ] * 9.82
= ± [ 0.027] * 9.82
= ± (0.265) m/s2
Therefore, acceleration due to gravity = (9.82 ± 0.265) m/s2
Absolute error = (difference of Theoretical value and Calculated value)

= (9.82-9.80)
= 0.02 m/s2
Relative error = (difference of Theoretical value and Calculated value)/ Theoretical value
= 0.02 / 9.80
= 2.04 x 10-3
Percentage error = relative error x 100

= (2.04 x 10-3) x 100
= 0.2%
 Acceleration due to gravity from displacement-time graph
Graphs
Displacement/m vs Time/s
0.350
0.300
f(x) = 4.88466311386289 x² + 1.00151303002246 x + 1.55191334582609E-05
Displacement/m 0.250
0.200
0.150
0.100
0.050
0.000
0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18
Time/s
Discussion/ questions
5. Compare your measurements to the generally accepted value of g (from a textbook or other
source). Does the accepted value fall within the range of your values?
 According to Physics Principles and Applications Sixth edition by Douglas C. Giancoli,

acceleration due to gravity on the Earth’s surface is approximately 9.80 m/s2. After
calculations, the acceleration due to gravity obtained was (9.82 ± 0.265) m/s2 which
places the theoretical value of 9.80 m/s2 within the range. The graphical method was less
accurate with 9.77 m/s2, however without a measure of uncertainty the graphical method
is less useful although it is fairly accurate.
6. Would dropping the Picket Fence from higher above the Photogate change the acceleration?
 Dropping the picket fence from higher above the photogate would not change the
acceleration as acceleration is constant and downward and is independent of height.
Which means regardless of height, objects will accelerate at the given constant.
7. Would throwing the Picket Fence downward, but letting go before it enters the Photogate,
change the acceleration.
 Throwing the picket fence downward would not change the acceleration. Similar to the
preliminary question # 3, throwing the picket fence downward would be adding an initial
velocity, however, this initial velocity will not change the acceleration as the picket fence
will accelerate at the constant after release.
8. How would adding air resistance affect the acceleration?
 Air resistance slows acceleration to less than ‘g’. The object is no longer in free fall as it
has another force acting upon it in the form of air resistance creating a net force equal to
the difference between the weight of the falling object and air resistance. As an object
falls rapidly, air resistance builds eventually stopping acceleration while movement
continues.
9. How would rotation about the x, y, or z axes affect the value of the acceleration? For each
axis of rotation, state how it would this affect the acceleration due to gravity. Would you
overestimate, underestimate, or neither? Explain your answer.
 Y- axis  This rotation will not affect the acceleration due to gravity. This is so because
allow it is rotating, the distance between dark and light shades(leading edges) won’t
change, the picket fence is simply rotating up to 360 degrees and maintaining its
configuration.
 Given that acceleration is inversely proportional with time. Rotating the picket fence in
the remaining axis will shorten the time taken between leading edges which the photogate
uses to calculate the acceleration. If time decreases acceleration should increase and this
will be the case for the x and z axis.
 X- axis  This rotation would overestimate the acceleration due to gravity. This is so
because the distance between leading edges would decrease giving a faster (smaller) time
than is usually required for the normal drop. I believe there is a chance of error if the
picket fence falls through completely horizontal. (Photogate would not be able to detect
the fringes)
 Z – axis  This rotation would overestimate the acceleration due to gravity because the
leading edge to edge distance would be shorten giving a faster time once again. Another
chance of error if the fence passes through flat/ in mid rotation. (Photogate would not be
able to detect the fringes)
Discussion
The generally accepted acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2 which makes the two calculated
measurements accurate with the theoretical value falling in the range of the calculated value of
(9.82 ± 0.265) m/s2. Regardless of the height from which the picket fence is dropped or if it’s
given an initial velocity, the acceleration due to gravity remains the same constant. Air resistance
however, if acknowledged will act as an opposing force which generates a value less than the
accepted constant.
Conclusion
The acceleration due to gravity of a freely falling body, using a Picket Fence and a Photogate,
was found to be (9.82 ± 0.265) m/s2.

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ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY

Name : Jammar Allan

Course Code: PHS1005

Activity : Physics Practical

Group: Wednesday 8am - 11am

Lecturer: Chadwick Costley

Date : September 22, 2021.

Diagram of Experimental Set up

1. Using the data provided, a graph of velocity vs time was plotted.

8. Examined how adding air resistance affects the acceleration?

Time/s Distance/m Velocity (m/s)

 Acceleration due to gravity from velocity-time graph

 Error in the acceleration due to gravity

Error in Slope = ± [ (0.025/1.65) + (0.002 / 0.168) ] * 9.82

Absolute error = (difference of Theoretical value and Calculated value)

Percentage error = relative error x 100

 According to Physics Principles and Applications Sixth edition by Douglas C. Giancoli,

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