Lab - Free Fall

LILONGWE UNIVRSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
BUNDA CAMPUS
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCES

LAB MANUAL
SEMESTER I 2021-2022
ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY
Aim
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the quantitative value of acceleration due to
gravity of planet earth.
Theory
An object acted on by the earth gravity alone is said to be in free fall motion. This concept of
free fall is therefore adopted to determine the statistical value of the acceleration associated
with gravitational force. The attraction force due to earth gravity is nearly constant near the
earth surface. This means, following Newton’s second law, that the motion of falling object is
uniformly accelerated. From the Kinematics of such motion the velocity of a particle in transit
with constant acceleration, say g, increases linearly with time (Serway & Jewett, 2010; Young
& Freedman, 2020). The variable relationship of time t, final velocity 𝑣 and initial velocity 𝑣0
is given in equation 1 below.
𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑔𝑡 (1)
Where 𝑣0 = 0 at The distance covered by the object in time is
𝑔𝑡 2
ℎ = ℎ0 + 𝑣0 𝑡 + (2)
2
Before the object drops to the ground the initial velocity is 0 and so does the reference height
ℎ0 . On dropping the equation (2) reduces to equation (3) below to describe the particle’s
displacement through height h in time t.
𝑔𝑡 2
ℎ= (3)
2
When h is plotted as a function of t2 the result is a straight line. From the slope, g can be found.
The mass of the ball doesn’t occur in the formula at all. This expresses that heavy and light
object fall equally fast in the gravitational field (as long as air drag can be ignored) (Giancoli,
2013).
Apparatus
The following are pieces of apparatus to be used in this experiment. Please take note of every
detail ( e.g. number of pieces).
Piece Of Apparatus Quantity
Retort Stand 1
Digital Timer (with power code) 1
Electromagnetic contact (Magnetic coil) 1
Gate (Break switch) 1
Connecting leads 4
Ruler (1m) 1
Metal ball 1
Procedure
Working principle of the free fall
A metal ball is held by a magnet and creates electric contact between the two connectors in the
magnetic coil at the top. When the magnet is suddenly removed the ball drops which starts the
timer. The ball hits the plate at the bottom which sends a stop pulse to the timer. The path
length of the free fall is measured by a ruler or a tape measure.
The setup of this experiment should be as shown below. Have this checked by your supervisor
(If already set please proceed to step one).
Figure 1: Setup for Acceleration due to gravity

1. Power ON the circuit on the digital timer (The ON switch is coded red in color). The
display should be able to show some number i.e. 0.00. If not 0.00 the press the black
reset button once).
2. Activate the electromagnet by using the silver knob on the digital timer. This makes
the metal attached to the magnetic coil become magnetized.
3. Then attach a metal ball to the metal below the coil. It should be able to get hold
without dropping.
4. Make sure the metal ball is aligned directly perpendicular to the silver gate door.
5. Drop the metal ball by turning the silver knob on the timer towards the
“demagnetize” side. Observe if the time counted the time it took the ball to reach the
gate door. This far you should know that the circuit is working!
6. Now repeat steps (2), (3) and (5) for the vertical distances as indicated in the table of
result.
Results
Your observed data should be presented in the table of results below. Where need arise for a
separate table please devise one.
Time t (s)
Average time (s)
Height (cm)
𝑡1 𝑡2 𝑡3
20
30
40
50
60
For every drop height, calculate t2. Plot a graph height h as a function of t2 (this should be the
straight line that best fits the dataset).
Reporting
In your report under discussion section consider the areas highlighted below:
• Using the graph determine the slope of the line graph
• What quantity represents this slope?
• How does this value compare with the theoretical value from literature? Explain any
discrepancies.
Reference
Giancoli, D.(2013). Physics: Principles with Applications (7th edition). Pearson.
Serway, R. ., & Jewett, J. (2010). Physics for Scientists and Engineers (8th Edition).
Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Young, H., & Freedman, R. (2020). University Physics with Modern Physics (15th Editi).
Pearson Education Inc.

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LILONGWE UNIVRSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCES

ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY

Figure 1: Setup for Acceleration due to gravity

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