Use your own data to calculate the acceleration of the flashlight you drop.

The time it takes to make that change is 0.33 sĪcceleration = (3.33 m/s – 0 m/s) / 0.33 s = 10 m/s 2 In our case, at time 0.297 to 0.33 s (time = 0.033 s), the distance traveled is from 0.4 m to 0.51 m (distance = 0.11 m). V initial is the flashlight’s velocity just before it’s dropped, or 0 m/s V final is the velocity of the light at the end of the drop. Here’s an example using our data (see the table above): If your flashlight leaves a streak of light, only record the location at the bottom of the streak (the streak is a 1/30 th of a second record of the light's fall).Ĭalculate the acceleration due to gravityĪcceleration describes how fast the rate of something changes.Īcceleration = ( V final – V initial) / the time to make this change Notice that, during the first few steps, the flashlight doesn’t fall very much. Now, step by step, record the distance in meters dropped and the corresponding time of the flashlight’s fall. The frame you’re now at is time 0s and distance 0m.) Now looking at Equation (1) and equating F to the gravitational force (Fg), we. (Note that frame-by-frame players usually let you move forward or backward via arrow keys. This force (measured at the Earths surface) is called the weight of the object. That means each frame will add an additional 0.033 seconds.ĭistance Data: In your video player, find the frame just before your flashlight drops. Time Data: Since your camera records 30 frames a second, each frame represents only 1/30 of a second, or about 0.033 seconds.

The gravitational force of the Earth causes all objects to be accelerated towards the center of the Earth. THEORY The force of gravity affects all massive bodies. Experiment I: Acceleration of an Object in Free-Fall 1. The objective of the lab was to determine the gravitational acceleration constant, g, by measuring the change in velocity of known masses sliding down an inclined plane. Label the columns “Time in seconds” and “Distance in meters.” (See the sample table below.) motion under the influence of constant acceleration and an appreciation for the varied ways of measuring the acceleration due to gravity and the errors inherent in these techniques. Make a table with two columns to record your data. Redo it if you didn’t get a clear view of your flashlight’s light falling straight down. Digital video is easy to erase and reshoot. Have someone else film the drop with a digital camera (in HD at standard 30 frames per second).Ĭheck your video to make sure you got the shot. If possible, use only one finger to hold the flashlight still until the time of release. Place the light as close to the 0 cm mark as possible and against the measuring tape. Make sure your flashlight is on a non-blinking setting. Turn on the flashlight and point it upwards. Have one partner stand next to the measuring tape.

Finding acceleration due to gravity lab