Name ____________________________ Date __________

Core Practical: Determining the acceleration due to gravity

After completing this practical, and the questions relating to it, you should be able to:

 carry out an experiment to determine a value of g

 apply the equations of motion

 identify reasons for uncertainties in readings

 understand how to reduce the error in timing with a stopwatch

 use appropriate significant figures

 plot a graph and calculate its gradient

 use the equation of a straight line to relate the gradient of a graph to a known
physical quantity
Common Practical Assessment Criteria being assessed:

CPAC 1: (a) Correctly follows instructions to carry out the experimental

techniques or procedures.
Follows written procedures
CPAC 4: a) Makes accurate observations relevant to the experimental or
investigative procedure.
Makes and records
observations
b) Obtains accurate, precise and sufficient data for
experimental and investigative procedures and records this
methodically using appropriate units and conventions.

Information
It is possible to determine the acceleration due to gravity, g, by dropping a ball from a
known height and measuring how long it takes to fall. By using the data collected and
applying the equations of motion, a value for g can be determined.

Apparatus provided:

Tape measure or two metre sticks joined together, G-clamp, tall clamp and clamp-stand,
bull-dog clip, plumb line, “g-ball”, stop watch, L-shaped bracket.

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Method Part 1:

1. Use the G-clamp to secure the base of your clamp stand to the lab bench.

2. Attach the L-shaped bracket to the clamp stand using the bull dog clip so that when

the g-ball is pressed against the top of the bracket, the distance from the bottom of

the ball to the floor is 1.750 metres. Use the plumb line to ensure that you are

measuring this distance vertically.

3. Use the stopwatch to collect 3 values for the time taken for the g-ball to drop from a

height of 1.75 metres. Do NOT use the ball’s built-in timer.

4. Repeat this using the ball’s built-in timer.

5. Record your results in this table. (Think about whether you need to account for any

anomalous results).

TABLE 1

Time 1 / Time 2 / Time 3 / Average

s s s Time / s

Timing with stopclock:

Use the data

you've collected

Timing with built-in timer (g-ball)

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and the appropriate equation of motion to calculate the acceleration due to gravity (show your
calculations):

Value of g / ms-2

Timing with stopclock:

Timing with built-in timer

Once you have completed Part 1, move on to Part 2

Method Part 2:

1. Use the g-ball’s built-in timer to collect 3 values for the time taken for the g-ball to
drop from the range of heights in the table below (you already have the results for
1.750 m from above).
2. Carry out the appropriate calculations and complete the table.

Results: (Table 2)

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 Height, s / m Time 1 / s Time 2 / s Time 3 / s Average t2 / s2
Time, t / s

1.750

1.650

1.550

1.450

1.350

1.250

1.150

1.050

Plot a graph:
Remember that s = ut + ½at2. In this situation, the initial velocity of the ball is zero and the
acceleration is due to gravity, so ut = 0 and a = g, so we have s = ½gt2.

This is of the form y = mx + c, which is the equation for a straight line, where y = s, x = t2 and m (the
gradient) = ½g. In this case, c = 0.

Use your results to plot a graph of our results, with height (s) on the y-axis and t2 on the x-
axis. You must start your axes at zero - do not telescope your axes.

The graph should be a straight line through the origin and the gradient should be equal to ½g.

What is the value of your gradient? ………………………………..…………………………………………

What is the value of “g” from your graph? ………………………………………………………….

Determining the acceleration due to gravity –

questions on practical

You will need to remember that:

The uncertainty in a set of measurements of the same thing can be calculating using:

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 uncertainty = (½ × range of readings)

The percentage uncertainty in a set of measurements of the same thing can be calculating using:

%uncertainty = (½ × range of readings) × 100%

(mean of readings)

Using Results Table 1, calculate the following, showing all your working out:

a) the uncertainty in the time measured using the stopclock

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) the percentage uncertainty in the time measured using the stopclock

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

c) the uncertainty in the time measured using the g-ball’s automatic timer
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d) the percentage uncertainty in the time measured using the g-ball’s automatic time

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

e) the percentage uncertainty in the distance of 1.75 m as measured with the ruler?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Since you have used the equation g = 2s/t2, to find a value for g, the percentage uncertainty in the
calculated value will be:
% uncertainty in g = (% uncertainty in s) + (2 × % uncertainty in t)

Why is the percentage uncertainty in t multiplied by 2?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

What is the percentage uncertainty in the value of g you found using the stopclock?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

What is the percentage uncertainty in the value of g you found using the g-ball timer?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Does using the built-in timer improve the accuracy of your experiment? If so, why do you think this is?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

How does using the plumb line improve the accuracy of your experiment?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Use the equation below to find the percentage difference between the actual value of g, (9.8 ms-2)
and the value of g you obtained from your graph:

% difference = (difference in values) × 100%

real value

Percentage difference in value of “g” = ……………………………………………………...……………….

Evaluation
Suggest reasons why your value for g is not exactly equal to 9.81 ms–2

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Suggest ways of reducing the uncertainties in your experiment.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Follow up work

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There are several methods for finding acceleration due to gravity with which you should be familiar.
Carry out some research to find out how you could use find a value for g using a datalogger to time
a freely falling object.