1 Hillary Andru

IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021
Finding the Acceleration Due to Gravity Using a Free-Fall Adapter
Purpose:

This lab is done to investigate the acceleration due to gravity using the relationship between
distance and time.

Intro:

This lab will be based on one of the kinematics equations, where d represents displacement, v
represents initial velocity, t represents time, and g represents acceleration due to gravity.

1
d=vt + ¿❑2
2

In this lab, initial velocity is 0ms-1 which makes the first part of the formula equal to 0. This
leaves the equation as:
1
d= ¿❑2
2

This lab investigates the acceleration due to gravity using a graphical method.

Research Question:

How is time dependent on distance? How can the acceleration due to gravity be found using this
information?

Variables:

Table 4.1 Variables

Variable Type Description

Drop Distance Independent Ten data points will be measured. Distance will be
measured using a metre stick.

Drop Time Dependent Time will be measured by the free fall adapter
connected to the graphing software.

Metal Marble Controlled The metal marble being used to measure drop time
will be kept constant to keep mass, size, shape, and
material of drop object completely constant.
2 Hillary Andru
IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021

Method and Apparatus:

Apparatus:
● Metal marble
● Free fall adapter (with landing pad, ball release mechanism, and Bluetooth transmitter)
● PASCO Capstone graphing software
● Laptop
● Lab stand
● Clamps
● Metre stick
● Set squares
● Weight

Method:
1. Set up graphing software on laptop. Connect Bluetooth transmitter.
2. Place and fasten clamp on lab stand, as well as weight on the back of the lab stand for
stability. Secure ball release mechanism in clamp. Place landing pad under ball release
mechanism.
3. Fasten metre stick alongside ball release mechanism using another clamp on the lab
stand. Use set squares to ensure that the metre stick is perpendicular to the lab bench.
4. Place metal marble in ball release mechanism. Measure distance from bottom of the ball
to pressed down landing pad using set square against the metre stick. Record
measurement.
5. Start graphing software. Release metal marble from ball release mechanism. Record
listed time. Repeat for 5 trials.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all 10 data points.
3 Hillary Andru
IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021

Sketch:
Ball release
mechanism

Metal marble

Clamp
Metre stick

Laptop

Bluetooth
transmitter

Lab stand

Weight Landing pad Set square

Figure 6.1 Set up

4 Hillary Andru
IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021

Ball drop
mechanism

Metre stick

Metal marble

Set square

Landing pad

Figure 6.2 Measuring of distance

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IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021
Raw Data:

Table 7.1 Raw Data

Displacement,
Time Interval, t, (t ± 0.01)s
Index d, (d ± 0.5)cm
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5
1 10.0 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15
2 15.6 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18
3 29.4 0.25 0.25 0.24 0.25 0.25
4 39.1 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28
5 49.3 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.32 0.32
6 56.7 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34
7 66.9 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37
8 76.2 0.39 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.39
9 88.1 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42
10 103.5 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46
An uncertainty of 0.5cm was used for distance considering there is uncertainty on the ends of the
metre stick, the angle of the metre stick, and the movement of the metre stick when measuring
the last data point off the edge of the lab bench. An uncertainty of 0.01s was used for time
because the free fall adapter is quite accurate.
6 Hillary Andru
IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021
Processing of Raw Data:

Table 8.1 Processed Data

Index Displacement, d, tmean tmean2 Absolute Uncertainty, Absolute Uncertainty,
(d ± 0.005)m (s) (s2) Δt, (s) Δt2, (s2)

1 0.100 0.15 0.023 0.01 0.01

2 0.156 0.18 0.032 0.01 0.01

3 0.294 0.25 0.063 0.01 0.01

4 0.391 0.28 0.078 0.01 0.01

5 0.493 0.32 0.102 0.01 0.01

6 0.567 0.34 0.116 0.01 0.01

7 0.669 0.37 0.137 0.01 0.01

8 0.762 0.40 0.160 0.01 0.01

9 0.881 0.42 0.176 0.01 0.01

10 1.035 0.46 0.212 0.01 0.01

Uncertainty was decided to be the same as the raw data because for the majority of the data
points, there was no difference between the maximum and minimum mean. However, there
needs to be some uncertainty considered, so it is set to be 0.01s.

Sample Calculations:
1. tmean
t❑1 +t ❑2 +t ❑3+ t❑4 +t ❑5
tmean =
5
0.15+0.15+0.15+ 0.15+0.15
tmean =
5
tmean = 0.15s

2. tmean2
tmean2 = (0.15)2
tmean2 = 0.0225
tmean2 = 0.023s
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IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021

Results:

Figure 9.1 Distance vs. Time

Axes were switched to allow for slope to be distance over time which will aid in gravity
calculation. Uncertainty used was ±0.005m for distance and ±0.01s for time. The uncertainty for
time is more significant, having a 7% relative uncertainty versus the 5% relative uncertainty for
distance.

Sample Calculations:
1. Relative Uncertainty of distance, Δd
Δd
Δd = ×100
d
0.005
Δd = ×100
0.100
Δd = 5%

2. Relative Uncertainty of Time, Δt

Δt
Δt = ×100
t
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IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021
0.01
Δt = ×100
0.15
Δt = 6.67
Δt = 7%

Figure 9.2 Distance vs Time Squared

This graph was linearized by squaring time, which means that there is a proportional relationship
between distance and time squared. Uncertainty used was ±0.005m for distance and ±0.01s for
time. The uncertainty for time is more significant, having a 7% relative uncertainty versus the
5% relative uncertainty for distance (see above for sample calculations).

Table 9.3 Slope and Intercept Values

Slope, m, (ms-1) Y-intercept, b, (m)

Best Fit 4.937 -0.007785

Maximum 4.978 -0.01356

Minimum 4.832 0.007271

Theoretical 4.905 0
9 Hillary Andru
IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021

Table 9.4 Uncertainty

Absolute Uncertainty, Δm, (ms-1) 0.07

Random Error, Δm 1%

Percentage Difference 0.7%

Systematic Error 0.8%

Sample Calculations:
1. Absolute Uncertainty
m❑max −m❑min
Δm =
2
4.978−4.832
Δm =
2
Δm = 0.073
Δm = 0.07

2. Random Error
Δm
Δm = ×100
m❑best
0.073
Δm = ×100
4.937
Δm = 1.479
Δm = 1%

3. Percentage Difference
|m❑best−m❑theoretical|
Percentage Difference= ×100
m❑theoretical
|4.937−4.905|
Percentage Difference= ×100
4.905
Percentage Difference=0.652
Percentage Difference=0.7 %

4. Systematic Error
Systematic Error=|Percentage Difference−Random Error|
Systematic Error=|0.652−1.479|
Systematic Error=0.827
10 Hillary Andru
IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021
Systematic Error=0.8 %

Deriving and solving for gravity:

1
d= ¿❑2
2
2d
g= 2
t❑
g=2× 4.937
−2
g=9.874 ms❑
The acceleration due to gravity was found to be (9.87±0.07)ms-2.

Interpretation of Results and Conclusion:

When initial velocty is 0ms-1, time is dependent on distance as expressed through the equation:

1
d= ¿❑2
2

Gravitational acceleration was discovered to be (9.87±0.07)ms-2, which has a percentage

difference of 0.8% with the theoretical value of 9.81ms-2. The experimental value was found
when the equation was rearranged into:
2d
g= 2
t❑

Because the axes of the graphs were switched, distance over time squared was already calculated
from the slope of the best fit line which made the calculation simple. My group managed our
time well, with the initial set up taking the most time, and was able to use all the apparatus
easily.

Error Discussion, Evaluating Procedure, and Modifying Procedure:

Figure 11.1 Error

Error Type of Error Impact on Investigation Mitigation of Error

Angle of metre Random Distance values skewed in Increased caution when

stick both directions. ensuring that the metre stick
is perpendicular to ground,
increased use of set squares
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IB Physics HL 11
Block D
November 3, 2021
during measurements.

Free fall adapter Systematic Time values skewed in a Check that the free fall
errors certain direction due to adapter is working properly
problems with the free fall prior to starting the lab.
adapter.