FREE FALL

Present

Sreenivasulu Tadakaluru

By
 Pitchapa Prasertphan
Phasin Ngamthanaphaisarn
Nattawadee Laowansiri
Putt Choonhanirunrit
Thanawit Thaitrong
Class 1101
INTRODUCTION

In this experiment, we will be doing the Free Fall experiment. What is free
fall? Free fall is when an object is falling only by pure gravity. What we
need for this experiment are, tennis balls, ping pong balls, timers, and
measuring tape. About 400 years ago, Galileo Galilei performed an
experiment about the theory of free falling called falling bodies. Galileo
used two separate balls with different masses in his experiment. He
released both of the balls from Pisa's Leaning Tower and observed the time
when the balls with different masses hit the ground. The result is that both
hit the ground at the same time (slightly millisecond difference). Now for our
experiment, we will demonstrate the free fall by dropping two balls from the
4th floor to the 2nd floor. We will be using 3 formulas, distance,
%difference, and instantaneous velocity. The equation to find distance is S
1
= vt + 2 at² . S is the distance, v is velocity, a is acceleration, and t is time
we got on timers. We used this formula to calculate the distance of the ball.
The formula for % difference is

¿ (First value+Second value)/2∨¿ × 100 ¿ . The first value is

¿ First value−Second value∨ ¿ ¿

the height of the 4th floor to the 2nd floor, and the second value is the
distance of the ball. The last formula is used for instantaneous velocities,
which is Δ S = v( Δt ). We used this formula to calculate the time when the
object is midway.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the experiment is to perform the experiment in an
appropriate way to find the best solution in which we have to read the
instructions carefully because it will affect the results.The tennis and table
tennis balls are the important factor that we need to use to compare to find
the solutions. Also, this experiment will help us to use the correct formula
and adapt in each specific situation.
MATERIALS

3 Tennis balls, indicate the heavy object

3 Ping pong balls, indicate the light object

3 Stopwatches: measure time when balls dropped from the 4th floor and
the 2nd floor
 Measuring tape: measure the height from the 4th floor and the 2nd floor

SET UP
Before we started the experiment, the first
thing that we had to do is to read the instructions clearly and prepare the
required equipment to perform the experiment. In this experiment, we
needed 6 balls which are 3 tennis balls and 3 table tennis balls, a
measuring tape, 3 stopwatches, and a worksheet to record the data. Also,
we assign different tasks to each member in our group, 3 are on the 4th
floor and the rest are on the 2nd floor. We used a measuring tape to
measure the distance. There were 3 people recording the time, and one of
us took down the results of each trial. We made sure that everything is the
same as the procedure and created the same quality and standard for each
experiment to have an accuracy and effective answers.

Table tennis ball

Tennis ball
 Measuring tape
PROCEDURE
In this experiment, we assigned specific roles to each member on
different
Notestasks. We measured the height of the 4th floor to the ground of the
second floor. We dropped 2 different types of objects which are tennis balls
Timer
and table tennis ball. We started with a tennis ball, we let it drop to the
ground and recorded the time in each trial which we had 3 different people
to time it to receive the average time. Then, we can find the distance and a
percent differences from the average time of dropping the ball. Same for
table tennis, we have to perform exactly the same ways of experiment to
see and find the solution of time, distance and percent differences. In
addition, All of the balls had to drop at the same position and time. The
tennis ball represents the heavy object and the table tennis ball for the light
object. We have to use this to compare one another by using the formula to
find all the information. The velocity can be found by instantaneous speed
acceleration X time. Also before it hit the ground, we will use instantaneous
speed - acceleration time.
DATA AND RESULT (TENNIS BALL)

Trial Time seconds Average Time Distance %Different

(Seconds) (Meters)

Timer A Timer B Timer C

1 1.29 1.36 1.30 1.316 8.49 12.2706%

2 1.29 1.22 1.17 1.226 7.37 26.41%

3 1.25 1.25 1.12 1.206 7.13 29.52%

Total average 1.250 7.66 22.72%

Distance %Difference

Formula: S = vt + 1/2at² Formula: |First Value - Second Value|

———————————— 100%
Trial 1: S = 0*t + ½(9.8)(1.316)² First Value + Second Value /2
= 8.49 m
Trail 1: |9.6 -8.49|
Trail 2: S = 0*t + ½(9.8)(1.226)² —————- x 100% = 12.2706%
= 7.37 m 9.6 +8.49 / 2

Trail 3: S = 0*t + ½(9.8)(1.206)² Trail 2: |9.6 -7.37|

= 7.13 m ————— x 100% = 26.41%
9.6 +7.37 /2
Total Average:
= (1.316 + 1.226 + 1.206)/3 Trail 3: |9.6 - 7.13|
= 7.66 m ————— x 100% = 29.52%
9.6 +7.13 /2

Total Average:
= (12.2706 + 26.41 + 29.52)/3
= 22.72%
DATA AND RESULT (PING PONG)

Trails Time (seconds) Average Time Distance % Difference

(seconds) (meters)

Timer A Timer B Timer C

1 1.55 1.45 1.37 1.46 10.44 8.38%

2 1.50 1.55 1.40 1.48 10.73 11.12%

3 1.60 1.62 1.40 1.54 11.62 19.04%

Total 1.49 10.93 12.96%

average

Distance % Difference

Formula: S = vt + 1/2at² Formula: |First Value - Second Value|

————————————
Trail 1: S = 0*t + ½(9.8)(1.46)² (100%)
= 10.44 m. First Value + Second Value /2

Trail 2: S = 0*t + ½(9.8)(1.48)² Trail 1: |9.6-10.44|

= 10.73 m. ————— (100%) = 8.38%
(9.6+10.44)/2
Trail 3: S = 0*t + ½(9.8)(1.54)²
= 11.62 m. Trail 2: |9.6-10.73|
————— (100%) = 11.12%
Total average: (10.44+10.73+11.62)/3 (9.6+10.73)/2
= 10.93 m.
Trail 3: |9.6-11.62|
————— (100%) = 19.04%
(9.6+11.62)/2

Total average: (8.38+11.12+19.04)/3

=12.96%
DATA GRAPH OF HEAVY AND LIGHT OBJECT

DATA AND RESULT (INSTANTANEOUS VELOCITY)

 Instantaneous velocity Heavy object Light object

Time(s) V(m/s) Time(s) V(m/s)

When the object is midway
0.88 4.35 1.12 4.88
At the instant object hit
the ground 1.25 7.68 1.49 6.44

Calculation for Instantaneous velocity

Heavy object Light object

1 2 1 2
Formula: Sf = Si+V it+ 2 at Formula: Sf = Si+V it+ 2 at
When the object is midway: When the object is midway:
1 1
3.83= (9.8)t 2 5.47= (9.8)t 2
2 2
T = 0.88 s T = 1.12 s
Δ S= v(Δt ) Δ S= v(Δt )
3.83 = v(0.88) 5.47 = v(1.12)
V = 4.35 m/s V = 4.88 m/s
At the instant object hit the ground: At the instant object hit the ground:
ΔS ΔS
V= V=
Δt Δt
9.6 9.6
V= V=
1.25 1.49
V = 7.68 m/s V = 6.44 m/s

ANALYSIS
 First of all, from this experiment it can be inferred that the initial
velocity value is 0 m/s since the tennis balls and ping pong balls are
dropped. And the acceleration can be inferred to be 9.8 m/s since the
tennis balls and ping pong balls are free falling. The next step of the
solution involves knowing the unknown information, so in this case is
distance(s). Then identify a kinematic equation that allows us to determine
the unknown quantity. For this experiment, the three known variables and
one unknown variable are v, a, t and d. Once the equation is identified then
the next step is to substitute known values into the equation. Following the
step that we substitute all values, it allows us to know the unknown value
which is distance(s).
Later on, after we got all the values of distance(s), it is very easy for
us to \conclude the step that we’re going to find the percent difference
between the original distance, which is 9.6 meters, to the previous value
that we found for distance. For this experiment, the two known variables
are the first or original value of distance and the second value of distance
that we got. Once we substitute two known variables in the equation, it
allows us to know the percent difference.
Finally, after we got all of the data and results of both heavy and light
objects, we then calculate the instantaneous velocity of both when the
object is midway and as it hits the ground. As a result, the heavy object
took less time to hit the ground and has more velocity than the light object
which took more time with less velocity.

CONCLUSION
 In conclusion, from the data and results that we got from performing
this experiment, it shows that the weight and air resistance of the object
affects the time and velocity it takes for both objects to fall down. Therefore,
the heavier an object is, the faster it falls in the free fall motion.

RECOMMENDATION

The things that we would suggest to improve this experiment is the group’s
preparation. During the experiment, we prepared and managed quite slow
so it's hard for someone in the group to tracking of what we’re doing. Also
when we used the measuring tape, the distance that we got didn’t seem
like it is accurate because it was not straight from the 4th floor to the
ground resulting in the value of the distance that we got to altered a bit. In
the meantime, we also need to improve in time management because the
surroundings drew our attention away resulting in we used a lot of time
during the calculation part.

REFERENCES

1. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-

 12/airplane/ffall.html#targetText=The remarkable observation that

all,the time and distance traveled.

2. 1-D Kinematics: Describing the Motion of Objects. (n.d.). Retrieved

from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5a.cfm

3. Elert, G. (n.d.). Free Fall. Retrieved from https://physics.info/falling/

4. History of Free Fall. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://motionfreefall.blogspot.com/p/history-of-free-fall.html

5. Stadsvold, J. (2017, April 20). What is Free Fall? A Quick Lesson in

Physics. Retrieved from https://headrushtech.com/blogs/what-is-free-

fall/

WORK LOG

Date Name Have done

2/10/19 May Put data and result of tennis ball
 Putt Put data and result of instantaneous velocity
Jom Start the introduction
Aom Put data and result of ping pong ball
Team Put and calculate data
4/10/19 May Write the first part of the analysis
5/10/19 Putt Draw the setup diagram
Aom Rearrange and write the second part of the
analysis

Team Write the objective, set up, and procedure.

6/10/19 May Rearrange pages and change fonts

Putt Write the last part of analysis and finalize the
conclusion
Jom Finish the introduction and add references
Aom Put some pictures and write recommendation