Title Free Fall

Data:

For Run#01:

For Run#02:
For Run#03:
For Run#04:

Graph for finding slope of velocity-time curve:

Analysis:

Data shown above is for free fall of picket. Data for four runs is shown in tabular form
given above. Average, uncertainty and percentage uncertainty is calculated in each data table.
From the data given average acceleration with uncertainty up to one digit after point is
calculated. From where, acceleration can be calculated as

Acceleration = acalc = aavg +- S.D

By first run data, two values can be obtained for acceleration 9.7+0.4 = 10.1m/s2 and 9.7-0.4 =
9.3m/s2. This means that actual value of acceleration lies between 9.3 and 10.1.

By second run data, two values can be obtained for acceleration 9.9+0.2 = 10.1m/s2 and 9.9-0.2
= 9.7m/s2. This means that actual value of acceleration lies between 9.7 and 10.1.

By third run data, two values can be obtained for acceleration 9.7+1.2 = 10.9m/s2 and 9.7-1.2 =
8.5m/s2. Which means that actual value of acceleration lies between 8.5 and 10.9?

By fourth run data, two values can be obtained for acceleration 9.8+0.7 = 10.5m/s2 and 9.8-0.7 =
9.1m/s2. This means that actual value of acceleration lies between 9.1 and 10.5.

It is obvious for above four ranges of acceleration that gravitational acceleration lies in that
ranges. From the four numbers of data, the result of position vs time graph is a line having large
slope. It should be parabolic because equation of position of picket has square of time. But
uncertainty is there and main cause is lower rate of sampling of data that is only 6 points.
Uncertainty can be removed or minimized by high rate of sampling of data. Another cause of
uncertainty is human negligence because while observing data there may be mistakes.

Coming to the velocity-time graph of run#01 its error can be seen by standard deviation of
values. Graph is drawn both in excel as well as by hand for better understanding and comparison
of results. Graph is a straight line, this should be as velocity is derivative of position and square
of t in position goes off. Straight line shows that velocity is increasing linearly with time. Value
of standard deviation shows that how close are the values of velocity to mean value. S.D = 0.4
and average velocity = 2.2m/s is above example. Standard deviation is used to draw error bars on
values of graph. These error bars are 0.2 units above and 0.2 units below the actual point, as total
length is 0.2+0.2 = 0.4. the maximum length of error bars can’t be larger than standard deviation.

From hand-made graph a best fit line is drawn and its slope is calculated that is given by:

Slope of best fit = (2.52 – 2.3)/(3 – 2.977) = 9.56m/s2

Slope represents the acceleration as it is very close to 9.8m/s2. The is because the slope of
velocity-time graph should be acceleration.
A steepest line is drawn and its slope is calculated that is given by:

Slope of best fit = (2.8 – 1.60)/(3 – 2.92) = 15m/s2

And a flattest line is drawn and its slope is calculated that is given by:

Slope of best fit = (2 – 1.92)/(2.96 – 2.94) = 4m/s2

From above two slopes we can find the slope of best fit as follows:

(15 + 4)/2 = 9.5m/s2

9.5m/s2 is very close 9.56, that is the slope of best fit and these two are very close to 9.8m/s2.
This 9.5 can be written as agraph = 9.5+- 5.5. Where 5.5 is value of uncertainty. Uncertainty is
very large from graphical method, so the reliable method is from table. Uncertainty from table is
0.4, which can be minimized by higher rate of sampling data.

Same will be the analysis for all other three runs but only values will be changed.

Conclusion:

Freely falling bodies have constant acceleration of 9.8m/sec2 and velocity increases with
the passage of time. Actuals curve of position vs time for free fall is parabolic shape, however
errors can occur due to sampling method. Velocity-time curves are straight lines. Errors in data
can be reduced by taking large number of measurements.