Name: ______________________________________________ Period: _________ Date:____________

Lab: Ball Toss (Free Fall) Lab Station#:_____

Objective: To calculate the distance, the initial and final velocities as you toss the ball up in the air.
Materials: timer and a ball
Procedure:
1. Practice tossing the ball up a few times to make sure you are consistent with your ball toss.
2. Time your ball toss. (The time from when you release the ball to when you catch the ball).
Record your time in the data table and do this 3 more times.
3. Divide the time by 2 to know the time it takes the ball to free fall. USE THIS TIME FOR ALL
CALCULATIONS!!!!!!
4. Calculate the final velocity of the ball from the top when the ball is at zero velocity: v i = 0, a = 9.8
m/s, use free-fall time and the formula: v f = a∆t
5. Calculate the distance of the ball fell using the free-fall time: d = ½ a∆t 2
6. Calculate the average for time, “free fall” time, velocity, and distance for your ball toss.

Data:

Time (s) Free Fall Time: Final Velocity, (m/s), Distance, (m),
∆t = ∆tball/2
∆tball vf = a ∆t d = ½ a ∆t 2

Avg free fall Average velocity: Average distance:

X time:

Questions:

1. What was your average distance of your ball toss? ______________________ m

2. What was your average free fall time? ___________ seconds.

What was your average final velocity when the ball hits your hand? _______________m/s
What is the initial velocity at the highest point of the ball toss? _________________m/s

3. On the “free fall” of the ball, use the final velocity, initial velocity, and free-fall time from
question 2 to calculate the acceleration using the formula: a = (vf – vi)/∆t Show your work!

4. Calculate your percent error: Actual acceleration is 9.8 m/s 2. Your experimental acceleration is
your answer from step 3. Show your work.
Name: ______________________________________________ Period: _________ Date:____________

Lab: Ball Toss (Free Fall) Lab Station#:_____

% error = (9.8 – experimental acceleration)/ 9.8 x 100