ACTIVITY 3: The Acceleration Due to Gravity

OBJECTIVE: To measure the acceleration due gravity on different masses and compare it to the true
value of acceleration due to gravity on Earth (g = 9.81 m/s^2).

INTRODUCTION
To sensibly describe the motion of objects in our universe, we need to understand
displacement, velocity and acceleration. When we use the word “acceleration” we mean the
rate at which the velocity of a moving object changes with time. Accelerations are always
caused by “forces.” This is the essence of Newton’s first law. In today’s activity, we will
measure the acceleration due to the gravitational force exerted by the earth on different kinds
of coins.
CONCEPT INVOLVED
Galileo first demonstrated this result when he dropped cannonballs of different masses
(weights) from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to show that although they had different masses,
when dropped together, they landed together. This happened in this manner because they
both experienced the same acceleration.
From the equation of acceleration due to gravity in one dimension, we can determine
the value of acceleration due to gravity by measuring the time and height of fall of different
coins.

Y= vi t+ 1 2 g t2
∆ WHERE VI = 0 (DROPPED) 2∆Y/t2 =g

In this experiment, like Galileo, we will be dropping an object from rest,

so that vi will be zero.
We will assume that the only acceleration present is due to the force of gravity
so that we can set a = g.

PROCEDURE
1. Locate a high-level position in your house to drop the coins.
2. Measure the elevation of that position using the string and metric ruler.
3. Let one person in your house take the time of fall of coins using the timer in cell phone.
4. Drop the coins several times. In each case, start the timer when the coin is released and stop
the timer when the coin hits ground.
5. Keep track of the time in a table of data.

6. Calculate the value of "g" for each run. "g" should be 9.81 ms2
7. Compare the average value of “g” from the accepted value of” g”

DATA AND OBSERVATION

2∆Y/t2= g

TRIAL Acceleration due to gravity(g)

∆ y (meter) ∆ t (second) t (sec )
∆
2 2
(m/s2)

₱10 2.5m 0.62

₱5 2.5m 0.76
₱1 2.5m 0.80
₱ 0.25 2.5m 1.77

Average measured/calculated value for g = ADD /4 = _______________ = Experimental value

Accepted value for g = 9.81 m/s2

% error: % error = Experimental g−accepted g/accepted g x 100% = _________ %

CONCLUSION
1. How did the gravitational acceleration vary with the different masses? Did it become smaller,
larger or remain roughly constant?
2. Compare your value of g with the accepted value of 9.8 m/s2. Is your value lower or higher than
this value? Why?
3. What did you discover in this experiment?

Thinking- Out-Loud: Your Reflection