EXPERIMENT NO: 05

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Verification of the laws of Galileo’s falling body.

Theory:

Galileo’s three laws of falling body are as follows:

In vacuum,(1) all bodies starting from rest fall with equal rapidity,(2) the velocity
acquired by a body falling from rest is proportional to the time of its fall and (3)
the space traversed by a falling body from rest is proportional to the square of the
time.

From 2nd law, if a body acquires velocities v1,v2,v3…….during time intervals of t1,t2,
𝑣 𝑣 𝑣
t3…………,then by this law, 1 = 2 = 3 ………………….
𝑡1 𝑡2 𝑡3

From 3rd law, if a body falls through distances h1,h2,h3……….during the time
ℎ ℎ ℎ
intervals,t1 ,t2,t3……………then by this law, 21 = 22 = 23 ............
𝑡 1 𝑡 2 𝑡 3

Apparatus:
Plank, bricks/books, meter scale, marble, stop watch.

Procedure:
1. A plank as long as possible was taken.
2. Brick or book was placed under one end and of plank to make is it high
(approximately 25cm). So the plank will be inclined with the horizontal.
3. A marble at the upper end of the plank was hold and the stop was started
the moment was released the marble. The stop watch was stopped the
moment when it strikes the ground.
4. The procedure (3) was repeated at least 3 times and average of the time
𝑠
was taken and the square of the time was taken and then velocity (v= ) and
𝑡
s/t2 was calculated.
5. More bricks or books were placed under one end of the plank to make it
more high (50cm) and the procedure (3) and (4) were repeated.
6. Making the heights 75cm and 100cm, the procedure (3) and (4) were also
repeated.
 Table of observation:

𝑠
No. of Height of Distance Time Mean Velocity (v= i.e
𝑡
obs. Slope Traveled t Time V= s/t s/t2
cm i.e. (s) t (m/s)
length of (s) (m/s)
the
plank, s
(m)
1 2.8
2 25 1 2.9 T1 =2.8 0.357 0.1275
3 2.7
4 4.1
5 50 2 3.9 T2=4.0 0.50 0.125
6 4.0
7 5.0
8 75 3 4.9 T3 =5 0.60 0.12
9 5.1

Calculation:
𝑠
Velocity, v1 = =1m/2.8s =0.357 m/s
𝑡1

Similarly, v2, v3, v4 were calculated.

𝑣1 s 0.357 v
Again, i.e. = = 0.1275 m/s2 and all the time, is constant hence the
𝑡1 𝑡21 2.8 t
2nd law is proved.
s s s s
Similarly, , , calculated again since is constant, hence 3rd law is
𝑡22 𝑡23 𝑡24 𝑡2
proved.
Results with explanation:
From the table it is seen that v/t is always constant which proves 2 nd law.
Again, from the table it is seen that s/t2 is always constant which proves 3nd law.
Precautions:
1. The distance and height should be measured carefully.
2. Time must be measured very carefully also.
3. Parallax should be avoided.