ACCELERATED PHYSICS

FREE
FALL
LAB REPORT

1101, GROUP 3
WITCHAYUTNGARMPORNCHAI
TANAKOM KAWEEWUTHISINP
NICHAPORN NATTAWUT

MISS SUSANA ALULOD

Mahidol University International
Demonstration School
Semester 1 Academic year 2017-2018
 OBJECTIVE
This experiment objective is
to determine the height of
MUIDS fourth floor by using
free fall comparing with using
measurement method. Also, to
prove Galileo's theory that
different types of objects will
landed to the ground at the
same time from the same
distance without air resistance.
 INTRODUCTION
A falling object is the object falling under the
influence of gravity, downward to Earth, and has
an acceleration of 9.8 m/s. Scientists denote an
acceleration of gravity as g. Scientist came up with
a constant value of acceleration from the
exploration of Galileo Galilei. Galileo Galilei
experimented dropping same kind of objects with
the different mass to determine whether these two
objects will drop to the ground at the same time or
not. And the result came up with two objects with
different mass were accelerated and dropped to
the ground at the same rate.
In this experiment, we use 10 m/s as an
acceleration of gravity to find the height of MUIDS
building by using formula of d=1/2gt. From dropping
the light and heavy balls, we can prove and
determine whether Galileos experiment is correct
or not.
 MATERIALS
1) 6 balls
a) 3 futsal balls
b) 3 volley balls
2) 3 stopwatches
3) measuring tape
SET UP
 PROCEDURE
1. Assign roles for each member:
- 3 timers at the fourth floor (with extra task
each)
Timer A: Drop balls
Timer B: Take note
Timer C: Measure the height of building with
a measuring tape
- 1 ball collector at the ground floor

2. Timers go to fourth floor with 6 balls (3 futsal

+ 3 volley balls), measuring tape, 3 stopwatches
(smartphones), worksheet and pen or pencil

3. Timer C use measuring tape to measure the

height from the balcony to the ground with
assistance from the ball collector on the ground
floor.

4. Timer B note down the measured height.

5. All timers get ready to record the data.

 PROCEDURE
6. Timer A drop the ball and at the same time,
give a signal to start time recording until the
ball hit the ground. ( All timer measure the time
separately).

7. Timer B write down all timers measurement in

the worksheet.

8. Repeat for trail #2 and #3. Then move on to

next object (3 more trails).

9. Ball collector bring all the balls back to the

lab.
 ANALYSIS
In the free fall experiment, the measured length is 14.7
meters while the data recorded by three experimenters
shows that the average calculated distance is 20.20
meters. So the percentage difference is equal to -31.51%
for the light balls. On the other hand, the data of the
heavy ball shows the difference of -12.8% according to the
average calculated distance is 16.74 meters. This might be
implied that the experiment is not accurate. There are
lots of factors that might affect the experiment which are
air resistance, timing, and the height that the balls were
dropped. Air resistance is negligible in the calculation but
it is not on the real experiment. Without calculating it,
the results is more than the actual height of the building
because the balls were moving to the ground slower than
it actually is. Since the time is increased, the calculated
distance is also increased. Timing is also another
important factor. The stopwatch should be started timing
when the balls start moving but in this experiment, it has
been timed too fast or too slow. The height the the balls
were dropped is also important. When the experimenter
dropped the balls down, the height is not always the
same. The balls should be dropped at the balcony but for
the first time, it has been dropped too high, meaning that
it takes more time to drop at the ground. Both natural
effects and human errors are the main factors that make
the experiments went wrong.
 CONCLUSION

Concerning the Galileo concept of

moving, the free falling objects must
hit the ground at the same time no
matter they are heavy or light.
However, in this case, the heavier
object arrive at the floor faster than
the lighter objects. In conclusion, the
experiment is inaccurate.
WORK LOG
 REFERENCE

Introduction to Free Fall. (n.d.).

Retrieved September 12, 2017, from
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/
1Dkin/u1l5a

(n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2017, from

http://muse.tau.ac.il/museum/galileo/gal
ileo_low_of_fall.html