University of San Carlos

Talamban Campus
Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City, Cebu 6000
A.Y. 2015 -2016

Title: Motion of Freely-Falling Objects

Name: Rivas, Louie Jay A.
Year & Course: BS CompE-2

Schedule: Tue 4:30 7:30

Date Submitted: August 4, 2015

I. Objective
The objectives of this experiment are to study the motion of a freely-falling object, to
determine the acceleration due to gravity, to derive quantities from the slope and intercept of a
graph, and to determine if the motion of a falling object changes when varying its mass.
II. Theory
Any object that falls freely experiences acceleration directed to the center of the Earth or
downward, no matter the initial object movement. The magnitude of this free fall acceleration is
denoted by the symbol g, whose value slightly varies with the altitude and the latitude.
III. Methodology
Using a digital balance scale, the masses of the small and big steel ball were measured.
Then, the corresponding masses were recorded in Table 1 and 2. The free fall sensor was
mounted and powered by using Channel 3 of the CoachLab II panel by connecting the colorcoded cables to its corresponding color-coded socket. The Coach 6 Free Fall Activity was clicked
in the desktop of the computer. The Coachlab panel II was ensured. Diagram and Table were
seen on the Coach Program window. The Diagram and the Table can be shown on the Coach
program window by right clicking the sensor placed on Channel 3 in the CoachLab II panel as it
appears in the computer monitor.
The small steel ball was attached to the free fall sensor with the release mechanism at the
desired height. The Start button was clicked in the upper left of the Main toolbar to start
measurement. The steel ball was released. As soon as the measurement is done, the Diagram was
scanned. The time of fall of the steel ball is determined. That is equal to the time interval during
which the reading is 0V. Another trial was done for the same height. The data was always
removed before starting another measurement. The average of 2 trials was taken and the results
were recorded in Table 1. Steps 5 - 8 were repeated for the other heights / displacements (y)
indicated in Table 1. The correct number of significant figures was used. Steps 5 - 8 were
repeated using the bigger steel ball. The results were written in Table 2.

The height of fall (y) as a function of a square of the time of fall (t2) for the two steel
balls was plotted on separate linear graphing papers. Each was labelled accordingly. The slope of
the 2 graphs was determined. The error in the slopes was found. The value of the acceleration
due to gravity (g) and its corresponding error from the slopes of the 2 graph was determined. The
experimental value of g was recorded in Tables 1 and 2.
IV. Results, Discussion and Graph
Results:
Table 1:
Motion of the small steel ball
Mass of the small steel ball:15.91 g
Displacem
ent

y (m)
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
-0.6
-0.7
-0.8
-0.9
-1.0
-1.1
-1.2
-1.3
-1.4
-1.5

Time of
fall
t (s)

Square
of the
time of
fall
t2 (s2)

0.174
0.030
0.225
0.051
0.273
0.074
0.303
0.092
0.340
0.116
0.368
0.135
0.387
0.149
0.421
0.177
0.436
0.190
0.454
0.206
0.483
0.223
0.512
0.262
0.526
0.277
0.564
0.318
gave g = (-3.54 1.15)

Table 2:
Motion of the big steel ball
Mass of the big steel ball:24.06 g
Displacemen
t

y (m)
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
-0.6
-0.7
-0.8
-0.9
-1.0
-1.1
-1.2
-1.3
-1.4
-1.5

Time of
fall
t (s)

Square
of the
time of
fall
t2 (s2)

0.165
0.027
0.215
0.046
0.266
0.070
0.297
0.088
0.327
0.107
0.356
0.127
0.383
0.146
0.413
0.170
0.433
0.188
0.458
0.210
0.476
0.226
0.504
0.254
0.520
0.270
0.536
0.287
gave g = (-3.46 1.54)

Discussion:
In the table shown, states that as the displacement increases the time of all also increases
which we could say that the displacement is proportional to the time of fall. But in the graph its
shows that the line formed by the results is linear but the direction is going down, it is because
the motion of the both small and big steel balls are in downward motion. Lastly, the data
gathered is enough to identify the constant gravity, which is the average slope of the two
diagonal lines added or subtracted by the mean of the two slopes

Graphs: (Red line is the line of best fit)

Fig 1. Motion of the small steel ball

Fig 2. Motion of the big steel ball

V. Conclusion
Freely-falling objects are objects that are being moved downward due to gravity. The
acceleration due to gravity is being determined by gathering data on the displacement and the
time of fall of a ball. The motion cannot be affected by mass it is because mass is not required in
determining the unknown quantities in a freely-falling object.
VI. Recommendation
I would recommend having all things prepared accurately and neatly. And also make sure
to observe your recordings, if there is a doubt, make sure to repeat it or to analyze the situation.
Lastly, be careful in calculating, estimating, and applying correct significant figures to your
quantity because that would give a huge error if not accurately done.

VII. References
Free Fall Concept. Gravity Acceleration
http://www.jfinternational.com/ph/free-fall.html [Date Retrieved: 08/02/15]