COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.

Analytical Results of Free Fall Laboratory Test

KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, FEU Institute of Technology, Sampaloc, Manila

Abstract. An object that is falling under the influence of gravity alone is called a free-
falling body. Two prominent people, namely Aristotle and Galileo, proposed a different
perspective about the nature of a free fall. In order to differentiate their views, the group
conducted a laboratory experiment which aims to determine if the physical
characteristics of an object affects its acceleration when it is on free fall. Through the use
of small and medium-sized marble as well as the metallic ball, with each has its own size
and mass, the group calculated their acceleration when dropped at the height of 135 cm.
The group measured the time of each object the moment it was released on its initial
position until it reaches the ground in 10 trials. Subsequently, the derived acceleration for
small-sized marble is 902.38 cm/s2 with a percentage error of 8.01% while for the
medium-sized, it obtained an acceleration of 1006.25 cm/s2 with just a 2.57% of
percentage error. For the metallic ball, the calculated acceleration is 1093.08 cm/s 2, which
is considered the fastest, with a percentage error of 11.43%. As a result, the group learned
that the physical properties of an object, particularly the mass and its size, do not
significantly affect its acceleration during free fall. The acceleration due to gravity is the
same for any object, a heavy object does not fall faster than a light object. Therefore,
Galileo’s claim about the nature of a free falling body is correct.
Keywords. Acceleration, Free Fall, Gravity, Position, Time

Now it is the goal of this experiment to shed light about this

1 Introduction
An object that is falling under the influence of gravity
alone is called a free-falling body. Two major natural
philosophers, Galileo and Aristotle, disagree about the
nature of a free-falling body. Team Aristotle argues that
the property of a falling body affects its motion. They argue
that a heavier object falls faster to the ground as compared
to a lighter object. The reason that this phenomenon is
directly observable in nature. Team Galileo, on the other
hand, vehemently denies this observation. Galileo explains
that free-falling bodies, regardless of their masses and
shapes, moves at the same rate towards the ground. These
contradicting ideas confused a lot of people for a long time.
matter.
1.1 Background
Greek Philosopher Aristotle (384–322 B.C) had viewed
that all objects have a natural place in the universe. He
proposed that heavy objects like rocks wanted to be at rest
on the Earth and that light objects like smoke wanted to be
at rest in the sky. While the stars wanted to remain in the
heavens. He thought that a body was in its natural state
when it was at rest. For the body to move in a straight line
at a constant speed, an external agent was needed to
continually propel it, otherwise it would stop moving.
Aristotle thought that all bodies move towards their
COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory
natural place. For some objects, Aristotle claimed the
natural place to be the center of the earth, wherefore they
fall towards it. For other objects, the natural place is the
heavenly spheres, wherefore gases, steam for example,
move away from the center of the earth and towards
heaven as well as to the moon (Chapman, 2017).
Few years past, one man named Galileo realized that
a force is necessary to change the velocity of a body, i.e.,
acceleration, but no force is needed to maintain its
velocity. This insight leads to Newton's First Law —no force
means no acceleration, and hence the body will maintain
its velocity. Galileo was the first scientist to execute a
scientific analysis of gravity, attempting to explain how it
operated, and he calculated the acceleration due to gravity
using an inclined plane and some heavy balls. Much of
what Newton did was based on expanding on Galileo’s
work over a century earlier. He said that what he had
accomplished, as much as it was exclaimed as genius was
from standing on the shoulders of giants (Chapman, 2017).
According also to Chapman (2017), until Galileo, no
one had attempted to mathematically described gravity. As
a result, the people still believed that gravity is something
that only applied on earth, as firstly proposed by Aristotle.
Then, the physics was revolutionized when Sir Isaac
Newton came up with a universal law that calculates the
force between any two bodies anywhere in the universe,
which we now call gravity.
1.2 Objectives
This experiment aims to satisfy the following objectives:
1. To describe motion of a free- falling body; and
2. To measure acceleration of a free- falling body.
2 Materials and Methodology
In order to demonstrate the motion of a free-falling
body, the experiment requires the following materials
upon data collection process. Three objects with varying
sizes and mass were used in signifying a free-falling body.
Hence, small-sized marble, medium-size, and metallic ball
are the objects used in this experiment. Meanwhile, the
mass and dimension of these objects were quantified with
the used of a triple beam balance and Vernier caliper. On
the setup, an iron stand with a pivot clamp attached on it
KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.
was used to hold the marbles and metallic ball in its
dropping position. The height where the object is about to
released was measured with the use of a meter stick.
Correspondingly, a stop watch was utilized in order to
record the time it takes for each object to hit the ground.
Figure 2 shows the materials and instruments used upon
the execution of the experiment.
Figure 2 Materials and Instruments used in the execution of Free-
Falling Body Experiment
2.1 Data Used
A. Experimental Acceleration of Free-Falling Object
The experimental acceleration of free-falling object
was calculated with the used of the equation below:
Eq. 1.
𝟐𝑯
𝒂= 𝟐
𝒕
wherein,
Variable Data
Vertical distance of the
H ball from the dropping
point (ground).
t Time it takes for the ball to
hit the ground.
B. Percentage Error of the Obtained Data
The percentage error was computed in order to
determine the quantitative relationship among the
experimental accelerations of three given objects with the
theoretical gravitational acceleration which is 980 cm/s 2.
With the used of this, the relationship between the objects
mass and acceleration were also identified. The equation
for the percentage error was shown below:
Eq. 2.
COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 − 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

% 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = | | × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 3 Results and Discussion
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
This section presents the following analysis and
wherein,
interpretation on the following dataset. Analytical
o Theoretical Value: Gravitational Acceleration =
explanation was also provided in order to describe motion
980 cm/s2 (or 9.8 m/s2)
of an object along a vertical path (or free fall). The vector
o Experimental Value: Acceleration obtained from
quantity acceleration was also derived and correlated with
equation 1
the object’s dimension and gravitational pull.
2.2 Methodology Used

Initially, the mass and dimension of marbles and 3.1 Using Objects of Varying Sizes
metallic ball were measured with the used of triple beam
TABLE 3.1 Initial Data (Dimension and mass of the
balance and Vernier caliper. Afterwards, obtained
three objects)
quantities were all recorded as an initial data in terms of SI
units. Meanwhile, an iron stand with a pivot clamp Object Mass Diameter Volume
attached on it was set-up and adjusted at a height of 135 Small Marble 1.79 g 0.9 cm 0.38 cm3
cm high above the dropping point. Subsequently, each Medium
5g 1.4 cm 1.44 cm3
object was placed in a clamp at the given height, then it Marble
was released from rest and landed at the dropping point as Metallic Ball 25.9 g 3 cm 14.14 cm3
shown in figure 2.2. The time of fall was recorded with the
used of stop watch. Moreover, the process was conducted Table 3.1 exhibits the initial data obtained at the
into 10 trials and was repeated separately for small marble, which consist of the mass and dimension of the three
medium marble, and metallic ball. Obtained data were objects with varying sizes. As showed in this table, it is
recorded at the result section of this manuscript. The obvious that metallic ball has heavier mass and large
average time of fall for each object was computed and its dimension compared to the two given sized marble. These
acceleration was also determined through calculation set of data are essential in identifying the relationship
using equation 1. Lastly, quantitative analysis was done to between objects’ acceleration and its mass and dimension.
formulate a relationship between the experimental
acceleration and the standard acceleration due to gravity.
3.1.1 Small-sized Marble
TABLE 3.1.1 Time of Fall using Small-sized
Marble
Time (s)
Trial
Small Marble
1 0.57 s
2 0.57 s
3 0.59 s
4 0.54 s
5 0.55 s
Figure 2.2 A marble that was released on clamp at a given height of
6 0.58 s
dropping position. 7 0.54 s
8 0.51 s
9 0.51 s
10 0.51 s
Mean 0.547 s
COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory
Table 3.1 shows the raw data obtained for the time of
fall using small-sized marble. The average time was
computed and yielded a total of 0.547 seconds.
3.1.2 Medium-sized Marble
TABLE 3.1.2 Time of Fall using Medium-
sized Marble
Time (s)
Trial
Medium Marble
1 0.52 s
2 0.49 s
3 0.52 s
4 0.50 s
5 0.49 s
6 0.54 s
7 0.54 s
8 0.51 s
9 0.56 s
10 0.51 s
Mean 0.518 s
The table above represents the time of drop at each
trials using medium-sized marble. An average mean time
of 0.518 was also tallied in this table.
3.1.3 Metallic Ball
TABLE 3.1.3 Time of Fall using Metallic Ball
Time (s)
Trial
Metallic Ball
1 0.51 s
2 0.50 s
3 0.50 s
4 0.52 s
5 0.50 s
6 0.48 s
7 0.47 s
8 0.51 s
9 0.51 s
10 0.47 s
Mean 0.497 s
The table above shows the obtained data of the group
when they measured how long it took for metallic ball to
reach the ground at the height of 135 cm in 10 trials. The
mean time acquired by the group is 0.497 seconds which
KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.
can be also observed as shortest time compare to other
two marbles.
3.2 Free-falling Bodies’ Acceleration
Based on the article published by the University of
Winnipeg (1997), a freely falling object is an object that
moves under the influence of gravity only. Neglecting air
resistance, all objects in free fall in the earth's gravitational
field have a constant acceleration that is directed towards
the earth's center, or perpendicular to the earth's surface,
and of magnitude | | g = 9.8 m/s 2. As a result, the
group determined what should be the theoretical
acceleration of a free falling bodies as well as what would
be the result if its executed experimentally. Below is the
summary of the obtained results.
TABLE 3.2 Summary of Results (Theoretical and Experimental
Acceleration, and Percentage Error)
Mean Acceleration %
Object
Time (s) Theoretical Experimental Error
Small
1.79 g 902.38 cm/s2 8.01%
Marble
Medium
5g 980 cm/s2 1006.25 cm/s2 2.57%
Marble
Metallic
25.9 g 1093.08 cm/s2 11.43%
Ball
3.2.1 Theoretical Acceleration
Since the experiment is all about free falling body, the
acceleration for this motion is the acceleration due to
gravitational pull near the surface of the earth. Thus, the
theoretical acceleration value was 980 cm/s2 (also
equivalent to 9.8 m/s2).
3.2.2 Experimental Acceleration
Based on the Table 3.2, the metallic ball acquired the
shortest amount of time to reach the floor. As a result, it
attained an acceleration of 1093.08 cm/s2, which is fastest
acceleration among the two marbles, earning a 11.43%
percentage error with regards to theoretical acceleration.
It can be also observed that the medium marble obtained
the second highest acceleration which measures 1006.25
cm/s2 and has a 2.57% percentage error. Lastly, the small
marble who took more time to reach the floor got an
COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory
acceleration of 902.38 cm/s2 with percentage error of
8.01%.
Based on the data, it is evident that the longer it takes
for an object to reach the ground, the faster the
acceleration it would have. The experimental acceleration
obtained by the medium-sized marble is the closest to the
theoretical acceleration of 980 cm/s2.
4 Conclusions
This laboratory experiment aims the group to
determine whether the physical characteristics of an
object, specifically the size and mass, could somehow
affect its acceleration during free fall. Through the use of
small and medium-sized marble as well as the metallic ball,
with each has its own size and mass, the group calculated
their acceleration when dropped at the height of 135 cm.
The derived acceleration for small-sized marble is 902.38
cm/s2 with a percentage error of 8.01% while for the
medium-sized, it obtained an acceleration of 1006.25
cm/s2 with just a 2.57% of percentage error. For the
metallic ball, the calculated acceleration is 1093.08 cm/s 2,
References
 https://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/physics/onedim/node8.html
 The History of Gravity Aristotle, Galileo, Newton and Einstein. Kathlyn Chapman (2017)
KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.
which is considered the fastest, with a percentage error of
11.43%. It can be concluded based on the data that there
is a direct relationship between the mass of an object and
its acceleration during free fall. In other words, the greater
the mass, the faster the acceleration.
However, it can be also inferred that the physical
characteristics of the samples, when dropped at the certain
height, do not greatly affect its acceleration. There is no
significant effect. Somehow, it can be also deduced that
there were factors that affected the results obtained by the
group such as the accuracy of the one who measures the
time the moment the ball reached the ground in every trial
as well as on how simultaneous the one who drops the ball
upon the start of the time.
If the group executed the laboratory experiment in an
ideal environment, in order to measure properly the
acceleration of an object due to the gravity, such as a
vacuum chamber and have the effective yet efficient
equipment, to properly calculate the acceleration the
moment it was dropped, such as the high-speed camera.
Maybe, there is a chance that the result that the group
would get is much closer or equal to the theoretical
acceleration of 9.8 m/s2. Moreover, Galileo’s claim about
the nature of a free falling object due to gravity is true.
COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.

Appendix

A. Preliminary Data Sheet of Experiment regarding Free-Falling Body

B. Materials and Instruments used in the Experiment

C. Figures below shows the actual Free fall motion of Small Sized- Marble, Medium Sized Marble, and Metallic Ball
COE0009 Physics for Engineers 1 Laboratory KILAKIGA, Kenneth, T.

Free-Fall Using Small-Sized Marble Free-Fall Using Medium-Sized Marble Free-Fall Using Metallic Ball