FEE CTU LABORATORY EXERCISES IN PHYSICS 1/2

Task number Task name

Text
1 Free fall study
Student’s name Study group
Janick Bohm C101
Date of measurement Date of submission Mark
1/3/21 14/3/21

Aaron Manoj
Introduction
The following experiment investigates the correlation between the initial height of an object
displaced from the ground, and the time taken for the object to hit the ground due to
gravitational acceleration. This will provide the necessary data to calculate an estimate for the
gravitational acceleration in Prague.
Underlying theory
Applying Newton’s second law to this situation, we obtain:

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎⃗ = 𝑚𝑔⃗
Which can be rearranged in terms of the positional and velocity vector:

𝑑 2 𝑟⃗ 𝑑𝑣⃗ 𝑑𝑣⃗
𝑚∙ 2 =𝑚∙ = 𝑚𝑔⃗ ⇒ = 𝑔⃗
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Rearranging the equation and integrating it, we obtain:
𝑣 𝑡
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ∫ 𝑔⃗𝑑𝑡′ ⇒ 𝑣⃗ = 𝑑𝑟⃗ = 𝑔⃗𝑡 + 𝑣0
𝑑𝑣⃗ = 𝑔⃗𝑑𝑡 ⇒ ∫ 𝑑𝑣′
𝑣0 0 𝑑𝑡
where 𝑣0 is the initial velocity at t = 0.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗𝑡 + 𝑣0 )𝑑𝑡 ) with respect to time to derive the
Finally, we can integrate the equation ( 𝑑𝑟⃗ = (𝑔
general equation of the position vector:
𝑟 𝑡 1
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = ∫ (𝑔
⇒ ∫ 𝑑𝑟′ ⃗⃗⃗𝑡′ + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣0 )𝑑𝑡′ ⇒ 𝑟⃗⃗ = ⃗𝑔⃗⃗𝑡2 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑣0 𝑡 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑟0
𝑟0 0 2
With 𝑟0 being the position vector of the object at t = 0.
Which can be written for this situation as a function of time for an initial position 𝑟⃗0 = [0,0, ℎ],
initial velocity 𝑣⃗0 = [0,0, 𝑣0 ], and gravitational acceleration 𝑔⃗ = [0,0, −𝑔] as:
1
𝑥(𝑡) = 0, 𝑦(𝑡) = 0, 𝑧(𝑡) = − 𝑔𝑡 2 + 𝑣0 𝑡 + ℎ
2
However, given that there are other factors to consider that may affect the results of this
investigation – Coriolis’ force, centrifugal force due to Earth’s rotation, or the resistance of air
on the object – to name a few, we can hypothesize that the magnitude of the estimate from this
experiment will differ from the actual value, since the forces are being neglected for the sake
of simplification. Using the provided value of gravitational acceleration in Prague (≈
9.81𝑚𝑠 −2 ), we can go one step further and measure the accuracy of our estimate.

Objectives
In order to discuss the thesis, necessary data must be measured. The investigation will take
place with two different objects, and each being used for measurements at 10 or more heights
in order to decrease the impact of systematic and random errors.
Constant variables
Since mass of an object doesn’t influence its acceleration due to gravity, any solid object with
constant mass may be used in this investigation. However, in order to ensure the reliability of
the results and the integrity of the investigation, both mass and diameter of each object will be
measured in advance. These values may also give us more insight when discussing the results
with respect to the disregarded forces.
Independent variable
Height (ℎ) is the independent variable; thus, it needs to be precisely measured for each trial.
The investigation will take place at least at 10 different height, therefore the heights chosen
should utilize as much of the available measuring scale as possible, and should also be
equidistantly spaced out, so that the process of fitting the second degree polynomial is as
accurate as possible.
Dependent variable
The measured variable in this investigation is time. Therefore, a precise timing device must be
used to measure the initial time (𝑡0) of the object’s release and the final time (t). The difference
between the two components – time delta (Δt) – will be the value used for the computations.
With the obtained values, a graph of height against time delta will be plotted and evaluated.

Experimental details
List of devices
A stand
Two steel balls (1)
Ball-release trigger (2)
Impact detector/sensor (3)
Input/output connectors for transmission of (4),
time information (5)
Centimeter scale (∆ 1 mm) (6)
A clamp with a screw – to hold and adjust the (7)
ball-release mechanism
A timer (∆ 1 mm)
A lab scale (∆ 1 g)
A micrometer (∆ 0.01 mm)
PHYS1-LABS-free fall study_v2.pdf
– Photo of apparatus
List of software and websites
https://planck.fel.cvut.cz/praktikum/grafy/grafy.php - Custom script for data processing
Microsoft Excel - Graphs

The masses and diameters of the two steel balls are:

Steel ball #1 Steel ball #2
Mass (g) 18.91 16.73
Diameter (mm) 16.68 16.01
The height is measured at 17 increments – in order to utilize the whole range of the centimeter
scale – and will be identical for each of the steel balls. The measurements are as follows:
Height 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 95
(cm)

Method of measurement
1. Adjust the height of the ball-release mechanism.
2. Pick one of the steel balls.
3. Carefully place the steel ball into the ball-release mechanism.
4. Reset the timer.
5. Press the ball-release trigger.
6. Record the time (since 𝑡0 = 0, Δt = t, no further calculation needed)
7. Repeat for the other heights
8. Repeat for the other ball
Method of processing data
1
The general function 𝑧(𝑡) = − 2 𝑔𝑡 2 + 𝑣0 𝑡 + ℎ, can be expressed as:

1
ℎ = − 𝑔𝜏 2 + 𝑣0 𝜏
2
and comparing this to the equation of polynomial of second degree,
ℎ = 𝑎2 𝜏 2 + 𝑎1 𝜏 + 𝑎0
we deduce that:
𝑔 = 2𝑎2 , 𝜎𝑔 = 2𝜎𝑎2

After adjusting for this experiment of 2 trials:

𝑔 = 2𝑎2 𝑎𝑣𝑔 , 𝜎𝑔 = 2𝜎𝑎2 𝑚𝑎𝑥

We can proceed to calculate gravitational acceleration:

𝑎2 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2
𝑎2 𝑎𝑣𝑔 = ⇒ 𝑔 = 𝑎2 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2
2
This will be our estimate for the value of gravitational acceleration in Prague, and its
uncertainty:
𝜎𝑔 = 2 ∙ 𝜎𝑎2 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2 ∙ 𝑚𝑎𝑥(𝜎𝑎2 𝑏1 , 𝜎𝑎2 𝑏2 )
Results
Raw data
Times collected of ball #1 and ball #2 for each height:
height [m] time of Ball #1 [s] time of Ball #2 [s]
0.050 0.101 0.100
0.100 0.143 0.142
0.150 0.175 0.175
0.200 0.201 0.201
0.250 0.225 0.225
0.300 0.247 0.246
0.350 0.267 0.267
0.400 0.286 0.285
0.450 0.303 0.302
0.500 0.319 0.319
0.550 0.334 0.335
0.600 0.349 0.350
0.650 0.363 0.363
0.700 0.378 0.377
0.750 0.391 0.391
0.800 0.404 0.403
0.950 0.440 0.439

Processed data
In order to save time and reduce the chance of error in the calculations, the data was entered
into the custom script which produced the following table of results.
First Trial Second Trial
steel ball #1 steel ball #2
a0 = -0.0021776076436244 a0 = 0.0027525821119526
a1 = 0.021354148070623 a1 = -0.017834383142683
a2 = 4.8690911650493 a2 = 4.948382584048
σa1 = 0.0027464886378914 σa0 = 0.0029559735793203
σa1 = 0.02128673879087 σa1 = 0.022986606092036
σa2 = 0.038446634673693 σa2 = 0.041631376829708

Where a2, a1, a0 are the coefficients of the polynomial of second degree forming the curve of
best fit, and σa2, σa1, σa0, are their uncertainties respectively. Forming a graph from the collected
values – including the polynomial of second-degree approximations – we obtain:
Figure 1 – A graph to show the correlation between the initial height of the steel ball and time taken for the ball
to reach the ground

1.0

0.9
y = 4.8691x2 + 0.0214x - 0.0022
0.8
y = 4.9484x2 - 0.0178x + 0.0028
0.7

0.6
height [m]

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5
time taken to reach ground [s]

From figure 1, it is apparent that the initial height and the time taken for the ball to reach the
ground are quadratically dependent on one another. As the initial height of the object increases,
the object has a greater distance to travel, and therefore the time taken is also greater. However,
the reason why the relationship is not linear comes from the fact that the velocity of the ball is
not constant because of gravitational acceleration. Consequently, the distance travelled by the
object per unit time increases, hence why it takes less time for the object to travel the same
distance, the longer it has been falling.
Moreover, observing that fact that the two curves appear almost identical, supports the notion
that mass is independent of gravitational acceleration. However, the difference in the diameter
of the two balls could have theoretically made a difference as with greater diameter, the cross-
sectional area of the ball is greater and therefore the bigger ball should experience greater air
resistance. However, due to the experiment being performed on a small scale with relatively
imprecise measurement devices, this effect cannot be seen which is supported by the almost
identically looking data sets for both balls.
Estimating gravitational acceleration
Since all components were measured to 3 significant figures, the final values of gravitational
acceleration can be also calculated to 3 significant figures.
g = 𝑎2 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2 ⇒ 4.869 + 4.948 = 9.82 𝑚𝑠 −2

𝜎𝑔 = 2 ∙ 𝑚𝑎𝑥(𝜎𝑎2 𝑏1 , 𝜎𝑎2 𝑏2 ) ⇒ 2 ∙ 0.0416 = 0.082 ≈ 0.08𝑚𝑠 −2

Therefore, the final estimate of gravitational acceleration in Prague is:

g = (9.82 ± 0.08)𝑚𝑠 −2
Conclusion
The calculated estimate of gravitational acceleration from this experiment is:
g = (9.82 ± 0.08)𝑚𝑠 −2
which is near the actual value of gravitational acceleration in Prague (≈ 9.81𝑚𝑠 −2) by a
relative error of:
0.08
𝜀𝑔 = = 0.8%
9.81
This is interesting, because throughout the procedures and calculations of this experiment, we
disregarded the effect of other forces on the steel ball; and despite that the calculated estimate
is only 0.8% off from the actual value. One possible explanation may be that the investigation
was performed on too small of a scale for other forces to have a more significant effect on the
steel ball. For instance, from our assumption of no other forces acting on the ball, the ball would
have theoretically accelerated infinitely if the experiment were to take place on a bigger scale
– with the initial height being set to tenths or hundreds of meters. However, that is clearly not
the case under real conditions, as the effect of air resistance would limit the ball to only reaching
terminal velocity; and thus, having a significant impact on measured time and the calculated
estimate.
Overall, I am satisfied with the outcome of this investigation despite its lack of theoretical
accuracy. On the other hand, I am curious as to how the measurements would compare if this
were to take place on a bigger scale with other forces in mind.

List of literature
PHYS1-LABS-free fall study_v2.pdf