1. Free Fall Experiment

2. Pre-Lab Questions: Ramp Demo
Describe the motion of the cart as it moves
down the ramp.
2. What can we do to increase the acceleration
of the cart?
3. How can we maximize the acceleration of
the cart?
4. What causes the cart to accelerate?
5. If a ball is held at 3 m above the ground and then
is released, what happens to the ball?

3. Pre-Lab Questions
1. How do you think gravity effects the object’s motion?
2. What factors might effect the object’s rate of acceleration?
If I drop a baseball and a ping pong ball, which one (if any) would hit the ground first? Explain why you think so.
Which one would have the greater Velocity when it strikes the floor?
Do you think the velocity will be constant during the entire fall?
Do you think the height of the object dropped will matter?

4. Experiment
10/27/ :52 AM
Purpose: To determine the rate of acceleration of three different massed objects as they travel in free-fall.
Hypothesis: Which ball do you believe will hit the ground in the least amount of time?
Procedure:
Set up your data table
Drop each ball from 3 different heights
Use the “linear fit” button on the v vs. t graph
Determine the slope of the v vs. t graph to get the value of the acceleration
Conclusion Questions: completed after lab
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

5. What needs to be turned in?
Answers to pre-lab questions
Answer to the hypothesis.
Materials list
Procedure
3 Data Tables (Minimum):
Answers to the conclusion questions
Mass of Ball (g)
Height Dropped (m)
Value of Slope (m/s2)

6. Conclusion Questions
10/27/ :52 AM
Did the ball travel at the same velocity from the moment it dropped until it hits the ground? Describe how you know.
Do you think that the ball’s displacement increased or decreased as it fell toward the ground? Describe how you know.
Does the mass of the object affect the rate at which it accelerates? Explain how you know.
Does the height of the drop affect the rate at which it accelerates? Explain how you know.
What do you think is the value of the acceleration due to gravity on Earth?
If dropped from the same height, which ball would hit the ground first and why?
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.