Khari Harper, Lisl Wiedemann, Josh Kalalo, Alexa Ornstein

Physics
Mr. Jones
24 February 2014

Projectile Lab
Purpose: To determine the acceleration of gravity.

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

Procedure:
One photogate (with attached stopwatch mechanism) was secured to an inclined aluminum track.
The height of the table on which the track was placed was measured (s1). This remained constant
throughout the trials.
After the photogate reader was reset, a metal ball (with a .019 m diameter) was placed on a selected
point/height on the incline (h1) and released. The distance from the table at which the ball landed on the
floor (Sxm) and the time it took to pass through the photogate (tA) were recorded. This process was
repeated 4 times.
The point/height of release on the incline for the metal ball (h1) was changed and Step 3 was repeated.
There were 3 total (h1) settings.
After collecting data, the following calculations were used to calculate the required information, and
ultimately, the acceleration of gravity. The calculated value was then compared to the given g of 9.81 m/s2

a. Vi =

0.019m
tA

b. Sxc = Vix tc

2 Sy
g
Sxm
d. tm =
Vix
2s
e. gm =
t2
c.

tc =

Data:
h1= .595 m
Trial

s1= .86 m

tA

Vix

Sxc

Sxm

(sec)

(m/s)

(m)

(m)

.0073

2.60

1.09

1.10

.0073

2.60

1.09

.0073

2.60

.0073

Avg.

.0073

%Err

tc

tm

(sec)

(sec)

0.917

xxx

0.423

1.18

8.25

xxx

1.09

1.04

-3.67

2.60

1.09

1.03

2.60

1.09

1.09

%Err

gc

gm

(m/s^2)

(m/s^2)

%Err

.955

xxx

9.61

-2.04

0.453

8.11

xxx

9.38

-4.38

xxx

0.4

-4.53

xxx

10.8

10.1

-2.75

xxx

0.396

-5.49

xxx

10.9

11.1

0.419

0.418

9.81

10.2

3.98

h1= .37 m
Trial

s1= .86 m

tA

Vi

Sxc

Sxm

(sec)

(m/s)

(m)

(m)

.0096

1.98

.830

.85

.0097

1.96

.821

.0096

1.98

.0097

Avg.

.0097

h1=.195 m
Trial

%Err

tc

tm

(sec)

(sec)

2.41

xxx

0.429

.83

1.10

xxx

.830

.83

1.96

.830

.84

1.97

.825

%Err

gc

gm

(m/s^2)

(m/s^2)

%Err

2.39

xxx

9.35

-4.69

0.423

.955

xxx

9.61

-2.03

xxx

0.419

xxx

9.80

-.101

1.20

xxx

0.429

2.39

xxx

9.35

-4.69

.84

1.81

0.419

0.426

1.67

9.81

9.57

-2.45

%Err

tc

tm

%Err

gc

gm

%Err

(sec)

(sec)

(m/s^2)

(m/s^2)

s1=.86 m

tA

Vi

Sxc

Sxm

(sec)

(m/s)

(m)

(m)

.0151

1.26

.528

.49

-7.20

xxx

0.389

-7.16

xxx

11.4

16.2

.0151

1.26

.528

.49

-7.20

xxx

0.389

-7.16

xxx

11.4

16.2

.0150

1.27

.532

.51

-4.14

xxx

0.402

-4.06

xxx

10.6

8.05

.0151

1.26

.528

.49

-7.20

xxx

0.389

-7.16

xxx

11.4

16.2

Avg.

.0151

1.26

.528

.50

-5.30

0.419

0.397

-5.25

9.81

11.2

14.2

Overall Avg. gm = 10.3 m/s2 (%Error = 4.99)

Conclusion:
The calculated g value (gm) produced from this lab was 10.3 m/s2, despite the true acceleration of gravity
(gc) being 9.81 m/s2. This deviance occured for multiple reasons, the first reason being human error. As
with all labs, the measurements taken could not have possibly been 100% perfect. The measurement of
where the ball landed (Sxm), specifically, was difficult to estimate because it relied mostly on vision and
judgement. In addition, there is a lot of room for human error in the way the measurements were taken
with visual-dependent measurement devices. Error could have also occurred with the calculations
because of both significant figures and human error. It must also be considered that the equations used to
find the acceleration of gravity were equations for when initial velocity is zero; however, there was initial
vertical velocity gained by the ball during its travel down the inclined plane. The equations also did not
take into account air drag, only the acceleration of objects falling in a vacuum. In reality, there was air
drag and friction acting on the ball. Overall, both human error and the neglection of physical, real-world
forces caused for our calculations to end up slightly differing (by an average of 4.99%) from the actual
value for the acceleration of gravity.