Measuring the acceleration due to gravity in the lab Essay Example for Free

Measuring the acceleration due to gravitational attraction in the lab EssayThe distance between the ceiling and the floor (h) was measured. A rubber was accordingly dropped from the ceiling and the era taken for it to hit the ground was recorded. Results Attempt duration Taken (sec) 1 0. 47 2 0. 45 3 0. 71 4 0. 55 5 0. 5 6 0. 71 7 0. 4 8 0. 46 9 0. 58 10 0. 56 Average Time = Sum of all times Number of Times = (0. 47+0. 45+0. 71+0. 55+0. 5+0. 71+0. 4+0. 46+0. 58+0. 56) 10 = 5. 85 10 = 0. 59 sec (to 2 dp) H = height of the drop T = time taken Acceleration due to gravity = 2H T2 =2(2. 59) 0. 592 = 5. 18 0. 3481 = 14. 88 m/s2 (to 2 dp) Evaluation The results circled in the table are anomalous.There was a liberal range of results, from 0. 4 to 0. 71. This spread of results indicates that the data may be in correct. Although the experiment was repeated nine times, distinguishable results were found at nearly every attempt. This could be due to the timing methods used. A stop me asure held by a person was used to measure the time the rubber took to hit the ground. As a humans reaction times are not perfect, the button could have been pressed long later on the rubber had touched the ground. Also, the timekeeper could have pressed the button too early at the time he expected the rubber to fall in order to try and get a more accurate time.As the area used was not a vacuum, air opposition would have moved(p) the results. The shape of the rubber dropped was a pyramid, so air resistance would be different dependant on the side upon which it was dropped. These reasons explain why some of the results were anomalous. I do not believe that the procedure was accurate enough to measure the acceleration due to gravity in the lab. The timing apparatus was too general and the air resistance due to the lack of a vacuum meant that the data was not as guide as was needed.A more suitable set of timing equipment would have been to replace the stop clock with a light-gate and data-logger. A light gate would be positioned at the top of the drop, with one at the bottom. The ready reckoner would then calculate the time taken much more accurately. The air resistance could not be helped, as a vacuum would be highly impractical and unnecessary for our purposes. However, if it were possible, the experiment should have been performed in a complete vacuum. If a perfectly spherical determination were used then the air resistance wouldnt be different no matter how it was dropped.The experiment should be repeated in exactly the self homogeneous(prenominal) fashion as before, but with the changes outlined above implemented. This would give more accurate results. It should then be repeated in the same way as this, but with a denser object of the same dimensions. This would guide that the acceleration was due to gravity and not the mass of the object. One more experiment should be undertaken with the same stipulations but an increased dropping height. This wou ld show that the acceleration is the same no matter how high the object is dropped from.