Julian Beard

(Fabian Jaramillo)
October 29 2015

Activity Mass and

Acceleration Lab

We are conducting a freefall experiment to analyze the relationship between mass., wind
resistance, and gravity. There is a rule that says all objects fall at the same rate of -9.8m/s2 as long
as wind resistance is not a major factor. We are going to put that to the test. Our independent
factors are wind resistance and mass while the dependent factor is time. Finally the constant is
the distance dropped and gravity.
Materials:

Meter stick
3 coffee filters
Golf ball
Ping pong ball
Tape
Aluminum pan

Procedure:
1. Use meter stick to measure two meters on the wall and mark it with tape
2. Next place pan under taped spot to catch objects
3. Drop the ping pong ball three times being sure to record the time it takes to hit the ground
each time
4. Repeat step 3 for the golf ball
5. Lastly repeat step 3 with 1 filter then 2 filters stacked and 3 filters stacked

Seconds Until Drop

1
Ping Pong Ball
Golf Ball
1 Filter
2 Filter
3 Filter

.65s
.71s
1.94s
1.35s
1.29s

2
.84s
.68s
1.97s
1.38s
1.28s

d = vi t + a t2

3
.69s
.75s
1.97s
1.38s
1.18s

-2 m = (0 m/s) (t) + (-9.8 m/s2) (t)2

-2m = (0 m/s) *(t) + (-4.9 m/s2) (t)2
-2 m = (-4.9 m/s2) (t)2
(-2 m)/(-4.9 m/s2) = t2
.40816 s2 = t2
t = .6388 s
In conclusion the objects all seemed to fall at fairly similar rates differences in air
resistance caused a gap between the filters and balls. Obviously this wasnt conducted in a
vacuum because its a school lab, but our results between balls that had different weights and
masses supported The Rule. The only way to make this more accurate would be to conduct this
in a vacuum and use a laser timer instead of human reaction.
Pre Activity Questions:
1. 2m+or- 1.5 inches. Hand movement or miscalculation of distance.
2. + or - .02s from the lack of response time in human time keeping.
Post Activity Questions:
1. Because all objects fall at the acceleration of gravity and these objects have the same
shape so same air resistance.
2. Because all objects fall at the acceleration of gravity and these objects have the same
shape so same air resistance
3. If air resistance is not a factor

4. Two objects of different masses will fall at the same rate because gravity enacts equally
upon all objects on earth.
5. They fall together because the book is breaking the air for the sheet of paper giving it
virtually no wind resistance.