New Formula
Type of
Problem
Equation
Key
Words
Notes
Acceleration d = ½ a · t2 Starting d = distance (m)
a = acceleration
and distance
from
(m/s/s)
rest
t = time (s)
[Lab Title, name
and period]
9/6/13
Lab Order









[Title – name and period]
Objective:
Pre Lab:
Materials:
Procedures:
Data Table:
Calculations:
Graph:
Conclusion:
Objective:
 To measure the acceleration of gravity
in the lab.
Pre Lab:
 Use the “Acceleration and Distance”
formula and solve for a.
 Given: d = ½ a · t2
 Solve for a
Materials:
 Tennis ball
 Meter Stick
 Stopwatch
Procedures:
1. Find a location suitable for dropping your
tennis ball to minimize the relative
fraction of time it takes to start and stop
the stopwatch.
2. Measure the distance the object will fall in meters. The tennis ball should start
from 0.50 m and reach 2.00 m by 0.25 m
increments
3. Time the object's fall 5 times from each
distance and record in the data table.
*** NOTE: The person that drops the ball should
also time it!!! ***
Data: [title use rulers]
Drop Time Time Time Time Time
Distance
1
2
3
4
5
(m)
(s)
(s)
(s)
(s)
(s)
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
Ave.
Time
(s)
Lab Day 2
9/9/13
Bellwork (9/9/13)
 Given d = ½ a t2 solve for “a”.
Procedures:
1. Find a location suitable for dropping your
tennis ball to minimize the relative
fraction of time it takes to start and stop
the stopwatch.
2. Measure the distance the object will fall in meters. The tennis ball should start
from 0.50 m and reach 2.00 m by 0.25 m
increments
3. Time the object's fall 5 times from each
distance and record in the data table.
*** NOTE: The person that drops the ball should
also time it!!! ***
Calculations:
 1) Calculate the average time for each of
the drop heights (show the work)
 2) Find the acceleration of the ball
[7 total using T-Charts]
 3) (%error) = [ ( a – 9.81 ) / 9.81 ] × 100
[7 Total using “a” from calculation #2]
Note: If you have negative percent error, it
means you measured value was less
then the actual value
Graph: [on graph paper
including a title and units]
 Use entire graph paper (or as much as
possible)
 Average time on the x-axis
 Distance on the y-axis
 *** Best fit curve! DO NOT connect
the dots. *** (examples)
Conclusion: [5 sentence
minimum in paragraph form]
• What are the independent, dependent and controlled
variables?
• Explain what your graph means in your own words.
• What was your percent error range?
• How close was your average acceleration, lab
results, to the actual measured results?
• What were 3 sources of error in this lab?
• What is the acceleration of gravity (free fall)?
(Hint: look in the textbook pages 17-21)
– a) quantitatively (numbers and units)
– b) qualitatively (word description)
Rubric 2012
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•
[Title – name and period] (1)
Objective: (1)
Pre Lab: (1)
Materials: (1)
Procedures: (3)
Data Table: (3)
Calculations: (30)
Conclusion: (10)
Graph: (10)