Free Fall Lab - Starter
What should the position vs. time graph look like for an
object dropped from rest?
Free Fall Equations
1.
vf = vi + at
2.
yf = yi + (t/2)(vi +vf)
3.
vf2 = vi 2 +2a(yf –yi)
4.
yf = yi + vit + (1/2)at2
Free Fall a = -9.8 m/s2
Equipment Setup
1st: Obtain a Vernier interface, power cord, USB cord, photogate,
picket fence, and a stand with a universal clamp.
2nd: Plug the power cord from the interface and the wall outlet.
3rd: Plug the USB cord from the interface to the USB port on the computer.
4th: Plug the photogate into the interface at DIG 1.
5th: Start LOGGERPRO
6th: Load the experiment: File, Open, Physics with Vernier,
05 Picket Fence Free Fall
RETURN ALL EQUIPMENT AS YOU FOUND IT.
Photogate Setup
After it passes through, catch it!
Don’t let it hit the ground.
Free Fall Lab
A. Using a photogate and a picket fence, obtain a distance vs. time graph
and a velocity vs. time graph for free fall.
B. For the distance vs. time graph, obtain a quadratic fit. From the
fit equation, determine a value for the acceleration due to gravity, g.
Print your graph with the fit and equation.
C. For the velocity vs. time graph, obtain a linear fit. From the
fit equation, determine a value for the acceleration due to gravity, g.
Print your graph with the fit and equation.
Questions
A. Determine the percent error for each of your values for g.
B. Sketch an acceleration vs. time graph for your experiment.
Lab Report Checklist
1. Cover Sheet
2.Two Printed Graphs
3.Questions w/ 1 sketched graph
4. Results Section – experimental g
and percent error for each printed graph
5. Summary
EXIT
Explain how the photogate and the picket fence work to
obtain the distance vs. time graph.