Free Fall Flashcards
Does a heavy object fall faster than a lighter object?
Galileo Galileli reasoned that because any number of identical objects must fall at the same rate, then any one such object must fall at the same rate as the rest put together. To conclude, any two objects must fall at the same rate, regardless of their relative weights.
Does a falling object speed up as it falls?
Galileo tested this by rolling a ball down a plank and devising a dripping water clock, which counted the volume of drips as a measure of time. He measured how long the ball took to travel equal distances down a slope from rest. His measurements showed that the ball gained speed as it travelled down the slope. This acceleration would be greater the steeper the slope.
State and Explain the experiment to test acceleration due to gravity
Makers a multiflash photo or video clip of a ball’s flight as it falls after being released from rest. Use a vertical meter ruler as a scale.
The flashing light of the slow speed shutter of the camera needs to flash at a known constant rate of about 20 flashes per second.
For each image of the ball of the photograph, the time of descent of the ball and the distance fallen from the ball can be measured directly.
How can you tell if the acceleration is constant from your results of the acceleration from gravity experiment?
The distance fallen, s, vary with time,t, for constant acceleration (s=ut+ 1/2 at^2)
Compare equation to general equation for a straight line, y=mx+c. Let y represent s and let x represent t^2.
Define acceleration of free fall.
No external forced action on a falling object apart from the force of gravity.
Represented by g, with the value 9.8 ms^-2.
The SUVAT equations may apply to any free fall situation where air resistance is negligible
