RP 3 g by freefall

Question 1

what is the overall aim of this experiment?

Answer 1

to calculate the value of acceleration due to gravity g

Question 2

what are the variables in this experiment?

Answer 2

independent - height
dependent - time
control - same ball, same electromagnet, same distance that it falls through

Question 3

give a brief general method!

Answer 3

• record time for ball to drop between light gates
• increase h by 5cm and repeat
• do this at least 5-10 times
• repeat experiment for mean value often t for each h

Question 4

what do we plot in this experiment?

Answer 4

• plot 2h/t against t
• gradient will be g

because h = ut + 1/2at^2
2h/t = u + at

Question 5

how do we calculate error in g?

Answer 5

• draw error bars and find uncertainty in graph

Question 6

how can we reduce random errors?

Answer 6

• repeat experiment 3-5 times

Question 7

what are some random errors!

Answer 7

• parallax reading from h
• ball may not fall accurately down centre of each light gate
• large uncertainty in h from using metre ruler