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Practical: Acceleration by free-fall (Analysis (Advantage of using light…
Practical: Acceleration by free-fall
Analysis
Advantage of using light gates?
Less uncertainty in the measurement of time
The effect of air resistance?
This will reduce the value for g
This will account for any difference between our value for g and 9.81ms^-2
Explain why each graph is a straight line
The gradient of each graph only depends on g, which is a constant
The uncertainty of t^2 will be twice the uncertainty in t
Equipment (method 1)
Metre ruler
Steel sphere
Electronic timer
Electromagnet
Trap door
Equipment (method 2)
Falling object (dowel)
Light gate and datalogger
Method 1
Release the steel sphere from the electromagnet and record the time taken for it to fall to the trap door
Repeat several times and calculate the mean value
Measure the height fallen by the sphere
Change the height and repeat your readings
Method 2
Measure the length of the dowel
Record the time taken for the dowel to pass through the light gate when released from a known height
Repeat several times and calculate a mean value
Change the height and repeat
Calculation (method 1)
Plot a graph of t^2 against h
Calculate a value for g which will be 2/gradient
Calculation (method 2)
Use the length of the dowel to calculate the mean speed of the dowel as it passes through the light gate
Plot a graph of v^2 against h
Calculate a value for g which will be gradient/2
Safety
Secure apparatus to the table so that it does not fall
Turn off the electromagnet when not in use so that it does not get hot