Acceleration due to gravity - Error and uncertainty lab

(Topic 1)
Intro: This experiment is designed to introduce you to the detail that is needed when
constructing and presenting your table of results for an experiment. It will also allow you to
practice some of the data analysis techniques that have been recently discussed in class.
Materials

Meter stick (uncertainty = +/- 0.0005)

Tennis ball
Stopwatch (uncertainty = +/- 0.01 s)

Procedures
1. For various heights, drop the object as it falls to the floor (it should accelerate at a
rate of g = 9.81m/s2).
2. Use a meter ruler to measure the height from which the object is dropped.
3. Time the object 3 times as it falls and take an average of these times.
4. Use a stopwatch to measure how long it takes the object to hit the floor. Take into
consideration your reaction time, i.e., the time between the instant the object hits the
floor and the instant you hit the stopwatch button.
Raw Data

Dist
anc
e
s
(m)

Absolu
te
uncert
ainties
in
distan
ce
(m)

0.25

0.0005

0.5

0.0005

0.0005

1.5

0.0005

0.0005

2.5

0.0005

%
Uncer
tainty
in
distan
ce
(%)
0.20
%
0.01
%
0.05
%
0.03
%
0.02
%
0.02
%

Ti
m
e
1
T
(s)

Ti
m
e
2
T
(s)

Ti
m
e
3
T
(s)

0.
18
0.
46
0.
51
0.
63
0.
68
0.
79

0.
15
0.
41
0.
56
0.
61
0.
71
0.
73

0.
19
0.
36
0.
53
0.
7
0.
61
0.
75

Ave
rag
e
Tim
e
Tav
e
(s)
0.1
7
0.4
1
0.5
3
0.6
5
0.6
7
0.7
7

Data Processing and Presentation

Absol
ute
uncer
tainty
in
time
(s)

0.03
0.1
0.05
0.09
0.1
0.06

%
Uncer
tainty
in
time
(%)
17.00
%
24.00
%
9.40
%
13.80
%
14.90
%
7.79
%

Ti
m
e
t(
s)
0.
02
0.
16
0.
28
0.
37
0.
5
0.
59

%
Uncer
tainty
in t
(%)

Absol
ute
uncer
tainty
in t
t(s)

34.00
%
48.00
%
18.80
%
27.60
%
29.80
%
15.58
%

0.006
8
0.076
8
0.052
6
0.102
1
0.149
0
0.091
9

Accele
ration
(m/s)

12.5
3.1
3.5
4.05
4
4.2

%
Uncer
tainty
in
accele
ration
(%)

Absol
ute
uncert
ainty
in
accele
ration
a(m/s
)

34.20
%
48.01
%
18.85
%
27.63
%
29.82
%
15.60
%

34.01
%
48.01
%
18.85
%
27.63
%
29.82
%
15.60
%

Time t(s) vs. Distance s(m)

The average acceleration of the tennis ball due to gravity that was calculated is 5.2 m/s^2.
Assuming that there is no air resistance, the relationship between height and time of fall is:

s ut 1 2 at 2
Since the initial velocity is zero this simplifies to:

at 2

s is therefore proportional to t so a graph of s (y axis) against t (x axis) will give a straight

line.
The slope of this line will be a.
Conclusion
The distance and average time squared was used to find the acceleration due to gravity for
each trial of dropping the tennis ball from the different heights. Next, the average
acceleration of the tennis ball due to gravity was calculated and found to be 5.2 m/s^2. This
has a significant difference from the literature value of acceleration due to gravity, which is
9.8 m/s^2. This significant difference is due to the large gaps of uncertainty in the data
collected.
Evaluation
Some modifications made to the procedures was how the heights for the ball was measures.
The different heights were measured next to wall, where a mark was made at each distance.
This modification was made so measurements could be more precise, and the ball could just
be placed next to the mark, rather than having to hold up a meter stick each time and

risking mistakes by holding the ball and meter stick. Also, the person who was timing the
ball stayed close to the ground so they could see the exact moment when the ball hit the
ground, and stop the timer at that moment rather than standing farther away.
Improvements
Some improvements that could be made would be have a more accurate stopwatch with a
smaller uncertainty. Perhaps an even more accurate device that could sense when the ball is
dropped and hits the ground so the time it takes for the ball to reach the ground could be
more accurate. If the time is to be measured more accurately, then the results gathered
would surely be closer to the actual value of acceleration due to gravity.