Mechanics Dynamics

1.3.07-11 Free fall with Cobra3

What you can learn about

 Linear motion due to constant
acceleration
 Laws governing falling bodies
 Acceleration due to gravity

Principle:
The fall times t are measured for dif-
ferent heights of fall h. h is repre-
sented as the function of t or t2, so
the distance-time law of the free fall
results as
1
h = g t2
2
Then the measured values are taken
to determine the acceleration due to
gravity g.

Tasks:
Determination of:
Distance time law for the free fall.
Velocity-time law for the free fall.
Precise measurement of the accel-
eration due to gravity for the free
fall.

What you need:

Falling sphere apparatus 02502.88 1
consisting of:
Release unit 02502.00 1
Impact switch 02503.00 1
Cobra3 Basic Unit 12150.00 1
Power supply, 12V 12151.99 1
RS 232 data cable 14602.00 1
Cobra3 Timer/Counter Software 14511.61 1
Tripod base -PASS- 02002.55 1
Support rod -PASS-, l = 1000 mm 02028.55 1
Right angle clamp -PASS- 02040.55 2
Measuring tape, l = 2 m 09936.00 1
Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, yellow 07362.02 1
Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, blue 07362.04 1 Height of fall as a function of falling time.
Connecting cord, l = 1500 mm, yellow 07364.02 1
Connecting cord, l = 1500 mm, blue 07364.04 1
PC, Windows 95 or higher

Complete Equipment Set, Manual on CD-ROM included

Free fall with Cobra3 P2130711
24 Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG D - 37070 Gttingen
 LEP
Free fall with Cobra3 1.3.07
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Related topics Connecting cord, l = 1500 mm, yellow 07364.02 1

Linear motion due to constant acceleration, laws governing Connecting cord, l = 1500 mm, blue 07364.04 1
falling bodies, acceleration due to gravity. PC, Windows95 or higher

Principle Tasks
The fall times t are measured for different heights of fall h. h is Determination of:
represented as the function of t or t2, so the distance-time law Distance time law for the free fall.
of the free fall results as Velocity-time law for the free fall.
Precise measurement of the acceleration due to gravity for
1 the free fall.
h g t2
2
Set-up and procedure
Then the measured values are taken to determine the acceler- Arrange the ball free fall unit according to Fig.1. The releasing
ation due to gravity g. device must be positioned directly over the impact switch so
that the fixed ball is in a centered position above the impact
plate.
Equipment Carry out some releasing tests for different increasing heights
Falling sphere apparatus 02502.88 1 of fall. If the ball does not hit the plate roughly in its centre for
consisting of: each height of fall, then the support rod might be slightly
Release unit 02502.00 1 inclined. In this case the adjusting screws of the support base
Impact switch 02503.00 1 must be readjusted.
Cobra3 BASIC-UNIT 12150.00 1 Perform the electrical connection as shown in Fig. 2.
Power supply, 12V_ 12151.99 1 Position the release unit in your chosen height.
RS 232 data cable 14602.00 1 Measure the distance between the plate and the red reference
Cobra3 Timer/Counter Software 14511.61 1 mark on the releasing device.
Tripod base -PASS- 02002.55 1 Subtract the ball radius (e.g. 9.5 mm) from this distance to
Support rod -PASS-, l = 1000 mm 02028.55 1 obtain the height of fall.
Right angle clamp -PASS- 02040.55 2 Start recording the measured values using the parameters
Measuring tape, l = 2 m 09936.00 1 given in Fig.3 for the software module Timer/Counter.
Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, yellow 07362.02 1 Click on the button continue and measure the falling time for
Connecting cord, l = 750 mm, blue 07362.04 1 different heights of fall several times.

Fig.1: Experimental set-up for the free fall with Cobra3 Fig.2: Electrical connection of the Cobra3 with the falling
sphere apparatus

PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen 21307-11 1
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1.3.07 Free fall with Cobra3
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Perform the following steps to obtain a new measured value: Theory and evaluation
1. Clamp in the sphere and fix it in position If a body of mass m is accelerated from the state of rest in a
2. Raise (extend) the trap S
constant gravitational field (gravitational force m g ), it per-
3. Release the sphere S new measured time. forms a linear motion. By applying the coordinate system in a
way that the x axis indicates the direction of motion and solv-
After a series of measurements for a single height, click on the ing the corresponding one dimensional equation of motion,
button close to stop the measurement. we get:
The measured values of the falling time are now displayed and
the mean value for the according height can be calculated.
To go on with a new measurement using a new height, repeat
d2h1t2
the described procedure. m mg
dt2
Fig.3: Measurement parameters
We obtain, for the initial conditions

h (0) = 0

dh102
0
dt

the coordinate h as a function of time (see Fig. 6):

1 2
h1t2  gt (1)
2

To obtain the desired relationship between height of fall and

the corresponding time it is necessary to create a new set of
data manually. Therefore, choose measurement in the main
menu and then the item enter data manually. In the follow-
ing window (see Fig.4) you can determine your settings.
Click on the button continue. Now, you are able to enter
your
measured times of fall (the mean values) and the correspond-
ing heights, that you have chosen in your measurements
(Fig. 5).

Fig.4: Settings for new manually data Fig.5: Data input window

2 21307-11 PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen
 LEP
Free fall with Cobra3 1.3.07
-11

After this procedure, you receive the representation of the The velocity-time law can be verified if one assumes that the
height of fall as a function of the falling time (Fig.6). The para- measured mean velocity
bolic slope according to equation (1) is obviously.
According to equation (1), the height is directly proportional to v = s/t = g/2 t = gtS t/t = 2g/g =2
the square of time.
This can be displayed by a representation of h (t2) as shown in corresponds to the instantaneous velocity v after the fall time
Fig. 8. t = t/2.
Therefore, you have to choose the item channel modification
and set the parameters as shown in Fig. 7.
From the regression line of the data, we can calculate the Fig.8: Height of fall as a function o the square of the falling
gravitational acceleration because the slope is equal to 1/2 g time
according to equation (1).
For this typical measurement, we receive:

g = 9.77 m/s2. (Theoretical value: 9.81 m/s2)

In the same way as described above, the channels can be

modified to obtain the representation of the gravitational
acceleration g as a function of height of fall (Fig.9), because
for each distance h the effective acceleration of gravity g can
be calculated and the velocity v as a function of the height of
fall (Fig.10) can be determined.

Fig.6: Height of fall as a function of falling time

Fig.9: Gravitational acceleration g for different heights of fall

Fig.7: Settings for the channel modification

Fig.10: Velocity v as a function of the height of fall

PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen 21307-11 3
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1.3.07 Free fall with Cobra3
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4 21307-11 PHYWE series of publications Laboratory Experiments PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen