Name: _________________________

LAB: Acceleration Due To Gravity

Objective: To study the acceleration of objects under the influence of gravity using graphing techniques.
Materials and Setup:
-

Vernier Lab-Pro/Lite interface

Motion sensor
Basketball

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Connect the motion sensor to the Vernier interface.

Connect the Vernier interface to the computer.
Open the Vernier-Pro/Vernier-Lite program
Hold the basketball about 30 cm (1 foot) below the motion sensor.
Start the Vernier program and drop the basketball.
Select a section of the desired curve and record the data below.

Observation:
A
Time, t (s)

v
Position, d (m)

t (s)

d (m)

E
Average time, t
(s)

F
Average
velocity, v (m/s)

Name: _________________________

Graphical Analysis:
1. Complete the observation table
2. Draw a well labeled position time graph.
Draw a curve of best fit.
DO NOT CONNECT POINTS using straight lines.
3. Draw a well labeled velocity time graph.
Draw a line of best fit.
Use TWO NEW POINTS on the line to find the slope of the line.
4. What does the slope of the velocity time graph represent?
5. Determine the equation of the line using the format, y = mx + b.
6. Research the Accepted Theoretical Value for the slope of this velocity time graph.

Error Analysis:
1. Determine the percentage of error between the experimental value and the theoretical value of the acceleration
due to gravity:

TheoreticalValue ExperimentalValue

TheoreticalValue

%error

2. List any sources of error.

3.

Suggest ways to improve this experiment.

Name: _________________________