My experiment consisted of collecting exercising weights that ranged from two pounds to fifteen pounds. I had 2, 2.5, 4 and 15 pound weights. Using a ladder, I dropped the different weights to determine the effect of gravity on different objects based on their mass. The height of the ladder was 7 ft tall. That distance was never changed in all 3 trials. My hypothesis was that: If I drop weights with different masses, then, the one that weighs the heaviest will reach the ground first. My dependent variable is the speed of the fall. My independent variables are the different weights. My constant is the same height from where the weights were being dropped and the same ground they are being dropped to.

On the first trial, I carefully video recorded with my ipad that all the weights reached the ground at approximately one second. This was surprising to me because I thought that the 15 pound weight would reach the ground faster than the lighter ones, but instead, it reached the ground at the same time. I wasn't sure if this was accurate so I repeated the experiment 2 more times. After examining the videos of all the trials, I discovered that all the weights fell at the exact time (one second). To my surprise, I proved my hypothesis wrong.

The reason why all the different weights fell at the same time is because when an object falls vertically, you can not vary the force and mass independently. All objects, regardless of their weight, fall at the same rate when dropped vertically. However, in the case of throwing different objects horizontally, you can vary the force and the mass independently. During my hypothesis, I was confusing horizontal and vertical motions , that is why I assumed that the heaviest weight would fall at a faster rate. During my research,however, I learned this was a “free fall” experiment. Free fall motion occurs when an object does not encounter a significant force of air resistance and the only force acting upon the objects is gravity. Therefore, all objects will fall with the same rate of acceleration, regardless of their mass under a free fall motion.