Physics Bridging 2

Welcome!

Welcome to the second lesson of physics in the QE Virtual Bridging experience!

If you haven't yet done so, please take a look at:

Introduction

In physics we often need to use technology to help us to take measurements - from Galileo using bells hung on string to investigate objects rolling down ramps to the various detector used in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

In the second physics Bridging lesson we would usually use a piece of equipment called a light gate. As you (probably) won't have these at home we're going to use a piece of technology that you will probably carry with you all the time - your phone.

If you don't have a smartphone, you could see if you can borrow one. If not, you can safely miss out this lesson and still do well in physics at QE.

Download phyphox

phyphox is an app which makes use of the sensors in your smartphone to turn it into a mobile lab. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, using the links on the download page of the phyphox website.

You are going to be using the acoustic stopwatch in phyphox to determine the duration of a free fall. This is a similar measurement as we made in the first Virtual Bridging lesson, but hopefully will produce better results for the time measurement.

As well as your phone, you will need:

  • object to drop;

  • rule;

  • pen;

  • tape measure.

Procedure design

This video explains an excellent technique to time a free-fall drop using your smartphone.

Now try to design your own experiment! You are going to vary the fall height and record the time taken to fall, and then use these values to find a value for the acceleration due to free fall.

Think about how you will measure the height of the drop. Plan a results table to record the start height and the time taken to fall to the ground.

(If you need help, a suggested table is provided here along with some hints on the procedure to use.)

Analysis of results

You should be able to use your results to find a value for g, the acceleration due to free fall. There are two methods you can use for this, depending upon whether you have graph paper:

  • calculate g for each height and then find an average;

  • draw a graph and use the gradient to find a value for g.

I've described the two methods in this video. (I apologise for my hayfever!)

'Publication'

Once you have completed your experiment and analysis, you could email your work to Mike (mmctimoney@g.qeliz.ac.uk) and Brian (bwardle@g.qeliz.ac.uk), or keep it safe and bring it along to your first physics lesson.

next

We hope that you've enjoyed your physics Virtual Bridging experience! We look forward to seeing you for enrolment and then for starting your lessons with us.

Why not take a look at our Bridging website again? If you have any questions at all, please get in touch. You can also follow us on Instagram.