PHYS-1433    LAB 5

Lab 5 focused on investigating the acceleration due to gravity by analyzing the free fall of metal balls from varying heights. The primary objective was to understand how gravitational acceleration affects the motion of falling objects and to verify the relationship between height and velocity in free-fall conditions using experimental data.

The lab was divided into key parts: the first part involved measuring the time taken for metal balls to fall from different heights using a free-fall adapter and receptor pad for accurate timing data. In the second part, we calculated the velocities and estimated the heights traveled, comparing these results to the actual measured heights to assess experimental accuracy. We also plotted a graph of height against the square of velocity, analyzing the slope to determine the experimental value of gravity.

The main goals of the lab were to develop precision in data collection, enhance data analysis skills, and deepen our understanding of gravitational acceleration. This experiment emphasized the importance of accurate measurements, systematic analysis, and the application of theoretical principles, preparing us for more complex physics experiments in the future.