Introduction
Galileo tried to prove that all falling objects accelerate downward at the same rate. Falling objects do accelerate downward at the same rate in a vacuum. Air resistance, however, can cause objects to fall at different rates in air. Air resistance enables a skydiver’s parachute to slow his or her fall. Because of air resistance, falling objects can reach a maximum velocity or terminal velocity. In this experiment, you will study the velocities of two different falling objects.
Objectives
- Use a Motion Detector to measure distance and velocity.
- Produce position vs. time and velocity vs. time graphs.
- Analyze and explain the results.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.
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Purchase the Lab Book
This experiment is #16 of Exploring Physical Science. The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.
