Photo AI
You carried out an experiment to measure g, the acceleration due to gravity - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2009
Question 1
You carried out an experiment to measure g, the acceleration due to gravity. (i) Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus you used. (ii) State what measurements yo... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:You carried out an experiment to measure g, the acceleration due to gravity - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2009
Step 1
Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus you used.
Answer
The labelled diagram should include the following components:
- Falling object/Ball: Clearly depict the object whose fall is being measured.
- Pendulum bob: If using a pendulum to measure the period of oscillation, this should be shown.
- Support structure: A representation of the support from which the pendulum is hung.
- Timer: Indicate the timer used for measurement, ensure it is shown in the diagram as connected to the experiment for accuracy.
- Photogate: If applicable, illustrate the photogate used to measure the time taken for the object to fall.
- Data collection devices: Such as a calculator or computer where results may be logged and analyzed.
Step 2
State what measurements you took during the experiment.
Answer
The measurements taken during the experiment included:
- Distance: The length of the fall for the falling object (or pendulum).
- Time: The duration it took for the object to fall or for one complete oscillation of the pendulum to occur.
- Length of the pendulum: If applicable, this is crucial for determining gravitational acceleration from the pendulum's period.
Step 3
Describe how you took one of these measurements.
Answer
To measure the time, the following steps were undertaken:
- Set up the apparatus securely, ensuring that the falling object or pendulum can move freely.
- One participant was responsible for starting the timer while another released the object simultaneously (or started the pendulum).
- Record the time until the object touches the ground or the pendulum completes its swing.
- Repeat this process several times to obtain an average time for reliability. The average time helps to reduce the impact of any human reaction variance.
Step 4
How did you calculate the value of g from your measurements?
Answer
The value of g (acceleration due to gravity) can be calculated using the following formula:
Where:
- h is the distance the object falls (or length of the pendulum), and
- t is the average time taken for the fall.
In the case of a pendulum, the formula could also be based on: Where:
- L is the length of the pendulum and T is the period of oscillation.
Step 5
Give one precaution that you took to get an accurate result.
Answer
One important precaution taken to ensure accurate results was to repeat the experiment several times and calculate the average of the measurements. This helps to mitigate any anomalies or errors that may occur during a single trial. Additionally, ensuring that the timer is started precisely at the moment of release of the object or pendulum is crucial for accuracy.