Phys Lab

THE FORCE OF GRAVITY

Topics covered in this lab:

Gravitational force
Newton’s Laws

One of the topics we have discussed is acceleration, meaning that the velocity of the object being studied is changing. What causes something to accelerate? In this lab you will investigate the forces that affect the motion of objects.

Materials

Something to toss

Procedure

Toss an object straight up into the air and catch it as it falls back down. Carefully watch the object’s vertical position as a function of time. Repeat your toss enough times that you are sure that you understand the motion of the object.

In order to answer the following questions, imagine that you were able to measure the distance of the object above your hands, the velocity of the object, and the acceleration of the object, all as a function of time. You may want to reference your textbook to answer these questions. Please give detailed answers in complete sentences.

Questions

What is the velocity of the object at the very top of its path?

Is the velocity of the object changing during the entire flight or just at certain times? Explain.

What is the acceleration of the object at the very top of its path?

Does the acceleration of the object change while it is in flight?

List all fo the forces that are acting on the object while it is in flight.

NOTE: You may want to refer to your text to complete the following steps.

Using the first grid provided on the following page, make a sketch of what you think the DISTANCE (above your hands) versus TIME graph would look like for the object.

Using the second grid provided on the following page make a sketch of what you think the VELOCITY versus TIME graph would look like for the object.

Using the third grid provided on the following page, make a sketch of what you think the ACCELERATION versus TIME graph would look life for the