LAB REPORT

By: Kevin Patel

Lab Partner: Robert MacGillivray
Physics Lab 144 D 46
TA: Anindya Rastogi
Date of Lab: 28 September 2016

Introduction
In this experiment we will try to calculate the acceleration due to gravity (g) through
video analysis. We will draw the distance and velocity curves through Loggerpro. We
will use Quadratic equation in logger pro to get the correct reading of the graph.

Acceleration due to gravity remains same for any object. It does not depend upon
the mass. We will calculate that using experiments and measurements.

Procedure
1. Make a video of the falling Ball with the help of someone. We will release the
ball from a greater height for correct measurement. The video will have a
specified length (1 m meter stick). We will use this to convert pixels to real
length. Transfer that to your Laptop.
2. Open logger Pro. Save it a suitable new name. From the Insert menu, select
Movie. Browse to the movie you just saved and click select your video which
will be added into the document along with video controls at the bottom.
3. The video will have following controls: play, stop, skip to beginning, rewind
and fast forward. Important controls are the last two rewind/advance the
movie one frame at a time. These controls will help us to collect data from
the video.
4. Play the video to see where the motion starts. Try to decide where you will
place the origin and what axes you should use to analyze the motion.
5. We will trace the motion of the ball by adding points to the video. Select add
point button. Choose the center point on the ball and click on it while tracing
the points.
6. The table and the graph will reflect values. These are the x, y, v x and
vy values assuming default axes that are placed on the video. You will also
notice that these are strange numbers! In fact, they are expressed in pixels
and pixels/sec which we will convert to something realistic. Click on the set
scale.
7. As we are using a meter stick, then the distance is 1 and the unit is m.
Choose a convenient origin and axes.
8. In the end you can select page and select auto arrange to make it tidy.

Results
The Eq. that is shown when we click try fit over quadratic function we get:
Y=At2 + Bt + C
Where A = -5.153 0.03820
B = 38.59 0.3109
C= -72.25 0.6315

Graph of the function

Discussion
The formula for constant acceleration that we know is y= v.t + 1/2(a.t.t)
According to that function we get the value of Acceleration due to gravity (g) as
10.2m/s2
The known value of g = 9.8m/s2.
This error could have occurred as
1. Error in calculating Distance
2. Error in recording video
3. Air resistance.

Conclusions
Through above experiments and calculation we can conclude that the
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s 2. It does not depend upon the mass. It
acts on every object irrespective of size and shape. Gravity will pull the object
towards it with the same Acceleration.