Simultaneous drop of two objects with different masses: Observational Experiment

Aim

Determine how the mass of an object influences its rate of fall.

Prior Knowledge

• Graphing skills (advanced analysis only).
• Reference frames.
• Kinematics knowledge: position, velocity and acceleration.

Description of the Experiment

Two different masses are dropped simultaneously from the same height. Observe their fall frame by frame. Record the position of both masses for each frame and make position vs time graphs for each mass. Determine whether the motion ismotion with constant speed, changing speed, constant acceleration or changing acceleration. Determine the acceleration of each mass.

Youtube movies can be stepped frame by frame using the , and . keys on your keyboard. If you want to download the movie to your computer, right-click or control-click HERE.

Youtube movies can be stepped frame by frame using the , and . keys on your keyboard. If you want to download the movie to your computer, right-click or control-click HERE.

Questions

Analysis

Having observed the video, what can you hypothesize about the influence of an object's mass on its rate of fall?

As more observational evidence, consider the same experiment repeated with two balls. The yellow ball is a light, hollow plastic ball, the white ball is a golf ball.