All About PhysicsDetermining g with a

Ticker TimerSummer Shi

AS 3

Suzhou A Level Centre

How to find g?

Free fall motion:

21H

2gt

There you go!

What do we need?

• Ticker timer & paper• Holder/stand• Flask holder• Paper clips• Weight

• Measuring tape

Putting them together……

HolderTicker Timer

Paper Clip

Paper

Flask Holder

Paper ClipWeight

Follow these steps……(1/6)

1. Put the equipment on a desk with a height

A desk or any relatively tall horizontal platform is required as the weight has to travel quite a distance in order to have a rather accurate result of g.

Follow these steps……(2/6)

2. Drop the weight

Turn on the ticker timer as you drop the weight. The two actions are preferred to be done simultaneously in order to avoid errors and difficulties in calculation.

Follow these steps……(3/6)

3. Stop the ticker timer

Stop the ticker timer when the weight hits the ground. Take the strand of paper out and measure the distance between every 2 dots next to each other. Calculate the velocities by using the formula v = s/t.

Follow these steps……(4/6)

4. Drawing a v - t graph

Plot a velocity – time graph. Calculate the gradient of the graph as the value of the gradient will be the value of g.

Follow these steps……(5/6)

5. Repeat the experiment

Repeat the steps 1 – 4 with different weights. You might get several different results for g.

Follow these steps……(6/6)

6. Calculate

Calculate the average of g. This will be the final result.

Reliability?

Source of errors

•Air resistance•Measuring mistakes•Calculation mistakes

Bibliography

•Google (pictures)•www.physicsforums.com•www.practicalphysics.org