Physics Home > Teaching Labs > Mechanics > Galileo's Measurement of g

Topics

Points of Emphasis

Prerequisites

Lab Activities

This lab has two parts:

I. The first part duplicates an experiment performed by Galileo (and described in Two New Sciences) to confirm that the distance travelled by a falling object starting from rest is proportional to the square of the elapsed time of fall. The experiment consists of rolling a steel ball down an inclined channel track and making measurements of distance travelled vs time. Time intervals are measured with a water clock. The distance travelled is then plotted against the time squared. An experimental value of g is computed from the slope of the graph

II. Part two uses the spark timers and falling weights from the Kinematic Data lab to measure the same quantities.

Course Level

Student Handouts

Equipment

Number of set-ups available: 5 Per lab station: 1 rail track apparatus 1 water jug 1 2 meter meterstick 1 ruler 1 roll of masking tape 1 stopwatch 2 ring stands 2 ring stand clamps 1 bar 1 bucket 1 sponge 1 1" steel ball 1 balance/standard mass set 1 large beaker 1 ball stop General class supplies: (5 setups) 1 spark timer 1 level 3 hooked weights (200, 50 and 20 g) 1 roll of spark paper 1 C-clamp 2 3-pronged clamps 2 ring stand clamps 1 long metal bar 1 alligator clip 1 1-holed paper punch 1 box with foam cushion 1 roll of scotch tape

Notes

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Site contact: largent@Dartmouth.EDU

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