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Galileo's Experiment - Masses In Free Fall
Purpose
To show that the acceleration of bodies in free fall is independent of mass.
Equipment
Light and heavy balls, springscale with ball holder, ladder and sound board.
Setup Time
5 min.
Images
Description
Light and heavy balls are weighed using the spring scale. When they are dropped simultaneously from a height of about ten feet, they accelerate downward at the same rate (the acceleration of gravity) and reach the floor at the same time. A wooden board acts as a sound board to amplify the sound when they reach the floor.
References
V. V. Raman, Where credit is due- The Leaning Tower of Pisa Experiment, TPT 10, 196-197, (1972). Marcello Z. Maialle and Oscar Hipolito, Acceleration of gravity for the earth model as an ellipsoidal mass with nonuniform density, AJP 64, 434-436 (1996).
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See pagesc1. center of mass motion
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See pagesc3. first law of motion
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See pagesc4. second law of motion
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See pagesc5. third law of motion
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See pagesc6. friction
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See pagesc7. collisions
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See pagesc8. mechanical energy & power
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See pagesc1. center of mass motion
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See pagesc3. first law of motion
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See pagesc4. second law of motion
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See pagesc5. third law of motion
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See pagesc6. friction
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See pagesc7. collisions
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See pagesc8. mechanical energy & power