FALLING OBJECTS  
Omar Marzouk 
MYP Year 5 - Mathematics 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
The purpose of this mathematical lab is to determine the value of the constant representing 
gravity by dropping an object from five different heights, and measuring the time it takes for the object 
to hit the ground. To obtain the value of the constant, various mathematical methods will be employed, 
graphing points on a cartesian plane, and finding a tangent of a curve. The literature value was provided 
as the constant speed of gravity: 9.7926 m/s​2​. The constant was measured using physical pendulums 
and gravitometers in Tucson by The US Geological Survey. In comparing the obtained value to the 
literature value utilizing percentage error, a quantitative value will be obtained representing the validity 
of the final result.  
 
I devised a plan in efforts of determining the value of the constant of gravity. The plan involved 
the measurement of the furthest possible distance (within given limits) at which an object (ping-pong 
ball) can be safely dropped. (This was to be 5.13 m). The gathering of the data took place on April 17th, 
2020.  
 
Following, after taking into consideration the different elevations needed to conduct the lab 
safely, I began dropping objects at the previously established heights. To obtain reliable data, the object 
was dropped a total of 3 times at each designated height to prevent outliers from skewing the entirety 
of the data. A stopwatch was started each time an object was released from each height and stopped 
when the object hit the ground. The obtained results of the data are shown in the table below: 
Height (meters)  Time (Seconds): 

Trial 1  Trial 2  Trial 3  Average 

(1.10+1.05+1.1)
5.13  1.10  1.05  1.1  3
 
      = 1.08 

(0.98+0.98+0.94)
4.3  0.98  0.98  0.94  3
 
      = 0.97  

(0.75+0.81+0.64)
2.85  0.75  0.81  0.64  3
 
      = 0.73 

(0.61+0.60+0.63)
1.78  0.61  0.60  0.63  3
 
      = 0.61 

(0.51+0.49+0.53)
1.2  0.51  0.49  0.53  3
 
      = 0.51 
 
All of the heights shown above have been converted into meters for the purposes of this mathematical 
exploration, to determine the constant for gravity in m/s. Through the provided procedure, the values 
above were obtained. The averages were calculated through the addition of all trial values and dividing 
the sum by 3, as follows: 
 
(T rial 1 T ime (s) + T rial 2 T ime (s) + T rial 3 T ime (s))
N umber of T rials
 
 
To  obtain  the  value  of  the  constant  representing  gravity  the  data  above  will  be  put  into  a  graph.  Thus, 
illustrating  the  correlation  between  height  and  time  when  dropping  the  object.  As  shown  in  the  graph 
below,  a  positive  correlation  between  height  and  time  is  present.  As  the  height  at  which  the  object  is 
dropped  increases,  the  time  it  takes  for  the  object  to  reach  the  ground  increases  simultaneously. 
Following  I  will  take  the tangent to the curve within the graph below. Thus, allowing me to determine an 
equation representing the tangent, obtaining the slope of the tangent line.  

 
In  the  graph  above,  the  equation  of  the  curved line is as follows;  4.314x2 + 0.2850x . The aforementioned 
equation  represents  the  correlation  between  time  and  height  while  dropping  the  object.  To  determine 
the equation of the tangent line of this curve, the following formula will be employed: 
 
ax​n​ → anx​n-1 
 
Using the formula above, we can find an equation to determine the slope of the tangent of the graph at 
any point. 
Let v represent velocity. 
 
v = 4.314 · 2x2−1 + 0.2850  
 
v = 8.628x + 0.2850  
 
Following,  several  data  points  on  the  x-axis  had  to  be  assigned  to  determine  the  values of the y-axis to 
graph  this  function.  The  table  below  features  the  transformation  of  the  x  values  to  obtain  the  y  values 
through the equation above.  
 
 Time (sec)  Velocity (m/s) 

0  v = 8.628(0) + 0.2850  
= 0.285 

0.2  v = 8.628(0.2) + 0.2850  

= 2.01 

0.4  v = 8.628(0.4) + 0.2850  

= 3.74 

0.6  v = 8.628(0.6) + 0.2850  

= 5.46 

0.8  v = 8.628(0.8) + 0.2850  

= 7.19 
 
Once the repondants to time intervals were gathered through the substitution of the equation above, 
the tangent of the curve was electronically graphed, as shown (left). 
 
The  slope  and  gradient  of  the  tangent  line  indicates  the  rate  of  change  of 
acceleration,  or velocity of the ball at a specific point in time. The graph of the 
slopes  of  the  second  graph  and  the  calculated  line  of  best  fit  indicates  the 
change  of  velocity  over  time.  This  phenomenon  is  otherwise  referred  to  as 
acceleration.  Based  on  the  velocity  equation,  it  can  be  concluded  that  the 
acceleration due to gravity of the data collected is 7.5 m/s​2​.  
 
 
|Experimental value − Literature value|
Literature value
x 100%  
|7.5 − 9.7926|
= 9.7926
x 100%  
= 2.2926
9.7926 • 100%  
= 0.2341155566 • 100%  
≈ 23%  
∴ The percentage error is approximately 23%. 
 
According to ​BackYardBrains​, the average human has a delayed reaction time 
towards visual stimulus of 0.25 seconds. Typically, this impact on the final 
result is miniscule, however, in this experiment, when the largest 
measurement of time is 1.02 seconds, an error of 0.25 seconds translates into 
a great impact on the gathering of data of this exploration. During the 
gathering of data, the time of which the object was dropped was based 
entirely on my ability to react. Hence, this short delay in reaction time equates 
to less accurate data, contributing towards the justification of the 23% 
percentage error. In efforts of creating a more accurate mode of the data, a 
reaction time of 0.25 seconds was subtracted from each timed trial:  
 
Height (meters)  Time (Seconds): 

Trial 1  Trial 2  Trial 3  Average 

(0.85+0.80+0.85)
5.13  1.10 - 0.25 = 0.85  1.05 - 0.25= 0.80  1.10 - 0.25 =0.85  3
= 0.83 
     

(0.73+0.73+0.69)
4.3  0.98 - 0.25 = 0.73  0.98 - 0.25=0.73  0.94 - 0.25=0.69  3
= 0.72 
     

(0.5+0.56+0.39)
2.85  0.75-0.25=0.5  0.81-0.25 = 0.56  0.64 -0.25 =0.39  3
= 0.48 
     

(0.36+0.35+0.38)
1.78  0.61-0.25=0.36  0.60-0.25=0.35  0.63-0.25 = 0.38  3
= 0.36 
     

(0.26+0.24+0.28)
1.2  0.51-0.25 = 0.26  0.49-0.25 = 0.24  0.53-0.25 = 0.28  3
= 0.26 
     
 
Repeating the same process, these data points were then put into a graph, as follows below: 

 
 
In  the  graph  above,  the  equation  of  the  curved  line  is  as  follows;  5.200x2 + 3.400x .To  determine  the 
equation of the tangent line of this curve, the following formula will be employed: 
 
ax​n​ → anx​n-1 
 
Using the formula above, we can find an equation to determine the slope of the tangent of the graph at 
any point. 
Let v represent velocity. 
 
v = 5.200 · 2x2−1 + 3.400  
 
v = 10.4x + 3.400  
 
Once  more,  several  data  points on the x-axis had to be assigned to determine the values of the y-axis to 
graph  this  new  function.  The  table  below  features  the  transformation  of  the  x  values  to  obtain  the  y 
values through the equation above.  
 
Time (sec)  Velocity (m/s) 

0  v = 10.4(0) + 3.400  
= 3.4 

0.2  v = 10.4(0.2) + 3.400  

= 5.48  

0.4  v = 10.4x + 3.400  

= 7.56 

0.6  v = 10.4x + 3.400  

= 9.64 

0.8  v = 10.4(0.8) + 3.400  

= 11.72 
 
Once the repondants to time intervals were gathered through the substitution of the equation above, 
the tangent of the curve was electronically graphed, as shown below.  
 
  
Based  on  the  slope  of  the  graph  shown  above  it  can  be  concluded  that  this  method  of  obtaining  the 
constant of gravity garnered a value of 10.40 m/s​2​. Thus, yielding percentage error of 6.2% as follows: 
 
|Experimental value − Literature value|
Literature value
x 100%  
|10.40 − 9.7926|
= 9.7926
x 100%  
0.6074
= 9.7926 • 100%  
= 0.6202642812 • 100%  
≈ 6.2%  
∴ The percentage error is approximately 6.2%. 
 
Another factor that contributes towards this percentage error is air resistance. ​Air resistance is defined as 
the forces that are in opposition to the relative motion of an object as it passes through the ​air. ​The 
faster the object falls towards the ground, the more air resistance affects that object. At a certain point, 
the amount of accumulated air resistance from the increase in speed equates to the balance of the 
forces of gravity, or terminal velocity. The longest time at which the object remained in the air was 1.10 
seconds, hence, speed did not affect the amount of air resistance acting against the 
object. The lab was conducted utilizing a ping-pong ball. Hence, relative to a larger sized 
object (such as a baseball), not as many air molecules collide with the object. Thus, 
decreased air resistance. ​The direction of the air resistance force is in the opposite 
direction as the velocity of the object. Hence, the diagram (right) can be utilized to 
describe the effects of air resistance on the gathering of the data: The most common 
model for the air resistance states that the magnitude of the force depends on: 
 1.2kg
● The density of air (ρ). This typically has a value around m3
. 
● The cross sectional area of the object (A). A ping pong ball would have a cross sectional area 
equal to πr2 : 
 
A = πr2  
= π (0.02 meters)2  
≈ 1.26 m2  
 
● The drag coefficient (C). This depends on the shape of the object. For a spherical object, a 
unitless value of 0.47 is typical. 
● The magnitude of the velocity squared. The faster you go, the greater the air resistance 
force. 
 
To calculate the air resistance, the mass of the ball, altitude of the initial drop location, gravitational 
acceleration must be determined. As per the diagram above, the following formula will be utilized to 
calculate air resistance: 
F air =− 12 DAρv 2 , 
 
In the equation above, D represents the drag coefficient, A, the cross-sectional area of the object ( m2 ), 
ρ represents air density and finally, v represents the velocity squared. Upon obtaining all of the 
necessary variables, the air resistance affecting the object was calculated, as shown in the following table 
below: 
 
Calculations:  Air Resistance (Newtons): 

− 12 (0.47)(1.26)(1.2)(1.08)2   -0.41 

− 12 (0.47)(1.26)(1.2)(0.97)2   -0.33 

− 12 (0.47)(1.26)(1.2)(0.73)2   -0.19 

− 12 (0.47)(1.26)(1.2)(0.61)2   -0.13 

− 12 (0.47)(1.26)(1.2)(0.51)2   -0.09 

 
The calculations above indicate the trend that the less time the object is in the air, the less of an impact 
air resistance has on the object. Thus, explaining the -23% percentage error. The constant for gravity was 
determined, factoring out air resistance. If air resistance was factored when calculating the force of 
gravity, the obtained result would be nearly synonymous with the provided literature value. ​However, 
upon gathering the accelerations of each individual height, and comparing them with that of which was 
obtained through an electronic model, the obtained acceleration garnered a far different result. The 
acceleration was calculated utilizing the following formula, as follows:  
 
(((Height)(2)) ÷ (Average T ime))2  
 
Calculations:  Acceleration ( m/s2 )   

(((− 1.2)(2)) ÷ (0.51))2   -9.22 

(((− 1.78)(2)) ÷ (0.61))2   -9.56 

(((− 2.85)(2)) ÷ (0.73))2   -10.15 

(((− 4.3)(2)) ÷ (0.97))2   -9.14 

(((− 5.13)(2)) ÷ (1.08))2   -8.57 

Following, the average acceleration was found, utilizing the following formula: 
 
(Acceleration 1 + Acceleration 2 + Acceleration 3 + Acceleration 4 + Acceleration 5) ÷ (5)   
 
Thus,  
 
((− 8.573) + (− 9.14) + (− 10.15) + (− 9.56) + (− 9.22))/ 5  
 
≈ -9.33 
 
The obtained acceleration was a negative value. Negative acceleration is the phenomenon of an object’s 
velocity decreasing over time at a steady rate. (ThePhysicsClassroom, n.d). Hence, when an object is 
slowing down the acceleration is in the opposite direction as the velocity. Thus, a negatively obtained 
acceleration. Following, this new obtained value was compared against the provided literature value, 
once more, as follows: 
 
|Experimental value − Literature value|
Literature value
x 100%  
|−9.33 − 9.7926|
= 9.7926
x 100%  
19.1226
= 9.7926 • 100%  
= 1.96 • 100%  
≈ 196%  
∴ The percentage error is approximately 196% 
 
In conclusion, I was able to calculate the value for the constant of gravity through the tangent of a curve. 
The second method of obtaining an acceleration garnered the lowest percentage error of 6.2%, and 
thus, the most accurate of the 3 obtained values. This is due to the fact that one of the major sources of 
error of the experiment, human reaction time, was factored out of the gathered data. Overall, due to air 
resistance, inconsistencies of timing, and human reaction time, the gathered data became far less 
accurate. However, the data was still able to be manipulated in a variety of methods, involving 
mathematical manipulation and graphing software to garner a value for the constant of gravity. The data 
collection showed that this constant can be calculated from any selected height. The calculated 
percentage error was justified by human reaction time and air resistance, both having notable effects on 
the validity of the data.