Concepts

Free fall, uniform acceleration

Overview

The motion of a basketball undergoing free fall is captured using a motion detector.

Details

Equipment

• [1] Basketball
• [1] Lab stand
• [1] Counterweight
• [1] Steel rod
• [2] 90-degree clamp
• [1] Go!Motion motion detector
• [1] USB cable
• [1] Computer with Logger Pro software

Classroom Assembly

1. Place the lab stand on the table.
2. Add a counterweight on the base of the lab stand.
3. Attach the motion detector to the lab stand as shown in the image above.
4. Connect the motion detector to a computer using a USB cable.
5. Start Logger Pro.
6. In Logger Pro, set y = 0 m with the basketball on the ground.
   

Script

1. Hold the basketball below the motion detector.
2. Start the Logger Pro data collection.
   
3. Release the ball and let it fall.

Additional Resources