Acceleration is constant during free fall
Abstract
This experiment was intended to verify the principle of constant acceleration due to gravity during a free fall. Balls of different masses, including a ping pong ball, tennis ball, cricket ball, and bowling ball, were dropped from a fixed height of 5 m. We measured the time each ball took to hit the ground, with several replicates for each type of ball. Acceleration was computed assuming it was constant over the entire fall using a = − 2h/t2. The calculated accelerations for the balls ranged from −9.2 m/s2 to −10 m /s2 , approximately equal in magnitude to g = 9.8 m/s2 . Our findings support Galileo’s assertion that acceleration due to gravity near the Earth’s surface is constant, regardless of significant differences in mass.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Sports Dynamics and Biomechanics
Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies
Mechanics and Biomechanics Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Science & Engineering
- Publisher
- Freehold Regional High School District
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 41–43
- Publication date
- 26 February 2026