YEARS 7–12 IDEAS
ARTICLES
FOR THE CLASSROOM
Measuring Gravitational Acceleration using Timing Gates
By Reg Barr, Malcolm Hooper and Debbie James, Normanhurst Boys’ High School
Aim: to measure the acceleration due to gravity using improved
experimental skills.
Safety: No serious dangers are apparent, but safety glasses and
leather shoes are to be worn.
ball is initially zero. The vertical speed u at which the ball enters
the interval between the light gates is unknown, because the
process of rolling over the edge is beyond our ability to measure
or model. This vertical