Adapted from David Beier, 6-12
12 Physical Science
Acceleration Due to Gravity
Basketball vs. Bowling Ball
Teacher Resource
Grade Level
Objectives
6-12
1. The student will investigate gravity, mass, & how it influences acceleration on an object.
2. The student will employ simple equipment and tools to gather data.
3. The student will demonstrate the use of 21st century technology with a document
camera.
National Standards
NS.5-8.1; NS.9-12.1
Science as Inquiry
NS.5-8.2; NS.9-12.2
Physical Science: Motions & Forces
NS.5-8.5; NS.9-12.5
Science & Technology: Abilities of Technological Design
NT.K-12.1
Basic Operations and Concepts
NT.K-12.3
Technology Productivity Tools
NT.K-12.6
Technology Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
Making Tools
Teacher Background Information
In this experiment, the student will investigate if dropping
ropping a basketball and a bowling
ball from the same height at the same time, which one will hit the ground first? In this simple
‘Law of Gravity’ experiment, you will ignore air resistance at the moment. Have the students
focus solely on gravity affecting a falling object. Gravity is the natural force that governs all falling
objects on Earth. It is the same forc
force that controls the Moon's orbit around the Earth. Gravity ensures
that all falling objects fall at the same rate. Gravity’s force is constant, 9.8 meters per second.
1
Adapted from David Beier, 6-12
12 Physical Science
Your students will be amazed to see the bowling ball and basketball fall and land at the
t
same time. Preface this with teaching them about Galileo's famous experiment and his
influence on understanding the law of gravity.
To demonstrate that the force of gravity acts the same on all objects
objects,, either I record this
event before my class getss there and just plays the video for them
them. If you are working with
secondary students then I think they could do this experiment themselves. You will see in the
video how closely the bowling ball is to my toes when it hits the ground
ground…thus
…thus the safety
concerns! This took me only a few tries to get them to land at the same time. It is quite
difficult to hold those two balls up like that and release them simultaneously. After 3 or 4 tries
it is even tougher. But having my kids watch this is a little easie
easierr than having them watch me
try this ‘live’ over and over and not get it quite right. Try a tennis ball wit
with
h the class to shake
things up after using the basketball!
To watch video go to the teacher resources page on the Ken-A-Vision
Vision website:
http://ken-a-vision.com/resources/teacher
vision.com/resources/teacher-resources/camera-products/acceleration-due
due-to-gravity
MATERIALS
Document Camera
Personal Computer
Interactive White Board/Projector
/Projector
Bowling Ball
Basketball
Tennis Ball
Meter Stick
2
Adapted from David Beier, 6-12
12 Physical Science
PROCEDURE
1. Have the students create a hypothesis.
2. Take a meter stick and measure from the ground up 2 meters high. At the top of the 2
meters will be your drop point.
3. Position the document camera so the entire view will be captured when recording.
4. Start recording.
5. Hold the bowling ball and basketball at the same height (2 meters high) and release at
the same time.
6. Repeat step 4, three times.
7. Stop recording and review video.
QUESTIONS
1. State the constant for gravity.
2. Which object landed first? Why did this happen?
3. If Earth acted as a vacuum, gravity would be the only thing affecting the objects, but we
do not live in a perfect world. What other factors are affecting the objects when they
are released?
EXTENSION
Have the students try a tennis ball instead of the basketball.
3