I can use height and time data to estimate g and calculate percent error.
POE Unit 4 • Lesson 4.10
Free Fall and Gravity Drop Testing
Focus question: How can a drop test estimate gravitational acceleration while accounting for measurement uncertainty?
Mission Briefing
Today’s Plan
A focused sequence that advances the mission-performance investigation.
Opening promptConcept modelGuided practiceInteractive applicationEvidence checkExit ticket
Lesson Targets
What You Will Be Able to Do
Free-fall calculation and error analysis
The calculation uses consistent SI units and identifies a realistic source of experimental error.
Activity Flow
How the Lesson Moves
Each step builds the data, motion, or testing reasoning required for today’s deliverable.
1. Prepare the model
Connect drop height and time to the free-fall equation.
2. Estimate gravity
Calculate g from the measured values.
3. Evaluate quality
Find percent error and identify the largest uncertainty source.
Lesson Interactive
Estimate Gravitational Acceleration
Apply the lesson concept to a mission-performance scenario. Use the feedback to correct your reasoning before completing the main deliverable.
Drop-Test Measurements
1.25 mDrop height
0.51 sMeasured time
9.81 m/s²Accepted g
Use h = ½gt², so g = 2h/t².
Calculate g first, then compare it with 9.81 m/s² using percent error.
Today’s Work
Main Deliverable
Free-fall calculation and error analysis
Create one focused engineering artifact that demonstrates today’s learning.
- Calculate experimental g and percent error relative to 9.81 m/s².
- Recommend one specific measurement change that would reduce uncertainty.
Exit Ticket
Mission Debrief
State the most important data-analysis or motion concept from today in your own words.
Name the measurement, calculation, graph feature, or test decision that supports your conclusion.
Identify one uncertainty, limitation, or next test that would strengthen the evidence.
Resources
Lesson Resources
Lesson 4.10 PowerPoint
Use the presentation to review the lesson concepts, examples, and activity directions.
Principles of Engineering
Return to the POE course hub for units, resources, certifications, and course information.
Mission Data Investigation
Use the integrated investigation context when connecting trial design, statistics, kinematics, graphs, and recommendations.