1

Ball Toss Lab Report

Madeline-Starr Wood

Department of Physics, Elmwood High School

PHY30S

Mr. Zurzolo

March 11, 2025

Whoopdeedoo Ball Flew Preliminary

​ During this lab experiment the objective was to analyze the kinematics of a ball tossed up

into the air, highlighting its position, velocity, and acceleration over time. With doing so by

collecting and interpreting data, the goal was to confirm the principles of motion under uniform

acceleration due to gravity. Additionally, allowing us to observe how velocity changes during

ascent, freefall, and descent and whether acceleration remains constant throughout the motion. It

is hypothesized that when the ball is tossed vertically, its velocity will decrease as it ascends,

reach zero at the peak, and increase in the negative direction as it descends. The acceleration

should remain constant at approximately -9.8 m/s² throughout the motion due to Earth's

gravitational force. Furthermore, if air resistance is negligible, the time taken for the ascent

should be equal to the time taken for the descent.

Materials

The materials used in this experiment include a motion sensor, a volleyball, Logger Pro

software, a wire basket, a computer for data analysis, graphing software, and a data recording

sheet. The motion sensor was used to track the ball’s position, velocity, and acceleration over
 BALL TOSS LAB REPORT​ 3

time, while Logger Pro software helped in data collection and graphing. A computer was used to

analyze and visualize the data, and the data recording sheet was essential for documentation

purposes..

Predictions & Preliminary Questions

Within the Position vs. Time, I believe the graph should resemble a parabolic curve,

where the ball moves up, slows down, stops at the peak, and then descends with increasing

speed. Whereas with the Velocity vs. Time graph, the velocity should decrease as the ball

ascends, reach zero at the peak, and then become increasingly negative as the ball falls back

down. The graph should show a linear relationship. Lastly, the Acceleration vs. Time graph

should show a horizontal line. Since acceleration due to gravity remains constant at -9.8 m/s², the

graph should be a line with minor variations due to external factors like air resistance.

Procedure

1.​ The motion sensor was positioned on a stable surface facing upwards.

2.​ The ball was held directly above the sensor within the detection range.

3.​ The ball was tossed in the air, ensuring it reached a visible peak before descending.

4.​ The motion sensor recorded position, velocity, and acceleration data throughout the

motion.

5.​ The experiment was repeated three times for consistency, and the average of the trials

was taken for analysis.

6.​ Data was analyzed using Logger Pro software to generate graphs of position, velocity,

and acceleration over time.

7.​ The acceleration values were compared to the theoretical acceleration due to gravity (-9.8

m/s²).
 BALL TOSS LAB REPORT​ 4

Data

Time (s) Position (m) Velocity (m/s)

0.75 0.463 0.621

0.8 0.495 0.659

0.85 0.528 0.697

0.9 0.564 0.736

0.95 0.602 0.775

1 0.642 0.819

1.05 0.684 0.865

1.1 0.729 0.906

1.15 0.774 0.94

1.2 0.822 0.986

1.25 0.874 1.024

1.3 0.925 1.043

1.35 0.977 1.074

1.4 1.032 1.112

1.45 1.089 1.151

1.5 1.147 1.191

1.55 1.208 1.227

1.6 1.27 1.264

1.65 1.334 1.301

1.7 1.4 1.312

1.75 1.468 1.23

Curve Fit A B C

Position (Ax² +

Bx + C) -4.75 9.85 0.52

Velocity (Ax +

B) -9.541 9.85 N/A

Average

Acceleration -9.5 N/A N/A

Graph Analysis

The position vs. time graph displayed a parabolic shape, confirming that the ball followed

a constant accelerated motion, because I’m always right. The maximum height was reached at

approximately 2.475 seconds, at which point the position of the ball was recorded as 1.108

meters. The curve was symmetrical, as expected, indicating that the ball's ascent and descent

were nearly identical in duration. The velocity vs. time graph demonstrated a linear decrease in

velocity as the ball moved upward, reaching approximately 0 m/s at the peak of its motion before

transitioning to negative values as it began to fall. The slope of this linear graph was determined
 BALL TOSS LAB REPORT​ 6

to be -9.541 m/s², which closely approximates the acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration

vs. time graph remained relatively constant at approximately -9.5 m/s², reinforcing that the only

significant force acting on the ball after release was gravity. Minor fluctuations in the

acceleration values were observed, likely caused by air resistance and measurement noise from

the motion detector. Overall, the graphical analysis confirms that the motion of the ball adheres

to the fundamental properties and principles of kinematics, with acceleration due to gravity being

the dominant force influencing the trajectory.

Conclusion

This experiment successfully demonstrated the principles of kinematics and how objects move

under the influence of gravity. By tossing a ball in the air and analyzing its motion, I gained a

deeper understanding of how velocity, acceleration, and position change over time. The scientific

process was followed through observation, data collection, and analysis, allowing us to test and

confirm key qualities of motion. The original hypothesis stated that as the ball ascended, its

velocity would decrease until it reached zero at the peak, then increase in the negative direction

as it descended. Additionally, acceleration was expected to remain constant at approximately -9.8

m/s². The data collected strongly supported this hypothesis, as the velocity-time graph showed a

linear decrease and increase, and the acceleration remained nearly constant throughout the

motion. Minor implications were observed, likely due to air resistance and sensor accuracy. Air

resistance plays a significant enough role to cause noticeable deviations in acceleration and

velocity, potentially altering the symmetry of the motion. Future experiments could test this by

using objects of different shapes and sizes to determine how air resistance affects motion.

Additionally, experiments could investigate how varying the initial velocity impacts the time and

height of the ball’s trajectory.

Possible Errors

Possible sources of error in this experiment include misalignment of the motion sensor,

inconsistencies in the force applied when tossing the ball, and the main culprit, air resistance.

Improving sensor precision and conducting multiple trials with stricter controls could minimize

these errors and improve accuracy in future experiments. Overall, this lab confirmed motion is a

real thing and provided insight into how gravity influences objects in freefall.