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written by Tom Henderson
This editor-recommended interactive tutorial from The Physics Classroom introduces the concept of acceleration of gravity. It is the second of a five-part segment that explains free fall motion and how free fall is represented by graphs. Students will be engaged by the simple language, informative graphics, and interactive widgets.
Editor's Note: This tutorial was developed for high school physics, but also serves well as content support for K-8 teachers. Don't miss the Gravitational Fields widget, which calculates the value of "g" at different locations on Earth. Why is the gravitational pull a little greater in Cincinnati than in Denver?
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Motion in One Dimension
= Gravitational Acceleration
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Tutorial
- Audio/Visual
= Image/Image Set
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- AP Physics
- Activity
- New teachers
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Intended User:
Learner
Formats:
text/html
image/gif
Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 1996 Tom Henderson
Keywords:
P/T graph, Position vs. Time, V/T graph, Velocity vs. Time, constant acceleration, free fall, gravitation, gravitational field, gravity, position graph, tutorial, velocity graph
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created March 28, 2011 by Tom Henderson
Record Updated:
June 15, 2012 by Zachary Davis
Last Update
when Cataloged:
July 1, 2011

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4B. The Earth
  • 6-8: 4B/M3. Everything on or anywhere near the earth is pulled toward the earth's center by gravitational force.
4F. Motion
  • 6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.
  • 9-12: 4F/H1. The change in motion (direction or speed) of an object is proportional to the applied force and inversely proportional to the mass.
4G. Forces of Nature
  • 9-12: 4G/H1. Gravitational force is an attraction between masses. The strength of the force is proportional to the masses and weakens rapidly with increasing distance between them.

9. The Mathematical World

9B. Symbolic Relationships
  • 9-12: 9B/H5. When a relationship is represented in symbols, numbers can be substituted for all but one of the symbols and the possible value of the remaining symbol computed. Sometimes the relationship may be satisfied by one value, sometimes by more than one, and sometimes not at all.
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Record Link
AIP Format
T. Henderson, (1996), WWW Document, (https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm).
AJP/PRST-PER
T. Henderson, Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity (1996), <https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm>.
APA Format
Henderson, T. (2011, July 1). Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm
Chicago Format
Henderson, Tom. Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity. July 1, 2011. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm (accessed 5 December 2024).
MLA Format
Henderson, Tom. Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity. 1996. 1 July 2011. 5 Dec. 2024 <https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Tom Henderson", Title = {Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {5 December 2024}, Month = {July 1, 2011}, Year = {1996} }
Refer Export Format

%A Tom Henderson %T Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity %D July 1, 2011 %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Henderson, Tom %D July 1, 2011 %T Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity %V 2024 %N 5 December 2024 %8 July 1, 2011 %9 text/html %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L5b.cfm


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Physics Classroom: The Acceleration of Gravity:

Has Teaching Guide Free Fall Model

This EJS simulation from Open Source Physics (OSP) will help students understand the many representations of free fall.

relation by Tom Henderson
Has Student Extra Flickr Physics

Visit The Physics Classroom's Flickr Galleries and take a visual overview of 1D Kinematics.

relation by Tom Henderson
Has Teaching Guide The Laboratory

Looking for a lab that coordinates with this page? Try the Free Fall Lab from The Laboratory. Requires motion detectors.

relation by Tom Henderson
Has Teaching Guide Curriculum Corner

Learning requires action. Give your students this sense-making activity from The Curriculum Corner.

relation by Tom Henderson

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