Senior Students explore gravity in real time

Grade 11 Physics classes climbed to the roof to investigate the effects of gravity, air resistance and air currents in the Guzzo Yard on October 19. A variety of objects were dropped from the roof (tennis balls, several sizes of steel balls, and finally a watermelon). Students measured the height of the building and fall times to calculate the acceleration of gravity. The variety of objects helped the students compare the effects of shape, surface area and mass on the object’s overall acceleration. Future investigation will include the forces, momentum and energy felt by the objects and the ground! — Mr. Tom Downey, Senior Science Dept. Co-Head