Name: Date:
Period:

Smashing Pumpkins Lab

Purpose: To investigate how changing the mass will affect Earth’s gravitational pull on a projectile (pumpkin). Assume no air resistance.

Research Question: How are changing mass and gravitational pull related when you drop a pumpkin in free-fall?

Recall: (Independent variable, x-axis) causes a change in the (Dependent Variable, y-axis)

Claim: In the box below, state your claim based upon the research question above.

You will need a pumpkin, scale, balcony, timer, notebook, and pencil. You and your group will collect the mass of your pumpkin by weighing it on a scale in kilograms (kg). Next, you will walk to the senior quad where you will drop your pumpkin. One person will remain at the top of the senior quad whilst the other group members walk down to the drop zone area. Each group will need to designate a timer. You will record how long it takes for your pumpkin from release to splatter on the ground! Have fun!

Evidence:
Toss
Mass of pumpkin (kg)

Height of freefall (m)

Time of drop (s)

Equation: (2)(height) / (t2) = m/s2 = Gravity (g)
1

6.61 m

2

6.61 m

3

6.61 m

4

6.61 m

Analysis Questions: Answer the following questions based on your data
Draw a free body diagram as it falls through the air before it hits the ground. (Use the draw function under the insert tab).

Did gravity change as mass changed between the pumpkins? Explain why or why not

Based upon your observations, who was right, Aristotle or Galileo?

What was the average gravitational pull across all pumpkins?

Reasoning:In the space below, write your reasoning supporting your original claim from above. Things to consider when writing your reasoning:
Your reasoning should restate the claim and explain the significance of the evidence.
You must cite specific examples from the evidence.
Explain why the data in "evidence" supports the original claim.
Your reasoning should be 1-2 paragraphs and include proper spelling and grammatical structures.

Write your reasoning in the space below: