Studies of Free Falling Object and Simple Pendulum Using Digital Video Analysis

The motion of a free falling object and a simple pendulum were analyzed by digital cameras and computer programs (Sony Vegas, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Excel). The positions of the moving objects were evaluated every 33 ms from a series of images and experimental results were compared with fundamental equations in mechanics to verify the technique. For the free falling experiment, the displacement was proportional to the time squared and the velocity can be averaged from the change in position during each 33 ms interval. From the simple pendulum experiment, the angular displacement had a periodic variation with the time. This oscillation exhibited damping amplitudes and a constant time period. The time period squared had a linear relationship with the length of the pendulum. The agreements between the experimental results and the theory led to the acceleration due to the gravity with an acceptable level of accuracy. From this demonstration, a simple setup consisting of a conventional camera and software can not only be applied in the context of simple problems but also shows a potential in the teaching of advanced mechanics.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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