Galileo's Mast Experiment: Qualitative Testing Experiment

Aim

To test the idea of relative motion.

Prior Knowledge

• Reference frames.
• Relative motion

Description of the Experiment

Eugenia will skate across the floor after pushing off once (her pace does not change after she starts moving) and then drop the ball that she is holding in her hand. Use your knowledge of motion to predict where the ball will land relative to Eugenia before you view the video.

Addtional Information

Think of how the ball will move with respect to Eugenia and how it will move with repsect to the floor.

	Frame rate: 30fps Size: 480 X 360 File Size: 0.40Mb
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Questions

1. Did the experiment match your prediction? If it did not, how should you revise the prediction?



2. What would happen if Eugenia moved faster but with constant pace?



3. What would happen if you were in a reference frame moving parallel to Eugenia with the same pace?



4. What would happen if Eugenia kept pushing off the floor after she dropped the ball?