if the ball is given an initial downard velocity instead of just being released, would the resulting experimental value of g have been different? why?
If the ball is given an initial downward velocity instead of being released without any initial velocity, the experimental value of "g" (acceleration due to gravity) would not have been different. This is because the acceleration due to gravity is a constant value and is independent of the object's initial velocity.
To understand why, let's break down the concept. When an object is dropped from a height, it falls under the influence of gravity. The acceleration due to gravity, denoted as "g," is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth. This means that the velocity of the object will increase by 9.8 m/s every second it falls.
When you release a ball without any initial velocity, gravity immediately starts to act on it, and the ball accelerates at a constant rate of "g" downwards. The initial velocity is zero, but as time passes, the ball gains speed due to the acceleration caused by gravity.
Now, if you give the ball an initial downward velocity when releasing it, let's say 2 m/s, the ball will still experience the same acceleration due to gravity, "g." However, it will also have the initial velocity of 2 m/s in the downward direction.
As the ball falls, the acceleration due to gravity and the initial downward velocity add up or subtract from each other, depending on their respective directions. If the initial velocity and acceleration have the same direction, the ball's speed will increase. If they have opposite directions, the ball's speed will decrease.
In the case of an initial downward velocity, while it affects the ball's trajectory initially, the acceleration due to gravity remains unchanged. The ball still accelerates at the rate of "g" because it experiences a constant gravitational force.
To conclude, the experimental value of "g" would be the same regardless of whether the ball is released without any initial velocity or given an initial downward velocity. The acceleration due to gravity remains constant, unaffected by the ball's initial velocity.