Presenting Q's: Experiment w/ 2 Objects of Diff. Mass

[ACLerok]

in a month, i give a presentation about an experiment in which two objects of different mass are dropped at the same time and hit the ground at once. I am asked for a verbal and mathematical model for this experiment. Here goes my verbal model: "While mass does affect an objects weight, it does not play a role in determining the rate of fall of an object rather does the gravitational force on the object by the earth." Is this good enough? What should I add/subtract? I am also asked to find a mathematical model but I don't know which equation corresponds with this experiment. It's a constant acceleration equation right? The physics class I'm taking is a level one course in a college in New Jersey so please no complicated answers! :) Oh yeah, and how do I take data from this experiment? I know I'm supposed to record the objects position vs. time but I amsupposed to gather the data from a Quicktime movie on the Internet. It says its at 30fps but how exactly do I analyze the data? Thanks to all of you!

 

[ACLerok]

Originally posted by Ambitwistor

You can approximate the Earth's gravitational field as F = mg. Since F = ma, that means that a=g, i.e., the body always has an acceleration g (equal to about 9.81 m/s² near the surface of the Earth), regardless of what its mass is; the mass cancels out of the equation.

If you want to be more accurate, the gravitational field of a planet of mass M on a body of mass m is equal to F = GMm/r², where G is Newton's gravitational constant and r is the distance between their centers of mass.

i'm not supposed to refer to Newton's Laws or force, just kinematics. is the mathematical model an actual equation or just some sentences or ideas?