Physics Problem Help: Understanding Acceleration of Sliding Objects

[FahimP]

Homework Statement

I just did an experiment. where i was sliding an object across a horizontal pipe. One end of the pipe was like 5 inches of the ground and the other side was on ground level. I did a few tests calculating the time it took to pass through two check points. I was calculating velocity and acceleration based on the distance and time.

I thought I was going to get an acceleration of -9.8m/s^2 but I didnt. Over a series of 5 tests i got the same acceleration even though the check points were at different distances. WHY i don't know.. can anyone explain why i got the same acc even though the distances were different and why i did not get an acceleration of -9.8m/s^2

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

my anwer was ... the reason why gravity does not act on it is because it is sliding not falling. the object is sliding on the pipe therefore there is a constant acceleration but it is not -9.8m/s^2 because it is not a freely falling object.

the first part of the question I don't know? i don't know why i kept getting the same acceleration for the 6 different trials even though the distances were different

 

[rock.freak667]

Gravity is acting on the object, it is just the object is sliding down the length of the pipe, so the component of gravity along the length of the pipe is what is causing the acceleration.