Solve Gravity Lab Problem: Determine Accel Due to Gravity

[matt@USA]

Homework Statement

Suppose that a quadratic fit to a position plot yields the following fit result: y=4.97x^2+1.53x+.0503, how would I determine the accelearation due to gravity?

Homework Equations

I know that y=1/2gt^2+Vnaught(t)+ynaught. I know that g is 9.87m/s^2. So in my original given equation, I know that 4.97 is half of the gravity, and 1.53 is my Vnaught. Would this be the answer they are looking for, or is there something I am missing?

The Attempt at a Solution

I may be exploring this question deeper then I should. I believe that the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s^2, and the initial velocity of the particle would be 1.53m/s?

 

[daveb]

Nope, you have the right idea (though I for one wouldn't have written the initial equation as y = 4.97x^2+1.53x+.0503 - I would have written it as y=4.97t^2+1.53t+.0503, but that's just me being picky.)

 

[matt@USA]

That is just the way the lab gave the initial equation. I am working on my preliminary assignment. So I haven't actually done the problems yet.