Analyzing the Apollo 15 Feather and Hammer Drop
A Basic, Introductory Free-Fall Problem (6:01)

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AP Physics 1

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Apollo 15 Video Courtesy of NASA: The 1971 Feather and Hammer Drop Experiment performed by Astronaut David Scott.  We analyze the experiment to determine the height from which the feather and hammer were dropped.  It is a great, basic, introductory free-fall problem.

Content Times:
0:19 Why the experiment was done.
0:32 Let's enjoy the video
1:27 Beginning to analyze the video
2:23 Using the Frame Rate
3:00 Counting the frames
3:50 Solving for the initial height
4:51 The answer to how high the feather and hammer were dropped
5:31 The Review

Further Reading:

• NASA's website about the Feather and Hammer Drop Experiment.
• "Very little atmosphere" on the moon?  I thought there wasn't any.
• Free Fall with Air Resistance Calculator from Omni Calculator.
  

Photo Permissions:

• Full Moon 2010
• David Scott Apollo 15
  

Free Fall with Air Resistance Calculator