Agent Tasks:
Documenter – Tirman, Brendan
Webmaster – Tirman
Facilitator – Samudra, Shrey
Timekeeper – Shrey, Brendan
Manager - Samudra
Introduction:
Terminal velocity is the fastest speed an object can move when in freefall. Gravity acts upon the object making it accelerate downwards. As the object falls, due to air resistance the acceleration of gravity is canceled out, therefore the velocity is constant and thus it has reached its terminal velocity. In this experiment, a certain number of coffee filters are dropped, starting with one and increasing till five, and the time it takes to reach each position of the freefall process is recorded. Observing this freefall motion, we are able to see how the different amount of coffee filters reach a steady velocity (terminal velocity). To observe the motion we recorded each freefall using a camera, which did not move, and a computer software that allowed us to track the motion of the object. Different amounts of coffee cup filters gives each trial a different mass, and a greater mass means a greater force pulling the object down. Thus, each successive mass should have a greater terminal velocity. This means that the mass is the independent variable, because it decides the force of gravity that air resistance must oppose, and the terminal velocity is the dependent variable as it relies on the mass. One controlled variable is the aerodynamics of the object; a sharper object would slice through the air and have less air resistance. Another controlled variable is the wind; we make sure the current of the wind is not changing because that would affect the air resistance. Some equations that we used include: v=d/t and Vav=∑(velocities in trial)/# of velocities added . When analysing the data the velocity of each run (freefall) is determined by plotting the position and time and getting the slope.
Materials:
Procedure:
1. The two meter rulers were taped to the cupboard
2. The camera stand was set up and the camera was positioned upon it
3. The coffee filter was positioned up to the top of the two meters
4. The camera started to film
5. The coffee filter was dropped from the top
6. Steps 3-5 were repeated eight times
7. Steps 3-6 were repeated with more coffee filters each time (+1 filter)
8. The videos were analyzed by using the video tracker application
9. The data points were plotted by using excel
10. The slope of each graph was calculated giving each velocity
11. The velocities for each trial were averaged
12. The final graph of each average terminal velocity and mass were plotted
13. The graphs were analyzed to find the relationship of terminal velocity and mass
Documenter – Tirman, Brendan
Webmaster – Tirman
Facilitator – Samudra, Shrey
Timekeeper – Shrey, Brendan
Manager - Samudra
Introduction:
Terminal velocity is the fastest speed an object can move when in freefall. Gravity acts upon the object making it accelerate downwards. As the object falls, due to air resistance the acceleration of gravity is canceled out, therefore the velocity is constant and thus it has reached its terminal velocity. In this experiment, a certain number of coffee filters are dropped, starting with one and increasing till five, and the time it takes to reach each position of the freefall process is recorded. Observing this freefall motion, we are able to see how the different amount of coffee filters reach a steady velocity (terminal velocity). To observe the motion we recorded each freefall using a camera, which did not move, and a computer software that allowed us to track the motion of the object. Different amounts of coffee cup filters gives each trial a different mass, and a greater mass means a greater force pulling the object down. Thus, each successive mass should have a greater terminal velocity. This means that the mass is the independent variable, because it decides the force of gravity that air resistance must oppose, and the terminal velocity is the dependent variable as it relies on the mass. One controlled variable is the aerodynamics of the object; a sharper object would slice through the air and have less air resistance. Another controlled variable is the wind; we make sure the current of the wind is not changing because that would affect the air resistance. Some equations that we used include: v=d/t and Vav=∑(velocities in trial)/# of velocities added . When analysing the data the velocity of each run (freefall) is determined by plotting the position and time and getting the slope.
Materials:
- 5 Coffee Filters
- 2 (1m) rulers
- Camera Stand
- Markers
- White Board
- Tape
- Camera (phone)
Procedure:
1. The two meter rulers were taped to the cupboard
2. The camera stand was set up and the camera was positioned upon it
3. The coffee filter was positioned up to the top of the two meters
4. The camera started to film
5. The coffee filter was dropped from the top
6. Steps 3-5 were repeated eight times
7. Steps 3-6 were repeated with more coffee filters each time (+1 filter)
8. The videos were analyzed by using the video tracker application
9. The data points were plotted by using excel
10. The slope of each graph was calculated giving each velocity
11. The velocities for each trial were averaged
12. The final graph of each average terminal velocity and mass were plotted
13. The graphs were analyzed to find the relationship of terminal velocity and mass
Trial 1 Graphs 1-8
Trial 2 Graphs 1-8
Trial 3 Graphs 1-8
Trial 4 Graphs 1-8
Trial 5 Graphs 1-8
The Terminal Velocity of Different Masses (Final Graph)
Analysis:
According to The Terminal Velocity of Different Masses graph, the relationship of mass to the terminal velocity of the coffee filters is proportional by y α 1/2x. The Proportionality of Mass and Terminal Velocity graph verified this relationship by producing a linear relationship when the mass was square rooted.
Discussion:
Examining the final mass vs velocity graph trend line it shows a clear correlation between the mass of the coffee filter and its terminal velocity. As the mass increases the terminal velocity increases along with it. An example of when this would apply in the real world is when two people with different weights go skydiving together. When they both jump off the airplane or helicopter, the person who weighs more will have a larger terminal velocity than the lighter person making the heavier person fall faster and reach the ground first.
Errors:
· The systematic error of the coffee filters getting bigger as more trials were completed, because they did not hold their shape as they hit the ground. This resulted in the gradual increase in time as more trials were completed (due to a larger surface area)
· By adding more coffee filters, it increased the total surface area, because the coffee filter
· The different height that groups could have started with, so there is possible error for different heights.
· The random error adding initial velocity when releasing the coffee filter. This resulted in a faster time to reach the ground compared to no initial velocity
· The error of accurately plotting points on the video tracker file.
Conclusion:
If mass increases, then the terminal velocity will increase, because a greater mass results in a greater force of gravity, therefore a greater terminal velocity. The final graph comparing the independent variable, mass, to the dependant variable, terminal velocity, proves the hypothesis correct. Therefore, the hypothesis was verified.
According to The Terminal Velocity of Different Masses graph, the relationship of mass to the terminal velocity of the coffee filters is proportional by y α 1/2x. The Proportionality of Mass and Terminal Velocity graph verified this relationship by producing a linear relationship when the mass was square rooted.
Discussion:
Examining the final mass vs velocity graph trend line it shows a clear correlation between the mass of the coffee filter and its terminal velocity. As the mass increases the terminal velocity increases along with it. An example of when this would apply in the real world is when two people with different weights go skydiving together. When they both jump off the airplane or helicopter, the person who weighs more will have a larger terminal velocity than the lighter person making the heavier person fall faster and reach the ground first.
Errors:
· The systematic error of the coffee filters getting bigger as more trials were completed, because they did not hold their shape as they hit the ground. This resulted in the gradual increase in time as more trials were completed (due to a larger surface area)
· By adding more coffee filters, it increased the total surface area, because the coffee filter
· The different height that groups could have started with, so there is possible error for different heights.
· The random error adding initial velocity when releasing the coffee filter. This resulted in a faster time to reach the ground compared to no initial velocity
· The error of accurately plotting points on the video tracker file.
Conclusion:
If mass increases, then the terminal velocity will increase, because a greater mass results in a greater force of gravity, therefore a greater terminal velocity. The final graph comparing the independent variable, mass, to the dependant variable, terminal velocity, proves the hypothesis correct. Therefore, the hypothesis was verified.