Purpose
How does terminal speed depend On the mass of an object?
Hypothesis
the mass increases, then terminal speed increases thus, the heavier objects will reach the ground faster than the lighter objects.
PROCEDURE
1. Drop one coffee filter 2m above a motion sensor
2. Record data collected
3. Repeat steps 1-2 with three, four and five coffee filters
1. Drop one coffee filter 2m above a motion sensor
2. Record data collected
3. Repeat steps 1-2 with three, four and five coffee filters
MATERIALS
- Motion sensor
- 5 Coffee Filter
- Meter stick
- Explorer
Observations
1 coffee filter - Trials 1-4
The motion sensor data on the explorer didn't provide any accurate data points because of the mass of the coffee filter which was one, so the coffee filter was lower in mass which caused air resistance to act on it making the coffee filter fall to the side. All the trials of the coffee filter of 1 reached terminal velocity which is shown on the Figures 1-4, video tracker position(m)/time (s) graphs after a certain period of time.
2 coffee filters - trials 1-5
It was observed that by adding one additional coffee filter, there was visible change in the speed of the 2 coffee filters and they took lesser amount of time to reach the ground as compare to the first trail which included only one coffee filter. after analyzing the motion sensor points through the tracker, it was seen that after 0.3 seconds it has constant terminal velocity.
3 Coffee FIlters - trials 1 - 3
Through figures 1, 2 and 3, it can be seen that it took about 1.5 seconds for filters to reach the ground which is less than the time it took for filters 1 and 2 as shown in previous graphs. the velocity-time graphs for 3 trials illustrate that it took on average 1.3 seconds to reach its terminal speed. after a certain period of time, objects start going at constant speed. It took more time for for 3 coffee filters to reach their terminal speed than the filters 1 and 2.
4 coffee filters trials 1 -4
It was found that the motion sensor did not detect all the motions of the coffee filter as the video tracker did. the motion sensor did not detect all the movements of the coffee filter because of the field of view the coffee filter had. it was observed that the coffee filter accelerates for about 0.1 seconds then reaches a constant velocity.
5 coffee filters trials 1-4
As stated in the previous observations the motion sensor was not as accurate the the video tracker. the coffee filter accelerates when first dropped then reaches constant velocity.
ANALYSIS
As more filters were stacked on top of one another, they accelerated at a higher rate due to the pull of gravity but at some point of time, they all reached a constant velocity also known as terminal velocity. Heavier objects fell faster than the lighter ones because they had greater terminal speed. This was demonstrated in the data of coffee filters 3-5.
As more filters were stacked on top of one another, they accelerated at a higher rate due to the pull of gravity but at some point of time, they all reached a constant velocity also known as terminal velocity. Heavier objects fell faster than the lighter ones because they had greater terminal speed. This was demonstrated in the data of coffee filters 3-5.
SOURCES OF ERROR
The air would carry the coffee filter out the the view of the motion sense which altered the measurements given. To milit this error, eliminate the air current movement by limiting actions such as the motion of people moving around. Also, the graphs of motion sensor and tracker do not clearly illustrate filters reaching their terminal speed because they were dropped from a smaller height. This error could have been avoided by dropping the filters from a higher position.
The air would carry the coffee filter out the the view of the motion sense which altered the measurements given. To milit this error, eliminate the air current movement by limiting actions such as the motion of people moving around. Also, the graphs of motion sensor and tracker do not clearly illustrate filters reaching their terminal speed because they were dropped from a smaller height. This error could have been avoided by dropping the filters from a higher position.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that our hypothesis was correct, Terminal velocity increases as mass increase. as a result of increased air resistance acting upon heavier objects, it takes lesser time for heavier object to fall.
We conclude that our hypothesis was correct, Terminal velocity increases as mass increase. as a result of increased air resistance acting upon heavier objects, it takes lesser time for heavier object to fall.