An Investigation of A Model For Air Resistance Lab

An Investigation of a Model for Air Resistance
This experiment was done to determine the exponential

value of the velocity of an object falling in the presence of
air resistance. To measure this coffee filters were dropped
from a standard height and their velocity was measured by
a motion sensor. The value that was collected was 1.6922
which is closest to an exponent of 2. The value was about
5 standard deviations of .076 away from 2. Thus it was
concluded that terminal velocity was proportional to v2.
The error collected was
Ryan Miller
AP Physics
6 December 2010
1. Introduction and Background However, the force of the gravity was
This experiment is done in order being counteracted by the force of the air
to find out whether an object’s terminal resistance and thus the total force
velocity is proportional to v or v2. Also equation or Fnet equation is:
it is to investigate how air resistance Mg – FDrag = ma
affects an object and its terminal with FDrag being the force caused by the
velocity. To do this one person drops a air resistance (see derivation 1 for a
coffee filter from a set height while better equational analysis).
another person presses the collect button After dropping a total of eight
on the data collect program (such as coffee filters for a total of five trials (at
Vernier LabPro) which is connected to least) of each number of filters, one has
the motion sensor below the filter. This enough data to make a scatter plot (see
allows the group to measure the terminal graph 1) of the natural log of the data
velocity of the coffee filter as it floats and a best fit line. The slope of this line
down to the ground. The equation for is then the exponent of v that is
the force of gravity observed on the proportional to terminal velocity.
coffee filter is:

F = mg
2. Procedure 3. Results
The main equipment needed for The slope of my best fit line was
this experiment is a computer (with 1.6922. Thus, the terminal velocity is
Vernier Logger Pro and Vernier LabPro more closely proportional to v2.
software and Microsoft Excel for data Although the value that I measured was
collection / graph making), coffee filters about 5 standard deviations away from
(8 for testing), and a Vernier Motion the accepted value of 2, the value was
Probe (for measuring velocity). much further from 1 due to the fact that
Then a height needs to be set it was about 10 standard deviations away
from which the coffee filters are dropped from 1. Yet the standard deviations
(preferably two meters for accuracy). within my own data were very small,
Each set of 5 (at least, more if wanted) meaning that my data was not very far
trials is then accompanied by an addition apart within each trial.
of one more coffee filter. To collect data
we used a Vernier software program 4. Error Analysis
known as LabPro with a motion sensor, There were a total of forty trials
but any data collection connected to a executed with five trials per number of
motion sensor would work. coffee filter.
After the eight coffee filters are The value I determined was
successfully dropped, the data collected 1.6922 which is technically 5 standard
from the drops is then put into excel to deviations away from the accepted value
create a natural log graph (see graph 1). of 2. Despite being that many standard
Also the standard deviations and other deviations away from the accepted
statistical data analysis should be found value, the data that I collected was very
using excel to help supplement data and closely correlated and was within not
explain one’s findings. Finding the many standard deviations of itself.
slope of the best fit line of said natural Possible sources of error for this
log graph indicates which exponent of v experiment are numerous. One includes
is proportional to terminal velocity. how each coffee filter was dropped, the
slightest change in shape or crinkle
could change the way the coffee filter
fell and throw the data off. Also any
technical errors within the measuring
device itself could throw the data off
enough to drastically move our value
away from 2. As always, every
measurement taken has a slight error in
it due to rounding by computers and
because of any shortcuts or error taken
or made in graph making and best fit
lines by Microsoft Excel (see derivation
1 for equation and graph 1 for graph).
To top it off, doing the experiment in a
closed environment, such as a school (on
the third level no less) may cause a
change in air density which can change
the speed at which the filter falls, as well
as how much resistance there is.
Graph 1:
Natural Log of Coffee Filters and Air Resistance Graph
2.5
Natural Log of Coffee Filters
y = 1.6922x + 0.8177
2
1.5
0.5
0
-0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
-0.5
Natural Log of Terminal Velocity
Derivation 1:
Fnet = ma
F = mg
uv v
R = −kv (R = resistive force opposite to motion)
mg − kv ^ n = ma (where ma = 0 because velocity is constant)
mg = kv ^ n
ln(mg / k ) = n ln(vter )
ln(mg ) − ln(k ) = n ln(vter )
ln( g ) + ln(m) − ln(k ) = n ln(vter )
ln( g ) − ln(k ) = C
ln(m) + C = n ln(vter )
ln(m) = n ln(vter ) − C
y = mx + b
(y=mx+b is used to as a comparison for the final equation to show that the slope is equal
to the exponent of v)

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An Investigation of a Model for Air Resistance

This experiment was done to determine the exponential

1. Introduction and Background However, the force of the gravity was

velocity is proportional to v or v2. Also equation or Fnet equation is:

it is to investigate how air resistance Mg – FDrag = ma

coffee filter from a set height while better equational analysis).

the force of gravity observed on the proportional to terminal velocity.

coffee filter is:

Natural Log of Coffee Filters and Air Resistance Graph

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