When mass increases we will reach terminal velocity. This is when all the forces are balanced and the object will not fall any faster no matter how many cupcakes are added. This is called terminal velocity.
Fair test.
The things that will remain the same in my experiment are the members of my group, the distance I will drop the cupcakes from, the type of cupcake and the equipment. I will do each number of cupcakes 5 times to get an average. The only thing I would change will be the number of cupcakes.
Prediction.
I predict that after 8 cupcakes they will reach terminal velocity. The time taken from the cupcakes between 1 & 7 will decrease. I believe this prediction will be correct because air resistance will decrease and the forces will balance.
Apparatus list.
2 times 1 metre ruler.
20 cupcakes.
Stop clock.
Clamp & stand
Method.
- To begin my investigation I will collect equipment; the equipment will include a 2-metre rule, a stop clock and 20 cupcakes.
- I will drop 1 cupcake from a distance of 1 metre. Somebody else in my group will then start the stop clock when I drop the cupcake and stop it when it hits the floor.
- I will then record my results in a table.
- I will repeat the experiment 4 more times to get an average. I will then repeat the procedure 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 20 times. I will then plot the results in a graph.
- Once this is complete, I will repeat the investigation using a 2-metre height.
This diagram below will show how my experiment looks like.
1 metre.
Drop time.
2 meters.
Drop time.
Analysis
On my graph it shows that no matter how many cupcakes I added the time would always stay the same once I reached 6 cupcakes at 1 metre and 8 cupcakes at 2 metre’s. This is called terminal velocity. On one metre the time it took to fall at terminal velocity was 0.36s and on 2 metres’ it fell out at 0.65’s.
The one metre has an anomalous result this is when I dropped 2 cupcakes it might have happened because I never started the time when I dropped the cupcakes.
When my cupcakes reached terminal velocity they would go in a straight line and wont go no faster. At this point all the forces acting on the cupcake were balanced.
My prediction was correct.
Evaluation.
My results were good except on the 1 metre graph at 2 cupcakes when I had an anomalous result.
My experiment was a success because it reached terminal velocity when I said it would also to improve my investigation I would hag 2 laser gates attached to a stop clock and once it passes through the first laser gate the stop clock will start and when it hits the second laser gate the stop clock will stop.
To improve my investigation I would make sure all the windows are shut and on 1 metre I would repeat the 2 cupcakes.
To expand my investigation I will drop my cupcakes from 3 metres and plot my results on a graph. To expand it further I could keep the mass of the object the same but change the shape of it e.g. I could change the object to a ball bearing. Then from the results of this I could plot the results on a graph.
