Method
A Diagram of my Apparatus
I am measuring the time it takes for the parachute to fall in seconds whilst keeping the length of the string, the size of the tissue, the size of the hole in the parachute, the size and amount of selotape used, the speed the meter rule is taken away, the amount of wind, the height the parachute is dropped from, all the same.
When I change my key variable the range is 20g.
My individual experiments are: 5g, 10g, 15g, 20g, 25g. I will repeat each experiments 5 times. I have tried to keep my experiment safe by:
- Avoid sticking meter rule by other people’s faces and eyes.
- Move all bags around the area, put them safe and out of the way.
- Make sure floor is free from wet and slippery substances.
Details of my experiment:
I got a man-sized tissue. Size- (29cmx27.5cm) and folded it into half, and then half again. I got a 1p coin and placed half of it onto the tissue and cut around it. This produced a circle in the middle of the chute.
I then got an arms length of cotton (30cm) string and folded it in half, and half again and tied a knot at the end. This produces 4 strings. Attach each string to each corner of the tissue with 1.5cm in length of selotape. Then stick the tissue together with selotape 1.5 cm in length.
Then find some scales and some plastercine and measure 5 balls of plastercine, 5grams in mass each. Attach 1ball onto the end of the string by flattening the plastercine and folding it around the string. Then get a meter rule and find the natural fold in the tissue and put the meter rule on it. Raise the parachute to the top of the lab ceiling (2.7 meters) and drop it, time the time it takes from when you let go to when it hits the floor. Repeat this 5 times and then add another 5 grams ball onto the ball attached to the parachute. Keep doing this until all 5 masses of 5,10,15,20,25 have been added to the parachute. Time every time the parachute is dropped 5 times each for every mass. You should then have 5 results for each mass, given a total of 25 results. When you found you results, find an average by adding your entire totals together, and dividing by 5 because that is how many total you have. You will then be given a digit to 2 decimal places, round it down/up to the nearest tenth.
Results
Conclusion- this table of results show that like my prediction the time taken for a parachute to fall decreases as the mass increases was correct.
