paper cones investigation
Investigation Report Aim Theory When an object is dropped in air, it accelerates. If it is allowed to drop far enough then it can reach its terminal velocity. This is the maximum velocity of the object during its fall and occurs when the upward force of air resistance acting on the object equals the weight of the object. So at terminal velocity... (P.31, Complete Physics, 1999, Pople, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-914734-5) (P.33, Physics 1, 2000, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-78718-1) Looking for a formula for air resistance... F = force of air resistance ? = density of air = 1.2kgm-3 c = coefficient of drag for the object / dimensionless A = cross-sectional area of object hitting the air / m2 v = velocity of the object / ms-1 (http://damonrinard.com/aero/formulas.htm) Looking for a formula for the weight of an object... W = m.g W = weight / N m = mass / kg g = acceleration due to gravity, 9.81Nkg-1 (P.55, Physics, 1991, Robert Hutchings, Nelson, ISBN 0-17-438510-2) So putting these formulae together... From the Physics AS course, v = velocity x = displacement t = time so References to the specification Forces and Motion 2821 Forces, Fields and Energy 2824 Aim of your investigation The aim of this work is to investigate the relationship between the time taken for a paper cone to fall and the mass of the cone. Variables
The Compound Pendulum
The Compound Pendulum Task: * To confirm that a metre rule behaves as a compound pendulum when oscillating; * To determine the acceleration due to gravity using a compound pendulum. Planning: Sources used in research of the above tasks are: . A Text-Book of Practical Physics - William Watson; page 129 2. Laboratory Physics - JH Avery & AWK Ingram; page 69 3. Intermediate Physics - CJ Smith; page 50 4. The Text-Book of General Physics - GR Noakes; page 394 5. Intermediate Mechanics - D Humphrey; page 60 6. Introduction to Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Second Edition) - Frederick J. Bueche; page 222 7. http://www.physics.mun.ca/~cdeacon/labs/simonfraser.pdf 8. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pend.html 9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceleration_due_to_gravity 0. http://geophysics.ou.edu/solid_earth/notes/potential/igf.htm 1. http://www.gorissen.info/Pierre/maps/googleMapLocationv4.php 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_time Where direct quotation is made from a source, the source number is shown in superscript after the preceding italicised quote, e.g. 'quote' 4 . The compound pendulum is defined as: 'a rigid body of any shape and internal structure which is free to turn about a fixed horizontal axis, the only external forces being those due to gravity and the reaction of the axis on the body' 3. In this investigation a wooden
Investigating the forces acting on a trolley on a ramp
Physics coursework Investigating the forces acting on a trolley on a ramp Contents Page 3 -> Method Page 4 -> Theory Page 7 -> Results Page 9 -> Error Page 18 -> Appendixes Method The aim of the investigation was to investigate the forces acting on a trolley as it rolled down a ramp, and also to investigate the factors which may contribute to the results. To do this, a trolley and a ramp set at a variety of angles of incline were used, and then, using a light gate, the speed at which the trolley was moving when it passed through the light gate was calculated. The variables were the starting distance of the trolley in relation to the light gate and the angle of the ramp. Firstly, the equipment was set up as in fig. 1. The trolley was then run down the ramp with a piece of card attached to the side. This card was of a known length and could hence be used to calculate the velocity at which the trolley was moving. While the light gate did actually calculate the velocity, it only gave the answer to 2 decimal places, whereas it gave the time to 2 decimal places. Furthermore, the light gate calculated the velocity with the assumption that the card was exactly 100mm, whereas when the card was actually measured, this was a value closer to 102mm (±0.5mm). Next, after the trolley had passed through the light gate, the information from that 'run' appeared