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
Falling parachute experiment
Falling Parachute Experiment Aim To investigate the motion of objects for which the air resistance is quite large. Introduction Free fall is a special type of motion in which the only force acting upon an object is gravity. Objects that are said to be undergoing free fall, are not encountering a significant force of air resistance; they are falling under the sole influence of gravity. . Under such conditions, all objects will fall with the same rate of acceleration, regardless of their mass [1]. W = mg where W=weight (N); m= mass of object (kg); g=gravitational acceleration (m/s2). The amount of air resistance depends upon the speed of the object. A falling object will continue to accelerate to higher speeds until they encounter an amount of air resistance that is equal to their weight. The object will accelerate to higher speeds before reaching a terminal velocity. Thus, more massive objects fall faster than less massive objects because they are acted upon by a larger force of gravity; for this reason, they accelerate to higher speeds until the air resistance force equals the gravity force [1]. Method The apparatus used in the experiment are a plastic bag, scissors, a set of 5 paperclips, a ruler, stopwatch or wristwatch with ability to read to at least 0.1 s, notebook and pencil. Firstly, the plastic bag was cut into a 15x15 square. Next, strings were tied through
Investigate four factors that may affect the strength for electromagnets: the number of turns, the size of the current, the nature of the current (a.c. or d.c.) and the distance between the sensor and the magnet.
Strength of electromagnets Design Research question Investigate four factors that may affect the strength for electromagnets: the number of turns, the size of the current, the nature of the current (a.c. or d.c.) and the distance between the sensor and the magnet. This experiment will be divided into 4 parts investigating each of the 4 factors. For each part, the independent variable is one of the 4 conditions (the number of turns, the size of the current, the nature of the current (a.c. or d.c.) and the distance between the sensor and the magnet). The dependent variable is the strength received by the sensor. The controlled variables will be the room temperature and the other three factors. Materials and methods The materials I used are a magnet, a long copper wire, an ammeter, a sensor, power supply, a thermometer, a graphical calculator and a rheostat. Part 1: Number of turns Measure the room temperature and record as 't'. 2 Set the power supply as a.c., set the rheostat at position A and keep the sensor 5cm from the magnet. Keep these three conditions constant throughout the whole part. 3 Connect the circuit as the diagram showed. 4 Twine the wire on the magnet with 20 turns. 5 Turn on the switch and record 5 successive readings on the graphical calculator as 'X1 T' (since the reading changes all the time) 6 Turn off the switch and change only and increase
Determination of the acceleration due to gravity (g)
Determination of the acceleration due to gravity (g) By-nanding Li Introduction Gravity is the force at which the earth attracts objects towards it; also know as the weight of objects. When objects fall towards the earth, their acceleration increases because of the gravity. This acceleration due to gravity is dependent on the object's mass. A free falling object, if gravity s the only force acting on an object, then we can know the object will accelerate at a rate of 9.81ms-2 down toward the centre of the earth, this is known as acceleration due to gravity and is given the symbol 'g'. We can find the force causing this acceleration using: F = ma And weight for the object: G = mg Where the 'm' is the mass of object and 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity. However, acceleration due to gravity is not the same through out the universe. The moon has a smaller acceleration due to gravity than the earth. If we were to drop a stone on the moon, it would fall more slowly. This does not mean the mass of the stone is changed from the earth to the moon, this means the moon has less attraction to the stone and the acceleration due to gravity on the moon is about on-sixth of that on the earth: g moon = 1.6 ms-2 In this investigation, I am going to determine the acceleration due to gravity on the earth by using an electronic timer and varying its height of dropping.
Energy and its uses
Fundamentals of science. Energy transfer systems UNIT 1 Task 1.3 Types of energy Measurement of energy Examples of energy transfer Dewi Hanks ND Forensic Science Year 1 Table of Contents Contents......................................................................... Page 2 Introduction..................................................................... Page 3 Energy Terminology........................................................... Page 4 - 7 Energy Interconversions....................................................... Page 8 - 15 Risk assessment Burning Peanut............................................. Page 16 Burning Peanut experiment................................................... Page 17 - 19 Risk assessment heating metal block....................................... Page 20 Heating of metal block experiment.......................................... Page 21 - 24 Conclusions..................................................................... Page 25 INTRODUCTION In this report I intend to explain the fundamentals of energy and its Interconversions. In order to do this I will be covering the following topics: Types of energy Measurement of energy Examples of energy transfer I will also include two experiments with their results and in order to show the equations and computations used to show energy transfer amounts and the efficiency of
Particle accelerators are used to study matter and energy.
ACCELERATORS Introduction Particle accelerators are used to study matter and energy. They accelerate charged particles through an electric field in an evacuated tube. The particles collide into a target or another particle. The collision point is in a detector, which records how the particles collide. All accelerators use a strong magnetic field to move particles. They all have the same three main parts: * A source of particles or ions * A tube pumped to a vacuum * A way of speeding up the particles. The three main types are: * cyclotron (spiral) * synchrotron (circular) * linear (linac) Cyclotron A cyclotron is a resonance accelerator. It has of two large dipole magnets which produce a semi-circular region of magnetic field. An oscillating voltage is applied to produce an electric field across the gap between the 2 semicircles. Particles are injected into the magnetic field region. They go in a semicircular path until they reach the gap. Then the electric field in the gap accelerates the particles. The particles have higher energy so follow a semicircular path with larger radius. The electric field frequency must be just right to accelerate the particles. Synchrotron A synchrotron is a circular accelerator which has 'electromagnetic resonant cavities' placed at regular intervals around a ring to accelerate the particles. Particles pass through each
Experiment to determine gravity from a spring using digital techniques
Experiment to determine gravity from a spring using digital techniques The aim of this experiment is to look at the relationship between the mass of a mass on a spring and its simple harmonic period when it is extended then released. This should theoretically follow the relationship: Which is in the form y=mx. This experiment will examine the straight line proportionality between the period squared of the SHM and the mass on the spring. This will be done by varying the mass on the spring, extending the spring a certain distance, and releasing the spring. The period of this oscillation is determined and this is repeated for different masses. From this, a graph of period squared against mass can be plotted, which should exhibit the straight line proportionality as shown above. This experiment will then use a simple rearrangement of Hooke's law, to to determine a value for gravitational field strength, which will then be compared to the accepted value of 9.81Nkg-1. To do this, the spring will be loaded with different masses, and the extension of the spring noted. A graph of mass against extension is then plotted, and from this a value for gravitational field strength can be calculated. Procedure Apparatus * Stand * Motion sensor * Computer with datastudio installed * Slotted masses and mass holder * CD * Pointer * Half metre stick * Balance accurate to 1g *
Electromagnetic Radiation.
I INTRODUCTION Electromagnetic Radiation, waves produced by the oscillation or acceleration of an electric charge. Electromagnetic waves have both electric and magnetic components. Electromagnetic radiation can be arranged in a spectrum that extends from waves of extremely high frequency and short wavelength to extremely low frequency and long wavelength. Visible light is only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In order of decreasing frequency, the electromagnetic spectrum consists of gamma rays, hard and soft X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. II PROPERTIES Electromagnetic waves need no material medium for their transmission. Thus, light and radio waves can travel through interplanetary and interstellar space from the Sun and stars to the Earth. Regardless of their frequency and wavelength, electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum. The value of the metre has been defined so that the speed of light is exactly 299,792.458 km (approximately 186,282 mi) per second in a vacuum. All the components of the electromagnetic spectrum also show the typical properties of wave motion, including diffraction and interference. The wavelengths range from billionths of a centimetre to many kilometres. The wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic waves are important in determining their heating