Method - Preliminary
- I will use pencil and compass to draw 2 circles on sheets of A4 paper
- I will use scissors to cut the circles out
- I will make 2 cones of similar size but not identical
- I will use sellotape to stick the cones down
- I will use metre ruler to measure 1 metre
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I will use stop clock to measure the time taken for each cone to fall
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I will repeat this five times for each cone, and record all data in a table
Results – Preliminary
My results, shown below, would indicate that cones of similar size do not give conclusive evidence into whether time is affected. Therefore, I will need to alter my method and make 2 further cones of extreme sizes, i.e. 1 very small and 1 very large, as well as increase the height to 2 metres, to ensure a better comparison can be made.
Table of preliminary results
Method – Actual
Same as before except two changes:
- I will make 2 cones of extreme sizes, 1 very small and 1 very large
- I will use metre ruler to measure 2 metres
Prediction/Scientific Knowledge
I predict that the very small cone will fall faster than the very large cone.
This is due to the forces acting upon each cone, such as weight (= mass x gravity) and air resistance (refer to diagram below):
When dropped from a height, the weight acting on both cones is the same; however, the air resistance acting on the small cone is less than the air resistance acting on the large cone.
This is due to the fact that the small cone has a smaller surface area than the large cone, which in turn makes is less aerodynamic/streamlined, and so there are more air particles coming into contact with the large cone, which in turn slows it down.
