Investigation of Terminal Velocity

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Investigation of Terminal Velocity                 Jonathan Boud


An investigation of
Terminal Velocity is taking place for my SC1, physics Coursework. It is mainly to put the Newton’s Laws into action. We are using Newton’s first and second law (explained in Theory). Concepts of potential and kinetic energy are delt with. Explaining how forces are necessary to cause motion.


Aim: 
An experiment to test the terminal velocity of a
cone of a specific size. Once the most suitable sized cone has been chosen from the preliminary experiment, we will go on to see whether different weights added to the cones will affect the speed at which it falls.


Theory:        (Reference taken from Encarta and various Encyclopedias) 
This experiment is mainly based on Newton’s second law of motion.

Newton’s First law:  
Newton’s second law: This law can be written as the formula A=F/M. This tells us that the acceleration of a body (A) depends upon the unbalanced force (F) and the mass (M) of the object. This all means that the rate at which an object changes its velocity depends upon how much force is used and how mass (inertia) the object has. Our experiment will explore this concept.

Through out this experiment we are going to find the Terminal velocity of the cone falling. Terminal velocity is defined as the final constant speed of a falling object: the constant speed that a falling object reaches when the downward gravitational force equals the frictional resistance of the medium through which it is falling, usually air. This is the maximum speed that a freely falling body can reach under particular conditions. 

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An Example being sky diving. When each jumper's turn comes, he or she takes a step away from the aircraft and begins free falling. Within 10 to 12 seconds, the jumper reaches terminal velocity, when the air resistance equals the pull of gravity. Average-sized skydivers fall at approximately 320 to 450 m (1050 to 1480 ft) every five seconds.

        

Prediction:

I predict that the cone’s speed will be proportional to the weight which is added to the cone, (number of paper clips).            

This small sketch of a graph is what ...

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