Download Name: Coffee Filter Analysis Big Ideas: What effect does weight

Name: _____________________________
Coffee Filter Analysis
Big Ideas:
What effect does weight have on terminal velocity? (Without changing the shape of the object)
Do heavier objects feel more air resistance?
What effect does shape have on terminal velocity? (Without changing the weight of the object)
Predictions: Take a moment to write your answers to the questions in the space provided. Don’t worry whether your answers
are right or wrong, just write what you think. (15 pts)
What effect does weight have on terminal velocity?
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Do heavier objects feel more air resistance?
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What effect does an object’s shape have on terminal velocity?
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Guidelines for Completing Data Table:
Column (1): Write down what you used as a falling object.
Column (2): Find the mass of the falling object in grams and record it with at least 2 significant digits. (e.g. 0.25 grams)
Column (3): Convert grams to kilograms.
Column (4): Determine the object’s acceleration from the quadratic fit on the curved portion of the graph.
Column (5): Calculate the net force on the object during the acceleration phase of the drop.
Column (6): Calculate the weight of the object.
Column (7): Calculate the force of air resistance during the acceleration phase of the drop, FAIR (Accel). A free body diagram
might help. FNET is the difference of the up and the down forces. Solve for the air resistance.
Column (8): Calculate the force of air resistance during the terminal velocity phase of the drop, FAIR (VT).
Column (9): Determine the object’s terminal velocity from the linear region of the graph.
Data Table
(1)
What was
falling?
(2)
m
(g)
(3)
m
(kg)
(4)
a
(m/s2)
(5)
FNET = ma
(N)
(6)
Fg = mg
(N)
(7)
FAIR (Accel)
(N)
(8)
FAIR (VT)
(N)
(9)
VT
(m/s)
Analysis: Use the space provided to answer the questions below.
How did the terminal velocity change as the weight of an object increases? Use evidence (numbers from the table) to justify
your answer. Why does this make sense?
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How did the force of air resistance (FAIR) change as the weight of an object increases? Use evidence (numbers from the table)
to justify your answer. Why is this true?
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How did the terminal velocity change as the shape of the object changed? Use evidence (numbers from the table) to justify
your answer. How does the shape effect air resistance?
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