Coffee Filter

Coffee Filter:

Research Question:

1) Determine how air resistance and/or mass affect terminal velocity of falling coffee 2) Derive an equation

Equipment:

8 Coffee filters LabQuest Ultra Sonic Motion Detector Ruler Chair Pencil Paper

Procedure:

1) Find the vt region on d-t graph 2) Further the fall, the better3) Release filters from underneath4) Use “basketball” setting on detector (sensor 7.15m)

Observations

Data Table: (initial results borrowed from Luke Mitchell)

6 g = 8 coffee filter ∴Mass= (6/8g)*(# coffee filters)

Data Fg (N) Vt (m/s) Mass (g)1 7.35 1.3154 0.75 2 14.7 1.4337 1.50 3 22.05 1.6841 2.25 4 29.4 1.6293 3.00 5 36.75 1.5847 3.756 44.1 1.5829 4.507 51.45 1.691 5.258 58.8 1.5075 6.00

Analysis:

Find proportionality using two different methods

Data Table:

Data Fg (N) Vt (m/s) Mass (g) n K1 7.35 1.3154 0.75 = log1.3154/log7.35

0.137=1.3154/7.35^0.1374345811.00

2 14.7 1.4337 1.50 =log1.4337/log14.70.134

=1.4337/14.7^0.122487181.03

3 22.05 1.6841 2.25 =log1.6841/log22.050.168

=1.6841/22.05^.2249150380.8399

4 29.4 1.6293 3.00 = log1.6293/ log29.40.144

=1.6293/29.4^0.154378470.967

5 36.75 1.5847 3.75 = log1.5847/ log36.750.127

=1.5847/36.75^0.1157115611.044

6 44.1 1.5829 4.50 = log1.5829/ log44.10.121

=1.5829/44.1^1.20340.0167

7 51.45 1.691 5.25 = log1.691/log51.450.133

=1.691/51.45^0.129112381.017

8 58.8 1.5075 6.00 =log1.5075/log58.8 0.101

=1.5075/58.8^0.065524661.15

Average 33.075 1.554 3.38 0.133 0.883

B=AKn

∴B∝ A(0.883)0.133

Graph:

Fc∝ KFn

B∝ (y-intercept)(A)Slope

∴B∝(1.431)(A)0.003698

(N)

Conclusion:

By looking at the data obtained it this lab a statement it can clearly be made that an increase mass and/or air resistance will add speed to the terminal velocity to the coffee filters. Though the results are fairly proportional to each there is a slight increase by less than the power of 1. This slight increase occurs when an increase of mass is added to the coffee filters. According to the gravitational theory this would not be correct since it states that the Vf would not be changed by the height as long as it is at a sufficient height. The independent variable is the Vf, dependent variable is the amount of weight, and the constant is the height that the coffee filter is being dropped. The real life applications of this experiment are calculating the speed of an incoming spacecraft and finding the amount of weight needed for a safe or stable landing so that the expensive equipment will not be harmed.