Physics Lab Report By Michael Rhimes

Aim
The aim for this investigation is to find out how air resistance affects
the velocity of a 5 gram mass falling through air from the height of 2
metres.

Hypothesis
I predict that the greater the air resistance, the slower the fall. In
other words, as the air resistance is increased, the velocity of the
mass falling to earth will decrease.

Variables
The independent variable with be the air resistance. This shall be
manipulated by attaching different sized parachutes to the 5 gram
mass.

The dependent variable is the time taken for the mass to fall from 2
metres to the ground.

The constant variables are

1. The mass
2. The general atmospheric composition and conditions
3. The height from which the mass is dropped

Materials
1. A 5 gram mass
2. A small parachute
3. A medium parachute
4. A large parachute
5. A measuring tape
6. A stopwatch
7. Masking tape

Method
1. Using the measuring tape, place some masking tape on the
wall, 2 metres above the floor.
2. Gather all materials
3. With the stopwatch in the left hand, and the 5 grams mass in
the right, press “start” and drop the mass
4. Press stop when it touches the ground
5. Record the result
6. Repeat steps 2 to 4 four more times
7. Repeat steps 2 to 5, this time attaching the mass to a small
parachute
8. Repeat steps 2 to 5, this time attaching the mass to a medium
parachute
9. Repeat steps 2 to 5, this time attaching the mass to a large
parachute
 10.Put everything away

Results

Resistance Trials Average time taken

to fall
No resistance
Small
parachute
Medium
parachute
Large
parachute