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Internal Assessment 2021: St. François Girls' College

This document contains details of a physics experiment to determine if the terminal velocity of falling balls increases with radius. The experiment involves dropping metal balls of different sizes through oil and measuring the time taken to fall 100cm. It is hypothesized that terminal velocity will increase with radius. The method, variables, expected results and potential sources of error are outlined.

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Patrice Homer
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32 views

Internal Assessment 2021: St. François Girls' College

This document contains details of a physics experiment to determine if the terminal velocity of falling balls increases with radius. The experiment involves dropping metal balls of different sizes through oil and measuring the time taken to fall 100cm. It is hypothesized that terminal velocity will increase with radius. The method, variables, expected results and potential sources of error are outlined.

Uploaded by

Patrice Homer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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St.

François Girls' College

Internal Assessment 2021

Cape Physics unit 1

Candidate’s name: Patrice Homer

Candidate’s registration number:

School’s registration number: #160018

Teacher’s name:
Table of contents

Lab 1: plan and design/ terminal velocity


Lab 2:
Name: Patrice Homer

Date:

Lab#:1

Title: Plan and Design / Terminal velocity

Problem Statement: When a ball falls through a liquid, it soon reaches a steady speed called the
terminal velocity. It is suggested that this terminal velocity is proportional to the square of the radius of
the ball.

Hypothesis: As the radius of the ball increases so does the terminal velocity increases.

Aim: To determine if increasing the radius of a ball would increase the terminal velocity

Apparatus and Material: different sizes of metal balls, a tube filled with oil, meter rule, stop watch,
retort stand, level, vernier caliper, magnet, elastic rubber bands
Method

1) Set up the apparatus as shown above

2) Find the diameter of each metal ball using a vernier caliper

3)Carefully drop a ball into the center of the liquid and watch it fall

4)As the ball drops, start the stop watch when it reaches the first elastic rubber band and stop when it
reaches the second elastic rubber band.

5)Record the time taken for the ball to travel from the first elastic rubber band to the second one.

6) Repeat step 2-5 one more time using the same ball. A magnet can be used to take the metal ball out
of the liquid

7)Calculate the terminal velocity of the ball using the average time taken for the ball to travel a distance
of 100 cm.

7)Repeat steps 2-7 using different sized balls

8)plot a graph of velocity against r2


Variables

Manipulated: different sizes of the metal ball

Control: the distance travelled 100cm

Responding: The time taken for the ball to travel a distance of 10cm

Expected results

Title: table showing the average time taken for the different sized balls to travelled a distance of 10cm
and the terminal velocity of the balls.

Ball size (mm) Average Time taken (s) Terminal velocity (ms-2 )

It is expected that the largest ball would have the largest terminal velocity. This is so because the largest
ball would weigh more and gravity would pull it down faster than the other balls.

Possible sources of error/limitations - Slow reaction time when using the stop watch

Errors in diameter measurements

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