Joanna Ratigan

How Does the Mass of the Load Affect the Velocity of the Parachute?

Aim: To determine which parachute will have the greatest velocity; one with a mass of 2g, one with a mass of 4g, one with a mass of 6g.

Variables Independent variable: the mass of the load Dependent variable: the velocity of the parachute Control: size of the parachute, length of the strings.

Background Information Gravity is a force of attraction that brings matter downwards. Gravity is always acting on Earth, pulling objects down towards the ground. It is the reason things fall when you drop them, and it is also responsible for keeping objects stuck to a surface and not floating back up one you but it down. Heavier objects have a greater force of attraction to the ground, which is why, for example, a brick is harder to lift than a pencil. Using this logic, a heavier object should fall at a greater velocity than a lighter one.

Hypothesis I predict that the parachute with the mass of 6g will fall at the greatest velocity.

Materials Meter stick Camera Sticky tack Scale Ledge Logger Pro computer

String Garbage bag Scissors Pencil

Method 1. Take the garbage bag, and use the meter stick to measure a 40cm x 40cm square. Cut it out. 2. Lay the square out flat and run string diagonally across the middle from each corner, leave a couple centimeters of space at each end and cut the string. Repeat for the other diagonal. 3. Use the pencil to poke holes in the tip of each corner. Use the extra string to tie a knot, tying the string to the parachute. The two strings should cross in the center. 4. Rip pieces off a ball of sticky tack and weigh them. Adjust it until it has a mass of 2g. Repeat for masses of 4g and 6g. 5. Take the sticky tack and your parachute to the ledge. Have someone take the camera and the meter stick and go down below. 6. Have the other person put the meter stick straight up against a pole starting at the ground for measurement. 7. Stick the 2g ball of sticky tack to the cross section of the strings on the parachute. The other person will film as you drop the parachute from the ledge, making sure to get everything, including the meter stick, in one shot without moving the camera. 8. Repeat for masses of 4g and 6g. 9. Plug the camera into the computer and open Logger Pro. 10. Upload the first video onto Logger Pro, and go through the steps of tracking movement to create a velocity graph of your parachute. 11. Copy the graph onto a word document that will be your lab report. 12. Repeat for the other two videos.

Results Graphs

Distance-time graph of a parachute with a mass of 2g

Distance-time graph of a parachute with a mass of 4g

Distance-time graph of a parachute with a mass of 6g

Data Analysis The three graphs are distance-time graphs plotting the velocity of each parachute. Each graph has a box at a point on the line with information about the movement. In the box, it states the slope of the line, which is the velocity of the parachute. The velocity of the 2g parachute was 1.27 m/s. The velocity of the 4g parachute was 1.68 m/s. The velocity of the 6g parachute was 0.9 m/s.

The slope of the line is related to the velocity of the parachute. The steeper the line, the greater the velocity. The velocity can be found on the graph where the line crosses the 2-second mark. At the 2-second mark, where the line is on the yaxis is its velocity.

Conclusion According to my results, the parachute with the mass of 4g appeared to fall at the greatest velocity. My hypothesis was incorrect due to error in experimental processes, but my logic was correct. Judging by the first two graphs of 2g and 4g masses, the velocity did increase as the mass increased.

Evaluation I think my results were off because of the way the last parachute was dropped from the ledge. In testing the experiment, I was filming and I had someone else drop the parachutes. The first two were not spread open to begin with, they fell for a few seconds then opened on their own. The third one was released already opened, so it started falling slowly and stayed that way throughout, as opposed to the first two that started out somewhat fast and slowed a bit as the parachute opened on its own. I could have prevented data errors by having the 6g parachute dropped again properly. If I was to do this experiment again, I might have added two more trials of 8g and 10g to have more data, and therefore a more reliable conclusion.