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Lab Report #2

1) The student conducted an experiment to observe and measure terminal velocity by dropping liquid into a cylinder of oil and timing how long it took to fall set distances. 2) The theoretical background discusses equations related to terminal velocity involving forces, viscosity, buoyancy, and density. 3) The experiment involved using a pipette to drop blue liquid into an oil-filled cylinder while other students recorded the time taken to fall 10cm intervals, with measurements showing the drop reached a consistent velocity after 10 seconds.

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Imran Jeferly
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46 views4 pages

Lab Report #2

1) The student conducted an experiment to observe and measure terminal velocity by dropping liquid into a cylinder of oil and timing how long it took to fall set distances. 2) The theoretical background discusses equations related to terminal velocity involving forces, viscosity, buoyancy, and density. 3) The experiment involved using a pipette to drop blue liquid into an oil-filled cylinder while other students recorded the time taken to fall 10cm intervals, with measurements showing the drop reached a consistent velocity after 10 seconds.

Uploaded by

Imran Jeferly
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab report #2

Measurements of terminal velocity

Personal engagement

I conducted a very interesting experiment, which let us directly observe the existence of

terminal velocity. I have never witnessed this phenomenon before; however, I have heard of it

and was intrigued to know more about it. The first time seeing the terminal velocity, it got easier

to understand the phenomenon. A drop of liquid changed its velocity when it was dropped into

the oil and kept changing while falling through. I implemented Storke’s and Archimed’s laws to

further investigate the experiment. Witnessing terminal velocity made it easier to understand the

phenomenon. The experiment revealed how terminal velocity worked and was very helpful in

understanding the theory. One of the most common examples of terminal velocity is a person

falling through the air with a parachute. It was always interesting to me how it works. There will

always be a thing we see and feel every day that we have no idea of. I am trying to learn and

visualize them to extend my knowledge.


Exploration

Theoretical background

Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity of a body falling through the fluid.

According to Storke’s law:

Fg (W) = Fb (Buoyancy) + Fv(Viscosity)

We should use the Archimedes principle to further understand the formula. Which is:

4
W= 3
π𝑟3ρ𝑔

Combining the formulas we will be able to simplify the formula and get the final formula

of terminal velocity.

ρs𝑔𝑉 = ρ𝑙𝑔𝑉 + 6πη𝑟𝑣

6πη𝑟𝑣 = (ρ𝑠 − ρ𝑙)𝑔𝑉

3 3
6πη𝑟𝑣 = (ρ𝑠 − ρ𝑙)𝑔 × 4
π𝑟

Finally, making velocity subject of the equation we will get following:

2 2
ν = 9η
(ρ𝑠 − ρ𝑙)𝑟 𝑔
Description of experiment

In conducting this interesting experiment I and my


classmates used a cylinder with oil, a ruler, a pipette, and a timer.
We used a pipette to drop blue-colored liquid into the cylinder with
oil, while other members of the team recorded the time it reached
every 10cm. Before conducting the experiment we measured the
cylinder and marked every 10cm on the cylinder, which made the
experiment easier to conduct.

S (m) t (s) v (m/s)

0.1 2.90 0.035

0.1 2.40 0.041

0.1 2.38 0.042

0.1 2.32 0.043

0.1 2.32 0.043


Analysis

To find the uncertainty of the velocity we should use the following formula:
∆𝑣 ∆𝑆 ∆𝑡
𝑣
= 𝑆
+ 𝑡

Considering ∆𝑆 as 0.001m because the least graduation on the ruler used in the

experiment was 1mm which is 0.001m and considering ∆𝑡 as 0.01s, as the least

graduation in the timer used in the experiment is 10ms which is 0.01s.

∆𝑣
𝑣
= 0. 048

Which is 4.8% (percentage uncertainty) and 0.048 (fractional uncertainty).

Evaluation

After getting an uncertainty of 4.8%, we can conclude that this experiment was

conducted successfully. By analyzing the answers we can say that the drop reached its terminal

velocity after 10 seconds. Of course, errors couldn’t be omitted and they occurred regularly.

However, I tried to select the best results I got from the experiment. The experiment could be

improved by using a longer cylinder and measuring every 20cm or more, as it will reduce

uncertainty. Uncertainty of tools was low which made accurate results.

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