When objects are dropped from different heights in the air, you may notice that their speeds increase as they fall. If you observe the speedometers, you will see that at certain points, the speed might not continue to increase indefinitely; this could indicate the effects of air resistance.
Hypothesis:
Air resistance acts against the motion of falling objects, and as a result, it affects their acceleration and terminal velocity. The greater the surface area and the lower the mass of an object, the more significant the effect of air resistance will be. Consequently, I hypothesize that:
- Initial Acceleration: Initially, all objects will accelerate due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s^2).
- Increasing Air Resistance: As objects fall and their speed increases, the force of air resistance will also increase until it equals the force of gravity acting on the object.
- Terminal Velocity: Once air resistance equals the gravitational force, the object will stop accelerating and reach a constant speed known as terminal velocity. Heavier objects might have a higher terminal velocity compared to lighter ones, depending on their shape and surface area.
Prediction:
I predict that a feather will fall slower than a marble when both are dropped from the same height due to the greater influence of air resistance on the feather, which has a larger surface area relative to its mass. Conversely, a more streamlined and heavier object, like a metal ball, will experience less relative air resistance and will fall faster, reaching a higher terminal velocity.