AP Physics Lab 1: Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity

In this lab your goal is to learn about terminal velocity, specifically you are to find out the relationship
between terminal velocity and the mass (in this case the number of coffee filters stacked together), when
other variables are kept constant (air density, cross sectional area).
As building points for future class activities, I’m asking you to do two things that might not seem
absolutely relevant for answering the question above.
1) In addition to graphs of your raw data, please alter the axes of the graphs to get a direct proportion
(or at least a linear graph) between values related to number of filters and terminal velocity.
2) Attempt to develop a theoretical explanation for your results. (Why do things reach terminal
velocity? How does speed affect air resistance? Why does the process follow this particular relationship
between m and v? This could be hard, but it’s just your theory based on your evidence, not a research
paper.)

Lab Report Guidelines

Background:
Definitely include: Explanations of important terms and concepts, an explanation of the question or task,
and a general overview of how the objective will be achieved. (Summarize the approach.)
Sometimes include depending on the lab: A statement and explanation of your hypothesis, an explanation
of why the question is important or interesting and an explanation of how you chose the question.

Method:
Definitely include: A clearly drawn diagram with key variables labeled, an explanation of how to determine
the dependent variable if it is at all complicated. D.V ______________________
Sometimes include: Additional diagrams to highlight additional variables or techniques, a step by step
procedure, explanations of how variables were controlled.

Results and Analysis:

Definitely include: All raw data in well organized and labeled tables, calculated values along with
explanations of the calculations,
Usually include: Graphs of data with trend lines, error bars and equations for trend lines.

Conclusion:
Definitely include: A summary of major trends in the data, a clear answer to the question(s) or task (usually
an equation or a value), and a logical connection between your data and the conclusion.
Sometimes include: a proposal of a theory explaining the results. Yes, definitely this time.

Error analysis:
Definitely include: A statement describing your confidence in your conclusion and support for your
statement including at least 3 of the following (2 should be quantitative):
an explanation for an unexpected y- a percent error or percent difference
intercept (cause and effect), calculation,
an explanation for your data point spread an explanation of how uncertainties spread
away from the trend line (cause and effect), through calculations,
a description of uncertainties in data an explanation of error bar size
collection and/or, an explanation for choice a description of things that you would have
in significant figures (cause and effect), done differently or ways to improve the
procedure or reduce errors