Name: Robert Baxter Date:

9/09/14
Physics
Experiment Report

LT 1.1 I can develop my knowledge of the scientific process (scientific method, experimental
design).

1) Title: The Effect of Coin Angle on Speed of Drop

2) Hypothesis If a coin is dropped at an angle parallel to the ground, then the speed of the
descent will be slower than the speed of a coin dropped perpendicular to the ground,
because the larger area of the coin will come into contact with more air particles, causing
more friction, and slowing the speed of the drop.

3) Experimental Design:
Angle of Coin in Relation to the Ground
Levels: Parallel to Ground, Perpendicular to Ground

Trials: Three drops for each angle.

Speed of Drop
Constant Variables: (numbered below)
1. Height at which Coin is Dropped from
2.Size of Coin
3.
4.
Control:

4) Materials List: (Be descriptive: such as, 500 mL Pyrex beaker)

1. One nickel
2. One Stopwatch
3. 29 ½ cm tall Beaker Commented [1]: Beaker's should be titled by the
milliliters in the beaker, not height
4.
5.
5) Procedure: (Aim for at least 10 steps, and be descriptive)
1. Place coin parallel to ground at top of beaker.
2.Drop coin and use stopwatch to time how long the coin takes to fall.
3.Record time of descent.
4.Repeat Steps 1-3 two more times.
5.Hold coin at an angle perpendicular to ground at top of beaker.
6.Drop coin and use stopwatch to time how long the coin takes to fall.
7.Record time of descent.
8.Repeat Steps 5-7 two more times.
9.Compare times of descent for both angles.
10.Use data to create a graph depicting the relation of coin angle to speed of descent.
6) Data Table:
Trial Coin Angle - Parallel Speed of Drop

1 “ 0.230 sec

2 “ 0.262 sec

3 “ 0.227 sec

Trial Coin Angle - Perpendicular Speed of Drop

1 “ 0.203 sec

2 “ 0.229 sec

3 “ 0.263 sec

7) Graph:

a) On the x axis: The coin angle

b) On the y axis: The Speed of the Drop

c) Graph your data below, making sure to label each axis clearly, and provide a table.
8) Results (write a statement about what you found in your experiment here):
The angle of the coin does not have a large effect on the speed of descent.

9) Conclusion Paragraph:
Include all the following, in this order, in the CONCLUSION in paragraph form, using
complete sentences. Do NOT number the sentences!

1. What was the purpose of the experiment? (Mention both I.V. and D.V.)
2. What were the means of your levels? What does this indicate about your experiment?
3. What were the ranges of your levels? What does this indicate about your experiment?
4. What happened that you did not expect? How can you explain this?
5. What about your experiment went exactly as you expected? How can you explain this?
6. Does the data support the hypothesis? Do NOT say yes or no. Instead, use a complete
sentence answer such as: The data supports or does not support the hypothesis.
7. Discuss possible explanations for your findings.
8. What recommendations do you have for improving this experiment?
9. What recommendations do you have for further study?

The purpose of this experiment was to prove that the angle at which a coin is dropped
affects the speed of the coin’s fall. The mean of the levels was 0.235 sec, and the range
was 0.060 sec. Something that happened that we did not expect was that the angle at
which the coin was dropped did not greatly affect the speed of the fall. I cannot say that
anything in the experiment went exactly as expected. The data gathered in the experiment
does not support the hypothesis. Possible explanations for this include that the mass of the
coin stayed the same throughout the experiment. I do not have any current
recommendations or suggestions for further studies for this experiment.