Question:

“Theory: Drag for objects moving in a fluid (air is a fluid) has been determined to be D=1/2CpAv^2 where D is the drag force, C is the drag coefficient, p is the density of the fluid, and A is the surface of the body exposed to the fluid. Do your results support this relationship? Explain.”

This equation does support the relationship of moving objects through a fluid, in this lab; air is the fluid being taken into account. The equation itself has many constants within it. The constants stay the same and isn’t what is varying. More or less they become less significant this would be, p, the density of air, C, the drag coefficient, due to the drag isn’t changing since the coffee filters keep their shape. Terminal velocity is when the falling object is no longer accelerating, due the balanced forces between an objects weight and its drag force. With coffee filters, one can easily add weight with out changing the objects shape since coffee filters fit nicely together. With a consistent shape, it doesn’t change the surface of the falling body, essentially A becomes another constant. With in the lab, through careful measurements and calculations the equation, shown in the graphs can be properly represented as D=1/2CpAv^2 or what the group found to be D=1/2v^2, which are both identical equations.

Ratings & Evaluations

Individual:
I was personally “out of it” for the first couple of days of the lab. I couldn’t get started and felt zoned out and just not really with it. However, on Wednesday I was definitely more engaged and felt ready to get things done and ready to help out. I engaged in more conversations and discussions about what we should do, and asked questions and even for some help at points. I came to a realization Wednesday night, which clarified many doubts within both group and myself.
I would give myself a 9

Group:

-Angie:
Angie tends to take the lead with the labs. She is the main rock of our group. Although the rest of the group may be discussing a possible idea and Angie is sitting in silence with that certain look on her face, I can tell she is really trying to process what we are saying and how to explain, describe, or better the discussion. She really was able to help me when I finally made the connection by myself, since I was having trouble explaining it and she put it in a way that I could understand.
I would give Angie a 10

-Allie:
The first couple of days, Allie was sort of “out of it” the way that I was. It was nice that someone was on the same page as I was, since we were both confused. Yet, on Wednesday Allie seemed to go into more of a panic mode. Allie was stressing out over the lab and the entire class in general. It definitely put a damper on the group and just added more stress to which we didn’t need in such a critical time. I just wish she would have participated and discussed with a less social aspect of the group and more critical thinking. Allie contributed in the group wonderfully with the first lab, but I didn’t see that same cooperation in this one.
I would give Allie a 6

-Pat:
Pat seemed to pick up his A game a bit more this time around. Last lab he acted more of the goof ball, and kept us in good spirits. This lab he was more active in the theories and ideas that were brought up, and giving possible solutions. He was able to help me out a lot during the two days that I was more zoned out. Pat was able to pull his own weight and others at points where I was slacking.
I would give Pat a 10

What I learned

This lab was more of a breakthrough than the last lab. I was able to learn that this challenge put in front of either the group or myself, may seem difficult but can have a much more simple solution. I was often getting stuck on how something can be moving yet not accelerating. Through the lab and help from the group I was able to get a more hands on approach in order to see it for myself and get a better understanding. As well as the forces balancing out to zero, when yet the coffee filters were still moving. I seemed to have a general clue, but I thought I knew it more than I actually did. I realized how the forces interact and work with one another at a larger scale. Drawing F.B.D.s and watching countless falling coffee filters was one thing, but when the group was able to distinguish the relationship as a whole, it really clicked in my head.