Air Drag Problems

Data Analysis

The problem that this experiment is trying to solve “is the effects of air drag and how to reduce issues”. The solution of the problem was “that reducing build in the front of the car and not using a blocky design will affect the travel of the cars”. The independent variable was the different shapes or models of the cars and the dependent variable was the change of time speeds. The controlled variables were that the same timer was used, each car received sanding, the same track was used for each trial, and the finish line was located at the same place every trial. The control group consisted of one car. The car had the same design as a typical car would, it received no special treatment. The experimental group consisted of five cars. Each car had a unique design, some with angles and some without angles. First, design and build your pinewood derby cars, and make sure that with the control, you are following the look of a normal car. Second, construct the ramp on which to race the cars that you built. Third, time the cars as they race down the track and make sure to end the timer exactly when they cross the finish line.

In the overall experiment, there were

Car A, Car C, and Control Car followed the same pattern of increasing as the Trials went on. Car B and Car D had certain spikes of decreasing and increasing time. Each car was placed with the wheels between the block of wood and let go when the stopwatch was started. Then the data was carefully charted before moving on to the next trial. The IPhone 4S stopwatch app may have been an extraneous variable because of the way it measures time may be different than a standard stopwatch. The ramp may have also been an extraneous variable because of its less than good conditions. Assistant A tampered with the front wheels of Car C by shaking them before releasing in Car C’s Trials 1 through 4. This is another example of an extraneous