Drag Force and Terminal Velocity on/of a Rocket-Propelled Toy Car
Purpose Procedure The Car Measurements Results
The Purpose:
- To determine the drag force exerted on a rocket car during it's travel.
- To determine the potential terminal velocity of a rocket car when acted on by the above drag force.
The Process:
- Launch car and measure its speed when it has traveled a certain distance.
- Using the speed and distance values, calculate the acceleration of the car.
- Using the thrust force value provided, determine the value of the drag force acting on the car.
- Using the drag force found, determine the theoretical terminal velocity of the rocket car.
The Car:
THIS:
is not what our car looked like.
- Car Dimensions:
- Length: 0.173 m (with grill) or 0.170 (without grill
- Width: 0.079 m
- Height: 0.075 m
- Ground Clearance: 0.015 m
- Weight: 0.12639 kg (with grill) or 0.12439 kg (without grill)
- Engine: (source)
- Weight: 0.01248 g
- Maximum Thrust: 15.3 N
- Thrust Duration: 1.6 s
Measurements:
Table of Measurements
| Trial: | Distance: | Speed (us): | Speed (metric): | Time: | Notes: |
| 1 | 44 m | 65 mph | 29.0576 m/s | 8 s | With Grill |
| 2 | 44 m | 56 mph | 25.0342 m/s | 8 s | Without Grill |
Results:
Table of Results
| Trial: | Terminal Velocity: | Drag Force: | Notes: |
| 1 | 30.297 m/s | 14.106 N | With Grill |
| 2 | 25.585 m/s | 14.400 N | Without Grill |
