You will be helping Galileo perform an experiment to determine if objects with different masses fall at the same or different rates in the air and in a vacuum. Before conducting your experiment, you need to form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a prediction of what you think will happen in the experiment. It is a statement that describes, "if" a certain set of circumstances are present, "then" a specific result will occur.
**Record your hypothesis here:**
**Record the results from step one of the experiment (dropping the objects in the air):**
- First trial:
- Second trial:
- Third trial:
**Record the results from step two of the experiment (dropping the objects in a vacuum):**
- First trial:
- Second trial:
- Third trial:
**Did the experiment support your hypothesis?**
Using the data from your experiment, describe why you believe your hypothesis was either proven or disproven.
**What forces were acting on the objects dropped in the air?**
What force was acting on the objects dropped in the vacuum?
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**Part Two: Comparing Forces**
Choose two forces and compare and contrast these forces. You must provide two ways that they are alike and two ways that they are different. You may make a list, write in paragraph form, or make a chart.
Choose two different forces than those used in the prior question and compare and contrast them. Provide two ways that they are similar and two ways that they are different. You may make a list, write it out, or make a chart.
Answer (2)
The hypothesis for the experiment is that objects with different mass will fall at different rates in the air and in a vacuum. The experiment results disproved the hypothesis, with objects of different mass falling at different rates in the air but the same rate in a vacuum. The forces acting on the objects in the air are gravity and air resistance, while in a vacuum, only gravity acts on the objects. ;
The hypothesis suggested that objects of different masses would fall at different rates in the air but the same in a vacuum. The experiment showed that in the air, mass affects fall rates due to air resistance, while in a vacuum, all objects fall at the same rate due solely to gravity. Forces acting on the objects differed in each environment: gravity and air resistance in air, and only gravity in vacuum.
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