School Name: Sherwood Heights School
Team Size: 1 or 2
Grade Category: 4-6
ProjectType: Experimental
Subject Area: Physics/Astronomy
Language: English
Team Captain First Name: Ishan
Team Captain Last Name: Aditya
Awards Obtained: Second Position for The School Science Project
Special Skills Used: HTML
Project Title: Viscosity: The Frictional Brake
Project Abstract: Welcome To The Realm Of Fluid Dynamics! This project is based on Stokes Law which states that: "as spherical objects move through a column of viscous fluid, under the influence of gravity, forces act in resistance to their movement." Purpose of this project was to find out if non-spherical objects when dropped in viscous fluids such as glycerine and corn syrup expereience a "drag" effect. Four sets of differently shaped clay objects with different weights were timed as they fell through two 1 liter graduated cylinders filled with glycerine and corn syrup.
As any swimmer can attest, moving through fluids can be a real 'drag'
- thanks to friction-like forces.
These forces vary with viscosity, specific gravity of the medium and shape of object passing through it.
Hence, it is no accident that sharks, jet planes and racing cars look so similar.
They are streamlined to minimize 'drag' or the invisible frictional brake!
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