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Investigation question: How does the mass (g) of corn starch added to the water would affect the velocity
(m/s) of waves?
Background:
The aim of this experiment is to identify how adding corn starch (altering density) to water will affect the
velocity of waves. To do this, I will drop a marble into a plastic tray filled with water and change the mass
of starch added each time (e.g. 0g, 2g,10g). The independent variable of my experiment
Velocity will be used in my experiment and the unit is centimetre/second (cm/s). To find this, I will use the
distance/time formula. Even though the metric standard unit for velocity is m/s, my tray is shorter than 1
metre, hence, I will be using metre/second. In this experiment, I will be required to use my phone to
record my experiment. The reason behind this is that I will use an application called Logger Pro to create a
distance over time graph, using video recordings of my experiment. To make this graph, I will first need to
insert video clips into the application, and mark a point on the wave crest every 0.333 seconds1. A distance
over time graph will be created by the software and I will be able to create a line of best fit on the graph,
and use it for my data collection & analysis. Since there will be a lot of errors in the data that I collect, I will
display error bars in my graph and make 2 manual line of best fit, which would cover the maximum and
minimum values in my error bars.
Prior to this experiment, I have done a little investigation on my own in this area 4 years ago. I was
interested in finding out why does a boat float and has discovered that as the amount of salt increases, the
density increases and things like boats will float on water. To help me out in this experiment I have
compared the density of salt and corn starch, which is 2.17g/cm3 2 and 0.541g/cm3 3.
Hypothesis:
I predict that as more corn starch is added (density of water increases), the waves generated by the falling
marble will be slower. So, waves would travel faster when there is no corn starch added.
1 3/20/2017, and Phy 133 Lab 2 Acceleration [Stony Brook Physics Laborator. Stony Brook Physics Laboratory Manuals PHY 133
Lab 2 - Acceleration (n.d.): n. pag. Stony Brook Physics Laboratory Manuals. 20 Mar. 2017. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
2 "Salt." Salt Density in 285 Measurement Units. N.p., 2006. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
3 "Cornstarch." Cornstarch Density in 285 Measurement Units. N.p., 2006. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
4 "Density and Wave Speed." Physics Stack Exchange. N.p., 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
Predicted results
50
Velocity of waves (cm/s)
40
30
20
10
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Mass of salt added (g)
5Dewhurst, Toby. "Why Do Waves in Water Slow down on Entering Shallower Region?" N.p., 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Apr.
2017.
coefficient of dynamic friction. For example, containers made from
FEP has a coefficient of 0.08-3 whilst containers made from
Polycarbonate has a coefficient of 0.3-0.9, which means that water
would travel much slower in a polycarbonate container.
Temperature of water I will control the temperature of the water by maintaining the
temperature of the air conditioning in the room. I will also make
sure no heating equipment (e.g. Bunsen burner, water bath, strong
light source) is within 10m of the experiment. This is because
molecules travel faster in higher temperatures. Also, if the
temperature is over the boiling point, water will start to evaporate,
resulting in loss of water, thus not fulfilling the first controlled
variable (volume of water).
[research]
Type of water I will control the type of water by using water from one water
source only. Sea water contains high amounts of salt, which makes it
more dense than clear water. In order to make my experiment fair
and square, I must use only one type of water (tap water)
Size of marble I will only use one marble for the whole experiment. Different sizes
of marbles would have different area of impact on the water
surface, generating waves of different height and velocity.
Angle of camera I will do this my placing a ruler next to the tray and line up the frame
of my phone with the ruler so that they are parallel to each other.
This is very important when plotting graphs in logger pro. If my
camera is tilted when recording the experiment, it would seem like
the waves are travelling slower than in reality and my graph would
be inaccurate.
Equipment list:
- 25x40x3cm plastic tray x1
- 30g corn starch
- Electronic balance x1
- 250ml beaker x1
- Water source (tap)
- Camera enabled device x1
- 30cm ruler x1
- Computer
- Logger pro software
- Lamp x1
- Partner (if available)
- Safety goggles x1
A ruler A lamp
will be will be
used used to
for light up
making a the area
scale in so that
Logger the
Pro. camera
can
capture
the
waves.
A marble
will be
dropped
to create
waves
The electronic A beaker will Corn starch will
balance will be be used to hold be used as the
used to weight the corn starch contaminant
2g of corn of the water
starch
Method for practical (data collection):
1. Collect all materials and equipment according to the material list
2. Wear safety goggles
3. Fill plastic tray with 2.5cm depth of water
4. Wait for water to sit still
5. Turn on the camera enabled device and select video mode
6. Hold up phone horizontally so that it is directly above the tray and makes a bird eye view of the
plastic tray (may ask a partner to help out)
7. Start recording and hold camera still
8. Get a marble and drop it to the centre of the water tray (remember the dropping point of marble)
9. Stop recording 10 seconds after the marble has fallen into the water
10. Wait for water to sit still again
11. Repeat step 5-9 (second trial)
12. Repeat step 5-9 (third trial)
13. Plug the electronic balance
14. Turn on electronic balance
15. Place beaker onto electronic balance
16. Press the zero or re-zero button on balance
17. Add 2g of corn starch into beaker
18. Pour all corn starch that is in the beaker into the water tray
19. Mix the water/corn starch with a ruler for 30 seconds
20. Wait for mixture to sit still
21. Repeat step 5-9 for 3 times
22. Add 2g more corn starch into water tray exactly like step 14-16 (current total: 4g)
23. Repeat step 18-20
24. Add 2g more corn starch into water tray exactly like step 14-16 (current total: 6g)
25. Repeat step 18-20
26. Add more corn starch into water tray exactly like step 14-16 (current total: 8g)
27. Repeat step 18-20
28. Add more corn starch into water tray exactly like step 14-16 (current total: 10g)
29. Repeat step 18-20
Observations:
When conducting the experiment, I noticed that the mixture becomes more cloudy as more corn starch is
added. Also, as I increase the mass of corn starch added to the water, the waves seem to disappear/end
quicker than when there is nothing added. Although the difference between the highest and lowest
average velocity is almost 10cm/s (30.7877cm/s and 21.6197cm/s) the waves were moving at a high speed
such that it is not possible for the human eye to witness any difference.
Graph
Left: An example of a graph from logger pro with a best fit line and two manual best fit lines
Right: A graph of the average velocity
Conclusion:
My results supported my hypothesis. The more corn starch I add into the water, the lower the velocity of
the waves will be. Ranking from highest to lowest velocity: 0g, 2g, 4g, 6g, 8g, 10g. When the experiment
was conducted with pure tap water, the average velocity of waves was 30.7877 cm/s. When 4g of corn
starch was added, the average velocity of waves was 26.3553. When 10g of corn starch was added, the
average velocity of waves was 21.6197. This clearly justifies my assumption of the relationship between
velocity and waves.
Discussion/Explanation of results:
The reason behind the results is the direct relationship between velocity and density. From the equation
= , we can see that an increase of velocity will result in a decrease of velocity. The result has not
been affected by any other factors. I have ensured that my experiment will be fair and square by listing out
the controlled variables such as the drop height, angle of camera, temperature Therefore, the change of
velocity can only be explained by its relationship with density.
Validity of hypothesis
Although my results match my hypothesis, there are some things that might make my result not accurate.
For example, in 6g, there was a difference of 3.754cm/s. Also, when I was plotting dots on Logger Pro using
the video analysis function, I noticed that some points were further away than others. For example, in the
first trial with 0g, the data shows that at one point waves travelled at speeds of 35cm/s, in contrary to the
velocity of 30.304cm/s in my results table. This could be caused by the blurriness of the wave crest in the
video, which resulted in an inaccurate plot (also affected by the reflection of the lamp). Next time, I will not
put lamps close to my water tray to avoid any reflection. Despite the differences, when I compared my
results to that of my classmate, Philip, who was investigating how dropping a coin into water with different
masses of salt will affect the velocity of waves. We both had similar trends with meant that my results are
reliable.
Validity of method:
I think that my method was very appropriate for an experiment to identify how adding corn starch (altering
density) to water will affect the velocity of waves. I have clearly described the procedure to perform the
experiment and listed out all required materials. Also, there is only one independent variable in my
method (I only changed one thing), which meant that my investigation will not be affected by any other
external factors. My method is split into two parts, the practical part and the analysis part. In the first part,
I performed all necessary actions to acquire my raw data. I basically recorded myself dropping marbles into
the water tray. This was extremely essential because without this, I would have no data to analyse and
hence, draw a conclusion to my hypothesis. The second part was also very important. My investigation
question says that I will have to find the velocity of waves. Without the data analysis part, I would not be
able to find the velocity and answer my investigation question.
Problems Effects Suggestions
Camera was not stabilised when I was not able to collect accurate If I could do this again, I would
recording the experiment data because my camera was use a tripod to hold my camera.
often shaky and tilted at an angle Although it is quite dangerous to
such that the computer thinks that leave a tripod on top of the water
the wave is picking up speed tray, it is definitely a better
when moving outwards. solution than asking a partner to
hold the camera because no
human can possibly hold the
camera as still as a statue.
Corn starch was stuck in the This meant that less than 2g of Next time, I will use a spoon to
beaker corn starch was added to the scope corn starch and dip the
water. This was one of the entire spoon into water to make
controlled variables because the sure everything is added to the
amount of corn starch added mixture.
would affect the density of the
water, which would affect the
velocity of the waves.
Did not dry marble after each Some additional ripples were I will dry the marble with towel
trial created when the marble hit the after each trial to make sure that
water surface. When I analysed no additional/unnecessary ripples
the video using Logger Pro, I will be created. Also, I will dry
noticed that there were waves my hands to prevent the same
going the opposite direction, thing from happening.
which were caused by the wet
marble.
Camera was tilted when using the When I analysed the video on I would use a tripod to hold my
scale function on Logger Pro Logger Pro, I created a scale for camera. Although it is quite
the software to calculate the dangerous to leave a tripod on top
velocity of the waves. However, of the water tray, it is definitely a
since my camera is not a perfect better solution than asking a
bird-eye view, there is a high partner to hold the camera
chance that my scale is because no human can possibly
inaccurate. hold the camera as still as a
statue.
Extension:
During this experiment, there was a constant change in the temperature of the water. This could be
affected by the lamp, water baths used by other students in the lab, as well as the unstable air
conditioning in the lab (the door to the garden was not always closed). One possible extension to this
experiment could be changing the temperature of the water. This experiment could also be extended so
that it is performed in the Arctic and tropical Islands near the equator to have a realistic environment for
the water/waves.
Bibliography
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shallower-region>
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ruler-and-indesigns-inches-scale >
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