Scientific Experiment

ErickMass Center Effect

Introduction

0Hello! This is my process proposing an experiment. I am going to explain it step by step using the scientific method. The experiment is about mass center effect. By the way, lets check it out..

1st step: Question

Does Earth’s mass center affect its motion (orbit)?

2nd step: Background Research

0Mass center is the weighted average part of the body of an object. Mass center really affect the body of an object. There are some relationship that shows its effect. An object that has more mass would move forward more, but it can’t because of this relationships:

- Mass and gravity, the more mass something has, the greater gravity to pull the object.- Mass and speed, the more mass something has, the less speed will result.

3rd step: Hypothesis

0 If then the playdough has more mass, the container will result slower motion.

4th step: Equipment and Material

0You will need:- Playdough- Timer- A light cylindrical container (without cap)- Elastic bands- Flat tray or others that can be use for ramp

position (around 150 cm)- Kitchen scale- Permanent marker

5th step: Identifying variables

0 Independent variable: playdough’s mass0Dependent variable: the container’s motion

observed0Control variable: ramp (height), timer, elastic

bands, container

6th step: ProcedureLet’s get started, read all first. *You need 2 friends1. Wrap the container with the elastic bands.2. Make the first playdough’s mass, 50 g, the second’s mass, 30 g and the

third’s mass, 10 g. Check using the kitchen scale.3. Stick one of the playdough to one side in the inside part of the container. Give

a sign where the playdough was stick on using the permanent marker.4. Give a “start” sign on the top part of the flat tray.5. Ramp the flat tray, you may use something to support the ramp. Set the

container from the top part of the flat tray in a roll position. Make sure the playdough is on the top view of the container. (You will need your friend to do this part)

6. Set the timer 1 second and be ready7. Ask your friend to let go the container as you start the timer.8. Count the roll of the container by seeing the sign, when it goes to the top

view, that means 1 roll counted. (You will need your other friend to do this part)

9. Repeat using other playdough that have different mass.10. Observe each effect of the playdough’s mass (how many roll?) and record it

on the data table.

7th step: Data table

Mass 10 g 30 g 50 g

Roll in 1 second

7 rolls 5 rolls 4 rolls

Quantitative data

Qualitative data

Mass 10 g 30 g 50 g

How fast? Very fast, straight ahead to the end of the ramp

Normal, not too fast not too slow

Slow, result few rolls

Container effect

Makes the container easy to move fast

Normal motion, cannot move too fast

Poor effects, makes the container hard to move

8th step: Result in Graph

50 g

pla

ydou

gh

30 g

pla

ydou

gh

10 g

pla

ydou

gh0

2

4

6

8

Playdough’s Mass

Rolls co

unte

d

Analyzing: The lighter mass, the more roll it would go

9th step: ConclusionBasically my hypothesis is right that the more mass something has, the slower it will go. In the other side, my question’s answer is yes, mass affects the earth’s

orbit. So, if an object has more mass, the more gravity to pull the object but its still fights to move forward, this is why the object that has more mass results few rolls and slower motion. From this experiment I can conclude a very basic theory that

the more mass something has, the slower motion will result. In this experiment, the container really depends on the playdough, whether it is light or heavy. Somehow, my experiment succeeds and it really answers my question. I would say, this is a detail experiment, needs time and sometimes depends on its equipment quality. During the experiment, I got trouble with the ramp, it is not stable and a little bit

affects its success. So, I can improve this experiment by using stable ramp. I need to consider more about the equipment, especially its quality, also about the

simplification of the experiment. I suggest that the independent and dependent variable will be modified and if possible, simplify parts of the

experiment(procedure, equipment and material, etc) and use it for another purpose. So there are many chances to modify this experiment.

Gallery

Playdough

Light Container

50, 30, 10 g playdough

Elastic bands