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Abstract What makes some objects more streamlined than others? Find out which ordinary objects around your house are made to move smoothly through the water in this easy science fair project. Which objects will produce the most drag when pulled through the water?Objective In this science fair project, you will test ordinary objects for their aerodynamic and hydrodynamic properties by measuring the amount of drag they have. Introduction Moving objects appear to glide gracefully through the air or water. But in reality, moving objects are constantly fighting to balance the forces around them. Moving objects have four main forces that act upon them: lift, weight, thrust, and drag (FI, 2006).
One way to think about the force of drag is to think of it as a force of friction. For an object moving through the air, drag is usually due to friction between the object and the air through which it is moving. This is often called air resistance. For an object moving through the water, drag is caused by friction between the object and the water through which it is moving. The force of drag is important for both the aerodynamics and the hydrodynamics of a design. In this science fair project, you will test how much drag ordinary objects produce when pulled through the water. You will make a simple device to measure the drag by using a pull-scale and fishing line. After testing different objects around your house, will you be able to find out what types of objects move smoothly through the water? Which shapes are the most aerodynamic and the most hydrodynamic? Terms, Concepts, and Questions to Start Background Research To do this type of science fair project, you should know what the following terms mean. Have an adult help you search the Internet, or take you to your local library to find out more!
Questions
Bibliography
For help creating graphs, try this website:
Materials and Equipment
Experimental Procedure
This is an example of how to organize your data in your lab notebook.
Variations
Credits Sara Agee, PhD, Science Buddies
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If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring related careers.
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