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What A Drag!

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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?

Summary

Areas of Science
Difficulty
 
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
You will need access to a swimming pool.
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Very Low (under $20)
Safety
Adult supervision is required. Use caution when working near the swimming pool.
Credits
Sara Agee, PhD, Science Buddies

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).

Diagram shows the forces acting on a plane

The diagram of a plane shows four forces that act upon the plane body which are lift, thrust, weight and drag. Lift pushes a plane upward and counteracts the downward force of gravity (weight). Thrust propels the plane forward and counteracts the drag force which acts to slow the airplane.


Figure 1. The aerodynamics of this airplane are due to the balance of four forces: lift, weight, thrust, and drag (image credit the Franklin Institute).

The drag on an object is a combination of friction and pressure. Air moving over the surface of an object causes drag due to friction. Higher-pressure air in front of an object pushes back on it more than lower-pressure air behind it, which causes drag due to pressure. The combination of the two is just called "drag," and is also commonly called air resistance. An object moving through water also experiences drag for the same reasons. 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 and Concepts

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

  • NASA. (n.d.). Four Forces on an Airplane. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  • Andrew Rader Studios. (2006). Motion: Vectors. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  • Sobey, E., 1999. Wacky Water Fun with Science, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  • Sobey, E., 1998. Just Plane Smart! Activities for Kids in the Air and on the Ground, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

For help creating graphs, try this website:

  • National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Create a Graph. Retrieved May 27, 2009.

Materials and Equipment

Experimental Procedure

  1. Select several objects that you want to use for your science fair project, as described in the Materials and Equipment list.
  2. Wrap fishing line securely around each object. Make a loop out of fishing line at the leading edge of the object and attach a swivel hook. This will be where you attach the leader of the spring scale to each object. Have an adult help you, if necessary.
  3. Attach a leader line to the spring scale. It should be long enough for your object to reach down into the pool as you are walking along the edge of the pool, and while you are holding onto the spring scale handle.
  4. Attach an item to the leader line of the spring scale.
  5. Do a test to measure the drag on the object.
    1. Hold the spring scale as close as possible to the surface of the water without touching it.
    2. Then, walk from one end of the pool toward the other end at a constant stride, pulling the item behind you, as it is submerged in the pool.
    3. It is important to walk at the same speed as you drag each item. Drag can depend on how fast an object is moving, so to make an equal comparison between each object, you need to move them at the same speed.
    4. You should try to make sure that the leader line is as close to horizontal as possible while you are towing the object. This ensures that the spring scale is mostly measuring drag force (which acts in the horizontal direction), and not any contributions from the object's weight, hydrodynamic lift, or buoyant force, which all act in the vertical direction.
  6. Look at the spring scale and record the drag on the object (in newtons) in a data table in your lab notebook. Remember to try and walk at a constant pace. The spring scale reading might still bounce around slightly — try to take a middle-value reading if this happens.
Trial Number Spheres Circles
  Golf ball Baseball Cantaloupe CD Plate Trash Can Lid
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10            
Average Drag (N)            

  1. Repeat steps 5–6 for the first object, for a total of at least 10 trials to be sure that the results are meaningful.
  2. Repeat steps 4–7 for all of your other objects.
  3. Calculate the average drag for each object by adding together the numbers for each object for all 10 trials and dividing your answer by 10. Record all data in your data table.
  4. Make a graph of your data, either on paper, or with a website, such as Create a Graph. A bar graph will work well for this type of experiment. Make a scale of the force of drag, in newtons, on the left side of the graph (y-axis) and order your differently shaped objects on the bottom of the graph (x-axis). Draw a bar for each item up to the matching force of drag measured in the pool with the spring scale. Be sure you remember to label the axes and the bars of your graph, and to give your graph a title.
  5. Analyze your data by asking yourself some questions. Which object caused the most drag? The least? If you compare across objects of different shapes, are some shapes better than others? If you compare within a group of similarly shaped objects (for example, all spheres) are some sizes better than others?
icon scientific method

Ask an Expert

Do you have specific questions about your science project? Our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.

Global Connections

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

This project explores topics key to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Variations

  • In this science fair project, the items you chose are not of the same shape or size. This means that they may also have different weight and volume. Measure the volume of each object by submerging the objects in a tub or bucket with marked volumes and calculate the difference in water level before and after. Measure the weight of each object by using a kitchen scale. Will the weight and volume of your objects help explain your results?
  • Another factor in the aerodynamics or hydrodynamics of an object is the orientation of the object. Is the object moving forward, backwards, sideways, up, or down? You can use the same object in each experiment, but change the orientation, or direction, of the object as it moves through the water. Will the object be more or less dynamic when in different orientations?
  • If you're interested in a more mathematical explanation of your results, try looking up references for the drag equation and thinking about the objects' cross-sectional areas and drag coefficients.

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Cite This Page

General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "What A Drag!" Science Buddies, 23 June 2020, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Aero_p022/aerodynamics-hydrodynamics/water-drag. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2020, June 23). What A Drag! Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Aero_p022/aerodynamics-hydrodynamics/water-drag


Last edit date: 2020-06-23
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