28. A group of students performed an experiment to test terminal velocity, which is the greatest speed obtained by a falling object. The students dropped different numbers of coffee filters and measured the resulting terminal velocity. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data in the following data table?
Answer: D
Heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects.
The data supports the conclusion that heavier objects, like a greater number of coffee filters, demonstrate a higher terminal velocity compared to lighter ones. This indicates a direct relationship between weight and the speed at which objects fall when air resistance is considered.
A) The greater the number of filters, the smaller the terminal velocity.
This option is incorrect as it contradicts the observed data. If more coffee filters were dropped, the terminal velocity increased rather than decreased, indicating that more filters (which add weight) resulted in a higher terminal velocity.
B) Heavier objects take more time to reach terminal velocity.
This statement is misleading. While heavier objects may take slightly longer to reach terminal velocity due to the greater initial force of gravity, the core finding here is that they achieve a higher terminal velocity, not that they take longer to get there. The data does not support this conclusion.
C) Terminal Velocity is when the force of gravity is equal to air resistance.
This is a true statement about terminal velocity but does not directly relate to the experimental findings regarding the relationship between the number of filters and their terminal velocities. It does not address the comparative speed of heavier versus lighter objects, which is central to the question.
D) Heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects.
This conclusion is supported by the data collected in the experiment, as it shows that an increased number of coffee filters leads to a higher terminal velocity. Thus, heavier objects indeed fall faster than their lighter counterparts.
Conclusion
The correct answer, D, is conclusively supported by the data demonstrating that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones. The other options either contradict the findings or fail to address the key relationship between weight and terminal velocity as observed in the experiment.