Pencil Penetration and Water

Background:
Laws and Principles involved:
Newtons third law: When one body exerts a force on a second body, the
second simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction to that of the first body. In laymans terms, for every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction.
Buoyancy: An object that is less dense than the fluid it is in will float to the
top.
Types of Energy that occur:
Kinetic Energy:
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its
motion. It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given
mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its
acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed
changes. The same amount of work is done by the body in decelerating
from its current speed to a state of rest.
It can be calculated using the formula:
1
2
Ek = mv
2
Potential Energy:
The energy that is stored in an object due to its position. It is the energy
difference between the energy of an object in a given position and its
energy at a reference position.
Various factors that may affect the penetration of the pencil in water such
as:
- Surface tension of the water
- Which side the pencil is dropped
- Whether the pencil is sharpened
- Air resistance
- Density of object and fluid
- Buoyancy
Investigation Section:
Investigative Plan:
I will be researching the factors that may affect the penetration of the
pencil in water, the forces it experiences, the different types of energy
that occur, risk and a way of approaching this experiment. Factors that
may affect the penetration of the pencil in water, and the different types
of energy that occur are shown above. The controlled variables in this
experiment are the amount of water, and the use of the same equipment
to decrease the amount of incidental errors that may occur when
performing this experiment.
The forces an object experiences when falling in water:
When an object falls in water, it will experience an opposite resistance
force that will eventually stop the object. Objects falling from different

heights will have different speed and energy, and thus can have different
depth of penetration in water. When the object is dropped higher than
previously, there will be an increase in the amount of potential energy,
thus having and increased amount of kinetic energy on impact.
Ensuring accuracy and reliability:
Reliability: Repeating the experiment, and using the average of the
results.
Accuracy: Using a clamp and retort stand to drop the pencil to ensure that
the pencil is not shaking and is parallel to the measuring cylinder,
reducing inaccurate results that may occur. Also, using the mL marks on
the measuring cylinder may aid in improving the accuracy of the results.
Statement of Variables:
Independent Variable: height pencil is dropped
Dependent Variable: depth pencil penetrates water
Controlled Variable(s): amount of water, same apparatus used
Experimental Approach:
The experiment will consist of dropping a pencil using a stand and clamp
into a measuring cylinder. When recording my results, I will use a ruler,
but if the pencil penetrates the water further than 30cm, I will use the mL
increments to calculate my results.
Hazard
Risk
How it will be
minimised
Glass Measuring
Minor lacerations
Handle glass measuring
Cylinder
cylinder with care
Pencil
Very minor
Do not point or stab with
punctures
pencil
Aim:
To determine how the depth to which a pencil penetrates water varies with
the height from which it dropped.
Hypothesis:
The greater the height the pencil is dropped, the greater the depth to
which the pencil penetrates water.
Equipment:
- Pencil: the object to conduct the experiment
- 1L measuring cylinder: used to decrease the possibility of the pencil
dropping down to the bottom of the water by getting a taller
measuring cylinder to drop it in. It also is used for the mL markings to
help measure the depth the pencil penetrates water if it drops beyond
30cm, ensuring more accurate results.
- Ruler: used to measure the depth the pencil penetrates water
- Stand and Clamp: to keep the pencil parallel with the measuring
cylinder, reducing any inaccurate results that may occur.

Method:
1. Prepare the equipment as shown in the diagram below.
2. Fill the measuring cylinder up _______mL.
3. Drop the pencil in the water and pick it back up.
4. Place the pencil 1cm above the water using the clamp
5. Drop the pencil.
6. Observe and record your results.
7. Reset the position of the pencil
8. Drop the pencil.
9. Observe and record your results.
10. Increase the height of the pencil by ____cm.
11. Repeat steps 5-9 twice.
12. Increase the height of the pencil by ____cm.
13. Repeat steps 5-9 twice.
14. Increase the height of the pencil by ____cm.
15. Repeat steps 5-9 twice.
16. Increase the height of the pencil by ____cm.
17. Repeat steps 5-9 twice.
Diagram:

Stand and
Clamp

Penci
l

Measuring
Cylinder
Water

Results:
Distance between mL increments: ________________________cm
Depth the pencil penetrates the water (cm)
Height of
(distance between mL increments x mL
pencil above
penetration)
water (cm)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Average

1
d

(cm-1)

Bibliography:
Physics Workbook.
Newton's Third Law. 2013. Newton's Third Law. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/newtlaws/u2l4a.cfm. [Accessed 10
August 2013].
Potential Energy. 2013. Potential Energy. [ONLINE] Available
at:http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/u5l1b.cfm. [Accessed
11 August 2013].
Kinetic Energy. 2013. Kinetic Energy. [ONLINE] Available
at:http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/energy/u5l1c.cfm. [Accessed
11 August 2013].