Question

I have this equation: y = 0.3989x + 0.032. So I have this paper helicopter that I drop from a constant height and I see how long it takes for it to reach the ground. the manipulated variable is the length of the helicopter's wings, so each time I drop it, I make the wings smaller and smaller (10cm, 8cm, 6cm, 4cm, and 2cm). and I see how length of the wings affects the time it takes to reach the ground. Based off the equation y=mx+b, I need to explain why my slope and y-intercept value makes sense. I am stuck on why the slope should be 0.3989. can someone explain that to me?

Answer 1

Errr there are a lot of things that i do not understand from the question and the experiment. (like how is it conducted and so on). But i try my best to answer.

Y, i presume is the time taken for the helicopter to reach the ground. Thus it's unit is seconds, t.

X is the length of the paper blade of the helicopter's rotor. its unit is meters, m.

So for y=mx+c. the unit of m(slope) will have to be t/m. Time per length. I am not sure how this comes about but this is my best answer. Because i thought it will have to do with the area of the rotor that causes the air resistance. Thus the graph should be a curve and not a line.

As for the y=intercept, c. It has unit of time, t. We can safely conclude that it is the time tkaen for the helicopter to reach the ground, when the blade of the rotor is 0. (when x =0)

Answer 2

Thank you so much!