A simple lab to test how the speed of dropped coffee filters changes as the height is increased. As students raise the height of the filters, speed will increase (up to a point, known as terminal velocity), where after the speed will remain constant. Students will need to calculate their results, create a distance-time graph and a speed-time graph to represent their data, and write a conclusion of their results.

Materials needed: coffee filters, stop watch, meter stick.

Main topics: calculating speed, graphing distance vs. time, graphing speed vs. time, interpreting graph and lab results.

Quick, easy, and effective in demonstrating and practicing speed. Great for middle school or introductory high school courses.

If you like this lab, you can follow these links to other lessons and activities in my motion and forces units.

Motion PowerPoint Presentation

Acceleration PowerPoint Presentation

The Nature of Force PowerPoint Presentation

Friction, Gravity, and Elastic Forces PowerPoint Presentation

Newton's Laws PowerPoint Presentation

Calculating and Graphing Speed: Marble Racing Experiment!

Inertia Lab: Testing Newtons First Law of Motion

Bowling for Forces: Testing Newtons Second Law

Balloon Powered Race Cars: Testing Newtons Laws of Motion

Paper Airplane Lab: Gravity and Air Resistance

Motion Review Worksheet: Distance Time Graphs

Speed and Velocity Review Worksheet

Motion Review Worksheet: Speed Time Graphs

Motion Review Worksheet: Speed Problems

Forces Review Worksheet: Describing Forces

Forces Review Worksheet: Identifying Forces

Forces Review Worksheet: Forces at Work

Ian Williamson