Education Technology


Physics: Vernier - Air Resistance

by Vernier Software & Technology - Data Collection with Probes Lesson

Objectives

  • Observe the effect of air resistance on falling coffee filters.
  • Determine how air resistance and mass affect the terminal velocity of a falling object.
  • Choose between two competing force models for the air resistance on falling coffee filters.

About the Lesson

In this experiment, you will measure terminal velocity as a function of mass for falling coffee filters, and use the data to choose between the two models for the drag force. Coffee filters were chosen because they are light enough to reach terminal velocity in a short distance.