College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2C30.65 - Terminal Velocity - Coffee Filters
See also 1C20.18 in Mechanics.
The coffee filters will reach a terminal velocity in a very short time. There shape makes them particularly easy to use with the sonic sensor, as they float down with very little side to side motion.
The second picture shows the relationship between one coffee filter and four coffee filters and their velocities. If you hold the four coffee filters at approximately twice the height of one coffee filter they will hit the ground at the same time.
The parachutes can also be used as an example of terminal velocity. Fold the parachute according to the instructions and throw at the ceiling of the lecture room. The chute will unfold and quickly achieve terminal velocity.
- Sebastian Becker, Pascal Klein, and Jochen Kuhn, "Video Analysis on Tablet Computers to Investigate Effects of Air Resistance", TPT, Vol. 54, #7, Oct. 2016, p. 440.
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- M-136: "Flat $ Bills & Coffee Filters", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- "Air Drag on a Falling Plastic Ball", Apparatus Notes, July 1965-December 1972.
- Robert Ehrlich, "Terminal Velocity of Falling Coffee Filters", Why Toast Lands Jelly-Side Down, p. 40 - 42.
- Charles Windsor, "Coffee Filters".
- Borislaw Bilash II and David Maiullo, "Floating Down", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 31.
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