Ghost Parachute Drop Physics Lab FALL04

Middle School Physics Fall STEM Lab: 3-page packet on air resistance drag, terminal velocity, canopy surface area, & descent speed math.

Master air resistance, drag forces, and terminal velocity! The Ghost Parachute Drop STEM Challenge (FALL04) challenges middle school student teams to act as aerospace engineers, designing a lightweight ghost parachute out of tissue paper or plastic and string to slow down payload descent from a 2.5-meter drop.

Students explore air resistance (drag), terminal velocity equilibrium, canopy surface area dynamics, stability venting, and average velocity calculations (v = d / t)!

What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?

Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and math troubleshooting tips.

Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world aerospace engineering scenario hook, clear material limits box (plastic/tissue canopy, string, ghost payload, tape, max air-time rule), and a dedicated Ghost Parachute Canopy & Vector Schematic sketching zone.

Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track canopy surface area, suspension line length, drop height, and hang-time in seconds across 3 trials), Applied Math Connection (calculate average descent speed in m/s across testing trials), and physics reflection questions.

Core STEM Skills Covered:

Aerospace Engineering & Fluid Resistance Physics

Terminal Velocity, Air Resistance Drag & Canopy Surface Area Mechanics

Data Logging, Precision Timing (s), and Descent Speed Math Calculations (m/s)

Suspension Line Balance and Structural Flight Stability Optimization

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Page 1 Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student activity sheets clean and ready to print!

Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple plastic trash bags or tissue paper, string/yarn, tape, and a stopwatch.

High-Impact Physics Lab: Makes drag force equations and terminal velocity concepts visual, measurable, and highly engaging for Grades 6–8!

Print-Ready: High-resolution, 3-page PDF format ready for instant printing.