Coin Jar Physics, Laws of Motion with pennies

Newtons three laws of motion are (paraphrased):

1. An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless a force is exerted apon it.

2. Force= mass x acceleration or the larger an object the more force you need to move it.

3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So how can you easily demonstrate these three laws using pocket change?

For law number one start with a stack of pennies (4-5 work best) slide a separate penny at the base of your stack.  The bottom penny should slide out from under the pile while the rest stay in their stack.

For law number two start with different sized coins, penny and nickel work well. One at a time set them next to a ruler then slide a third coin into them.  

Measure how far the coins travel.  The smaller coin should travel farther because it requires less force to move.

Finally law number three.  Place three pennies side by side in a line.

  Hold down lightly on two of the coins.  Slide a forth coin into the line so that it hits the side you are holding.  The loose penny on the other side of the line should be bumped away.

Simple science lesson that cost pennies (and you can reuse those pennies later if you need.)