3-Spr1-B
Contents
Outcomes
- Pupils can talk about what forces act during free fall
- Pupils can explain why objects accelerate in a gravitational field
Specification References
1.16 describe the forces acting on falling objects and explain why falling objects reach a terminal velocity
Starter
Guinea and Feather Demo - ask what will happen when we drop both in air. Then demonstrate the difference when both are dropped in a vacuum (using th evacuated tubes). Try to get the pupils to deduce what forces are acting. You can also show the Neil Armstrong video or you could save it for a starter for next time (As we'll be looking at terminal velocity)
Main Body of Lesson
1)Falling tin can with holes in: Fill a tin can with water. Show how water comes out of the holes. Then drop it and show how the water no longer comes out of the holes as the water is falling at the same rate as the tin can.
2) Falling force meter: using a dial force meter (10N) attach a 1kg mass to the force meter and show that it reads 10N (a nice place to recap the wieght equation etc.). Then drop the force meter onto a cushion or sandbag a notice that the force meter reads 0N on the way down as the force meter is falling at the same rate as the mass. (could this be done with a PASCO force meter?). Possibly use some string and the loops in the ceiling to lift up the system and then drop it to keep people clear of the drop zone?
