Difference between revisions of "3-TAS-01 Gravitation"
From MrReid.org Wiki
(→Main Body of Lesson) |
(→Main Body of Lesson) |
||
Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
* [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6926891572259784994 Video clip] of moon experiments; link to Newton's Laws of Gravitation. | * [http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6926891572259784994 Video clip] of moon experiments; link to Newton's Laws of Gravitation. | ||
* [[Bowling Ball and Lycra]] demonstration. <!---followed by pupil experiment--> | * [[Bowling Ball and Lycra]] demonstration. <!---followed by pupil experiment--> | ||
− | * Introduce gravity as the cause of spherical orbiting planets | + | * Introduce gravity as the cause of spherical orbiting planets: |
** Might be helpful to relate this to bubbles - you only ever get spherical bubbles because "the force" (link surface tension and gravitational force) is equal in all directions. | ** Might be helpful to relate this to bubbles - you only ever get spherical bubbles because "the force" (link surface tension and gravitational force) is equal in all directions. | ||
** Mount Everest can't be much taller than it already is. If it were 16km tall instead of 8km then it would collapse under its own weight. | ** Mount Everest can't be much taller than it already is. If it were 16km tall instead of 8km then it would collapse under its own weight. |
Revision as of 03:16, 27 August 2008
Contents
Outcomes
- Pupils can define weight as the force on an object due to its mass.
- Pupils can describe qualitatively the effect of changing distance and masses on the strength of a gravitational force.
Specification References
- 1.8 Identify types of forces
Starter
- Cavendish experiment demonstration
Main Body of Lesson
- Define difference between mass and weight.
- Interplanetary Can experiment.
- Video clip of moon experiments; link to Newton's Laws of Gravitation.
- Bowling Ball and Lycra demonstration.
- Introduce gravity as the cause of spherical orbiting planets:
- Might be helpful to relate this to bubbles - you only ever get spherical bubbles because "the force" (link surface tension and gravitational force) is equal in all directions.
- Mount Everest can't be much taller than it already is. If it were 16km tall instead of 8km then it would collapse under its own weight.
Plenary
- Key phrases crossword
Homework
- What if the Earth was a Cube? worksheet
- Teachers will need to do some exposition here - pupils should consider not only the new effects of gravity but also effects of the shape on other phenomena e.g. sunrise\sunset, the placement/appearance of the horizon.
Additional Information
Resources Required
- Cavendish experiment
- Bowling Ball
- Lycra sheet
- Key phrases crossword
Textbook References
- None
Website References
- A short biography of Henry Cavendish
Skills Addressed
Safety/Hazards
- Bowling ball is heavy; please refer to the Manual handling section of the Laboratory Lessons Health and Safety Risk Assessment
- General Laboratory Health and Safety Risk Assessment
Notes
- None