Lesson by Hayley Callan
Learning Intentions:
- To find out about Galileo Galilei a famous scientist.
- To develop an understanding of air resistance.
Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils
In this activity there are two videos, approximately ten minutes in total. Your child will need to undertake some research on or offline.
Resources needed for the experiment: two sheets of paper the same size
One of the activities is practical and the other can be completed on or offline.
Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information
In this activity you will explore the life and work of Galileo Galilei, a key figure in the world of science. You will have the opportunity to present your research in facts and explore practically how air resistance affects objects recording your findings.
Air resistance is a type of friction; it is about how air can affect a moving object.
Start by watching and making notes about Galileo Galilei on the link below:
Watch this video clip about air resistance below:
Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity
Activity 1
Create a one page fact and information sheet on the life and work of Galileo Galilei. Use the video above and / or use the Encyclopedia Britannia tool found on your HWB accounts (using HWB J2e5) to make notes.
Some key questions for your fact file.
- Who was Galileo?
- How did Galileo investigate gravity?
- What else is Galileo famous for?
Activity 2 – Investigation – Air Resistance
Resources:
- Two sheets of paper the same size
Method
- Screw up one of your sheets of paper into a tight ball. Leave the other one flat.
- Make a prediction about what will happen when you drop each piece of paper. Which one do you think will fall the fastest and why? Remember to write down your prediction.
- Hold the ball of paper in one hand and the flat sheet in the other hand. Hold both hands up high then release both pieces of paper at the same time. Which one hits the floor first? Why do you think this is? Was your prediction correct?
NOTE – Remember this needs to be a fair test.
- Make sure you drop each object from the same height.
- Repeat your experiment three times. Do you get the same result each time?
- If you were to change the height that you drop the object from does this change the result?
- If you changed the size of the paper you are using does it affect the result?
- Write a short conclusion for your experiment
Did your experiment with the two sheets of paper give you the same result as shown in the video? Watch the experiment on the link below after you made your prediction and did the experiment.
- What is air resistance?
- Does air resistance help something that is moving or does it slow something down?
Once you have completed the task you can email anything you create (photos, documents, screenshots etc.) directly to your teacher or directly upload it to any of the available places in Step 5.
Step 4: Look over the success criteria for this activity:
Success criteria #1: I can research a famous scientist.
Success criteria #2: I can present my findings.
Success criteria #3: I can complete a fair test / experiment.
Look at the learning intentions ‘how well do you think you have done?’
Step 5: Upload your work
Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas