Gravity - Teacher Explanation

Welcome to lesson 5.1 on Gravity, which is part of the Year 5 Forces Unit. In this lesson, pupils will explore the concept that objects fall towards the Earth due to the force of gravity. It is important to remember health and safety considerations during the activities; pupils should not stand on chairs or desks, and any spills from working with liquids must be cleaned up to prevent slipping. Additionally, when handling heavy objects, care must be taken to avoid dropping them on feet. The lesson also offers cross-curricular opportunities, such as researching Galileo's historical experiments with gravity and incorporating ICT to investigate gravitational constants on different planets. Mathematics skills are also integrated, with activities involving unit conversions and graphing experimental results.

The teacher demonstration, "gravity-defying water," is designed to provoke discussion and surprise while revisiting the concepts of balanced and unbalanced forces. The demonstration requires water, a bowl, a drinking glass, and a piece of card, and it illustrates how air pressure can counteract the force of gravity. Another activity challenges the common misconception from antiquity that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones. Pupils will perform an experiment similar to Galileo's, using various balls and pieces of paper to observe that gravity is constant and all objects fall at the same rate, barring air resistance. Finally, an activity distinguishing mass from weight involves measuring successive quantities of water and using force meters to demonstrate the gravitational constant on Earth. Through these engaging activities, pupils will gain a deeper understanding of gravity and its effects on different objects.