Air Resistance - Results Tables is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

<p>Exploring the intricacies of physics, a series of experiments have been conducted to investigate the factors affecting the rate of descent and air resistance of various objects. One such experiment questions if the mass of an object influences how quickly it falls. To gather data, paperclips are dropped, and their descent is timed over three attempts, with an average time calculated to ensure accuracy. This methodical approach is replicated across different scenarios to understand the underlying principles of gravity and air resistance.</p>

<p>Further experiments delve into the impact of design on flight dynamics. The size of a helicopter's rotor is scrutinised to see if it alters the rate of descent. Similarly, the shape of an object is put to the test under two conditions: with and without the influence of wind, generated by a hairdryer, to gauge its effect on air resistance. Straw rockets provide another dimension to the study, as variations in the shape of the nose and the number of fins are examined to determine their effect on travel distance. Each trial is meticulously recorded, with multiple attempts made to ensure a reliable average distance is obtained, painting a comprehensive picture of how design elements can influence an object's interaction with air resistance.</p>

Air Resistance - Lesson Plan is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

Air Resistance - Lesson Plan

Air Resistance - Teacher Explanation is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

Teacher Explanation

Air Resistance - Teacher Explanation

Air Resistance - Helicopter Template is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

Helicopter Template

Air Resistance - Helicopter Template

Air Resistance - Presentation is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

Air Resistance - Presentation

Air Resistance - Objectives Labels is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

Objectives Labels

Air Resistance - Objectives Labels

Air Resistance - Self Assessment is part of the lesson Air Resistance    Students will learn about air resistance as part of their learning about forces, as specified by the national curriculum in England: science programmes of study.

Self Assessment

Air Resistance - Self Assessment

<p>In this lesson, students will learn about the effects of air resistance. The objectives are to explain air resistance as a type of friction, describe the effects of air resistance, and suggest ways of increasing or decreasing air resistance. This lesson aligns with the Year 5 curriculum of identifying the effects of air resistance, water resistance, and friction in forces. </p> <h2>Previous Learning</h2> <p>Students in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) are not required to learn about forces, although they may have learned that parachutes slow down the speed of falling. In Key Stage 2 (KS2), Year 3 students learn about forces and magnets and how things move on different surfaces, and Year 5 students learn about forces in more detail.</p> <h2>Cross-Curricular Links</h2> <ul> <li>Design and Technology: Students will make helicopters and rockets.</li> <li>Art: Students can color and decorate their rockets.</li> <li>Mathematics: Students can create graphs of their experimental results.</li> <li>History: Students can write a report on the use of paratroopers in World War 2.</li> </ul> <h2>Misconceptions and Corrections</h2> <ul> <li>Misconception: Air resistance is not friction. Correction: Air resistance is a type of friction where the particles of an object strike air particles as it moves through air.</li> <li>Misconception: There is air resistance in space. Correction: No air particles exist in space, so there is no air resistance.</li> <li>Misconception: Fins on rockets reduce air resistance. Correction: By themselves, fins do not reduce air resistance, but they stabilize the rocket, and an unstable rocket will exhibit greater air resistance.</li> </ul> <h2>Important Lesson Guidance</h2> <p>Teachers should ensure that students have the necessary equipment for the lesson, including balloons from a previous lesson and hairdryers from home. The eggs used in the activity should not be cooked.</p> <h2>Activity: Save the Egg!</h2> <p>In this activity, the whole class will participate in a teacher demonstration. Students will observe the differences in descent speed between three different sized parachutes made from bin bags and string, with an egg in a resealable bag as the payload. The larger the surface area of the parachute, the slower the descent and the greater the air resistance.</p> <h2>Science Explained</h2> <p>Air resistance is a frictional force that slows objects as they move through the air. It acts in the opposite direction to the opposing force, in this case, gravity. The surface area of the object moving through the air affects the amount of air resistance it experiences. In the Save the Egg activity, students will see that the large parachute descends slower and helps keep the egg intact upon landing.</p> <h2>Possible Questions</h2> <ul> <li>Why does the large parachute descend more slowly?</li> <li>What type of force is air resistance?</li> <li>Is air resistance useful

Air Resistance

Science

Year 5

Forces

Air Resistance - Results Tables

Pzaz is a specialist, primary science provider, with schemes written for the non-specialist primary teacher. Created by a science education expert, Pzaz covers every statement of the National Curriculum for Reception to Year 6.

Air Resistance - Results Tables

Science Resource Description