Air resistance: do and review
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can carry out an investigation into air resistance and evaluate results.
Key learning points
- Scientists often repeat tests in order to gather more information and make sure their results did not happen by chance.
- The findings from an investigation can be summarised in a conclusion.
- A greater surface area on a moving object can increase air resistance.
Keywords
Force - A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, change speed, change direction or change shape.
Air resistance - Air resistance is a type of frictional force that acts between the air and the surface of a moving object.
Fair test - A fair test is where only one thing is changed to see what effect that has on the results of the investigation.
Conclusion - In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.
Common misconception
Air resistance does not exist or it only works vertically.
Explicit teaching including diagrams and examples of air resistance working in all directions.
Teacher tip
This lesson links to the previous lesson (lesson 5), where pupils planned how they would find answers to the question: Does the area of a parachute canopy affect the time taken for the parachute to fall? See video to demonstrate aspects of working scientifically linked to the lesson's content.
Equipment
See additional materials for guidance.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Air resistance is a type of force.
Q2.Match the type of force to the example.
Q3.Scientists control all but variable in a fair test investigation.
Q4.What does air resistance do to moving objects?
Q5.Match whether engineers would want to maximise or minimise air resistance to the correct situation:
Q6.Which of these pictures shows the direction of air resistance correctly?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is not a reason that scientists repeat tests?
Q2.Match the part of the investigation write-up to the content you might find there.
Q3.The of an object is the total area taken up by all of its surfaces added together.
Q4.How does surface area affect air resistance on moving objects?
Q5.Why are aeroplanes designed to be long and thin?
Q6.Objects which are short and wide have surface areas compared to long thin shapes.
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Air resistance: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Air resistance: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Forces including simple machines unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.