Streamlining
I can explain how streamlining reduces drag.
Streamlining
I can explain how streamlining reduces drag.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Streamlining reduces drag.
- Streamlining reduces how much a fluid needs to be pushed out of the way for an object to move through it.
- The drag force on an object moving through a fluid (liquid or gas) increases with speed.
- Streamlining can increase the top speed of a vehicle.
Keywords
Drag - When an object moves through a liquid or a gas (a fluid), a drag force acts on it as it pushes particles out of its way.
Air resistance - The drag force on an object moving through air is called air resistance.
Streamlined - A streamlined object is shaped to reduce the drag forces acting on it.
Water resistance - The drag force on an object moving through water is called water resistance.
Common misconception
Pupils often do not recognise the existence of a drag force on an object moving through air.
Demonstrate the effect of drag forces by dropping pieces or paper (folded and unfolded) and show they reach the ground at different times.
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Streamlining, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Streamlining, 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Moving by force unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is used to mean the overall effect of a combination of forces, taking their direction into account?
Q2.Air resistance is an example of what kind of force?
Q3.When a resultant force acts on an object it can speed up or slow down. What word is used to describe an increase in speed?
Q4.The figure shows the forces on a van. What is happening to the van?
Q5.A person pulls on a stationary box. It starts moving towards them. Which statement is correct.
Q6.Which of these are parts of Newton's first law of motion? When there is no resultant force ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the key words with the explanations.
The force that acts when an object moves through a fluid.
The drag force in air.
The drag force in water.
Shaped so that it moves through liquids/gases more easily.
Q2.A car is travelling at high speed and opens a parachute. Which force increases when the parachute is opened?
Q3.Which features of a rocket-propelled car will allow it to reach a very high speed?
Q4.A sky diver jumps out of an aeroplane and speeds up until they reach a top speed. Which statements are true?
Q5.Four identical marbles are dropped from the same height into containers of different fluids. Starting with the shortest time, put them into order of how long it takes them to reach the bottom.
