This week in Science we investigated the concepts of air resistance and gravity. We learned that gravity is the force that exists between any two objects that have mass. Weight is a measure of the force of gravity pulling on an object. So, first we wanted to investigate did that mean heavier objects fall faster?
Just like Galileo did in 1590 we tested dropping two objects of different weights simultaneously. They both hit the ground at the same time! Heavier objects do not fall faster than light objects. Galileo determined that gravity accelerates all objects at the same rate, regardless of their mass or composition.
The next experiment we did looked at air resistance. We dropped two pieces of paper-one scrunched up and one flat. The scrunched up one fell first due to having less air resistance.So, regardless of weight, the more resistance/friction an object has, the slower the fall.
To complete our lesson we each got to design our own parachutes using tissue paper , string and a spool of thread. We looked at changing one variable -the weight or shape and investigated how these variables affected its fall to the ground.
It was a very interesting and enjoyable STEM lesson.
