Air Resistance and Falling Objects
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Objective
I can design and conduct an experiment to determine the effect of air resistance on a falling object.
Part 1 of 4
Warm-up video
Mark Rober · 9:49Vetted channel
We don't generate video — this one is by Mark Rober on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 4
Key concepts
3 concepts
- 1
Potential energy is the energy associated with height, while kinetic energy is the energy of speed.
- 2
Adding a parachute to your egg drop contraption increases air resistance, which reduces the speed of the fall and the impact force on the egg.
- 3
To protect an egg, you can either reduce the speed at impact or spread out the impact event over a longer period of time.
Part 3 of 4
Practice
12 questions
What two factors determine an object's potential energy before it is dropped?
As an egg falls, potential energy is converted into what type of energy?
Part 4 of 4
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Design an experiment to test how the size of a parachute affects the speed of a falling object. Describe the materials you would use, the steps you would take, and what measurements you would record.”
Sample answer included in the free materials
Get the materials
Teacher guide, student handout, and slides — free, in Google Docs format
Teacher Guide
Complete lesson plan with answer keys and alternate activities
Student Handout
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