Parachutes and Air Resistance
Initial Publication Date: June 22, 2011
Summary
In this investigation, students will learn a parachute falls slowly because the air pushes against it. That air resistance slows down the falling parachute.
CollapseLearning Goals
Vocabulary:
-Parachute
-Air resistance
This activity is designed for students to construct and observe parachutes dropping through the air. They think about how air slows the descent of the parachute. They will use a variety of materials to use as their parachutes. They will graph their results. They will be doing observations, creating/building of the parachute and measuring time it takes the parachutes to descends.
Key concepts:
Air is all around objects, motionless or falling.
Air resistance slows the fall of objects.
-Parachute
-Air resistance
This activity is designed for students to construct and observe parachutes dropping through the air. They think about how air slows the descent of the parachute. They will use a variety of materials to use as their parachutes. They will graph their results. They will be doing observations, creating/building of the parachute and measuring time it takes the parachutes to descends.
Key concepts:
Air is all around objects, motionless or falling.
Air resistance slows the fall of objects.
Context for Use
First Grade
20-24 students in the class
Elementary school
Guided inquiry and hands-on activity
20-24 students in the class
Elementary school
Guided inquiry and hands-on activity
Materials provided in the FOSS kits:
-Stop watches
-Graph paper
-Variety of materials to make parachutes i.e.: plastic bags, newspaper fabric.
Description and Teaching Materials
FOSS Science Kit for Air and Weather.
Investigation 1 part 3.
The students will have the opportunity to create parachutes. They will be provided a variety of materials, not included in the science kits (teacher provided materials).
Investigation 1 part 3.
The students will have the opportunity to create parachutes. They will be provided a variety of materials, not included in the science kits (teacher provided materials).
Teaching Notes and Tips
Discuss science safety, find a wide variety of materials for the groups to experiment with. Students should know that air interacts with objects and that air can be captured.
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Assessment
Student journals, show where the air is around the parachute and write about why the parachute moves or doesn't move slowly to the ground.
Standards
First grade
1.1.b.1
1.2.e.2
1.1.b.1
1.2.e.2