What makes a parachute slow down?

Objective:

    Student will be able to understand how air resistance affects speed.

Indiana Science Standards Addressed:

5.3.13 Demonstrate that Earth's gravity pulls any object toward it without touching it.

Materials:

• 4 pieces of string 45 cm (18"),

• 4 adhesive dots ( or tape)

• 2 jumbo paper clips                              

• 1 paper napkin                                            

• Prediction sheet for students

• paper and pencil per student

Estimated Time:

    This demonstration activity will take approximately 45 min. to an hour.

Procedure:

1. As a teacher make a parachute on your parachut to complete the demonstration. You will fasten the four pieces of string to the corners of the napkin using the adhesive dots. Tie the four strings together. Attach one paper clip as a passenger. If it is possible ad your school and state will allow it, you can use a firework with parachutes in it.

2. Now you will begin the lesson.

3. Pass out the prdiction sheets, and ask stuent to fill out ides of what can affect objects that fly in the air, while they ar flying or as they ar falling to the ground.

4. Use a ladder to get to higher point or stand on a desk. Drop several objects from this high point and tell students to observe the speed.

5. Then drop the parachut and a feather and tell student to observe the differnence in speed from the other objects, if you are using the fireworks take those outside and have students obsserve the difference, like in the homeade parachut.

6. Tell student about air resistance and how it affect things.

7. Pair the students up into groups of two and have them generate a list of other thing that air resistance affects.

Rationale:

    This lesson wil help students understand what things in nature can affect the speed of an object.

Week 1