Free fall
From Algodoo
Free fall
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Description: | What variables influence free fall? This lesson treats motion when there are no forces in contact with the object. |
| Target: | Key Stage 3 |
| Category: | Exercise, Laboratory |
| Discipline: | Static forces, Gravity, Motion |
| Learning objectives: |
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| In class: | Drop an object. Discuss what aspects that might influence the motion (mass, shape, falling height). Discuss everyday experiences such as falling leaves, feathers, rocks, parachutists. Collect sugges- tion from the students and list them on the whiteboard. Discuss possible causes of the falling motion, gravity, air drag.
'Discuss how this can be visualized and explored in Algodoo. Let the students create scenes in Algodoo using the suggestions you came up with together or let them use their own ideas. Help the students make decisions and ask guiding questions. Encourage the students to follow the procedure Create – Predict – Interact – evaluate. Allow the students to follow-up and share their experiences in class after the simulation. |
Steps in Algodoo
Create a scene
Create one plane to work as ground and one as a shelf from which objects can fall. Create a number of objects with different shapes and masses for comparison. Make a small light ball, a large heavy ball, assign different materials to the same shape. Make a large featherlight object likely to fall slowly. Let all the objects start from the shelf plane. Make sure that Air drag is turned off.
Make a prediction
Which object should come down first?
Run/interact
Remove the shelf plane, press Play, and watch the objects fall.
Evaluate
Which object fell to the ground first? Why? Compare velocities of the falling objects.
Revise scene
Turn on Air drag. Use the same objects as with the previous scene.
Evaluate
What does the slope of the graph mean?
Make a prediction
Which object will now come down first?
Run/interact
Remove the shelf plane, press Play, and watch the objects fall.
Evaluate
Are there differences in how the objects fall? Compare velocities of the falling objects.
