KnowledgeMadeFun, home

Lesson · Grade 2 · Science

Air Resistance: Why a Flat Sheet Falls Slower

  • Grade 2
  • Science
  • 1 min 3 s
  • British Columbia
  • BC2-SC-10

Two sheets of the same paper are dropped together, one flat and one crumpled into a ball, and the ball lands first while the flat sheet flutters down. A labelled diagram then builds up one step at a time: gravity pulls both down the same, air resistance pushes up, and the wide sheet hits lots of air so it falls slowly, while the small ball hits less air and falls faster.

Concept: Air resistance: why shape changes how things fall

Anyone can watch two lessons on the website without an account. Signing in is free, no payment and no card, and opens three a day; Plus has no limit.

Loading

Share to Google Classroom

In one sentence

The question this lesson answers

Here are two sheets of paper, just the same.

Keep one sheet flat. Crumple the other into a ball.

Transcript

What the lesson says

Here are two sheets of paper, just the same.

Keep one sheet flat. Crumple the other into a ball.

If we drop them together, which lands first?

Ready? Let's drop them both together.

The ball landed first! The flat sheet fluttered down slowly.

Why? Let's look at them while they fall.

Gravity pulls both of them down, just the same.

Air pushes up on them as they fall.

This push from the air is called air resistance.

The wide flat sheet hits lots of air.

Lots of air pushes up, so it falls slowly.

The small ball hits much less air.

Less air pushes up, so it falls faster.

Flat paper catches more air, so it falls slower.

Curriculum

Where this fits

British Columbia, Grade 2

Science, Physics: types of forcesBC2-SC-10

Previous: Forces That Work Without TouchingNext: Sliding on Ice, Carpet and Sand

The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.

Keep going

More on this topic