Curriculum

Strand :   Energy and Forces

The child should be enabled to:

* investigate falling objects    (SESE Science Curriculum , p. 65)

* become aware that objects have weight because of the pull of gravity  
              (SESE Science Curriculum, p. 87)

* explore the effect of friction on movement and how it may be used to slow or stop moving  objects, e.g. a falling object by a parachute   (SESE Science Curriculum, p. 87)

“All objects attract one another.   The force of attraction which an object exerts is in proportion to its mass.   The Earth has a large mass, and so the force of attraction between it and other objects is big, and this force pulls objects to the Earth.   This force is called the ‘weight’ of an object.   The weight of an object is a measure of how much the Earth pulls on it.” (SESE Teacher Guidelines p. 110)

“Objects that move through the air experience the frictional force of the air, which acts in the opposite direction to their movement.   Air resistance acts against gravity on falling objects.   As the speed of the falling object increases, the air resistance increases”.   (SESE Teachers’ Guidelines, p. 110)

This unit has some links with the Geography curriculum especially in relation to the sections on the Solar System;   and also with the History curriculum in the section on ‘Gravity and Famous Scientists’, and also with regard to the history of space travel.

A small number of mathematical calculations are involved.

Geography        -   The Universe

                         -   Scientists from around the world