Thursday 10 May 2012

Science - air resistance

Here you are finding out about air resistance with Mr Walls. 









What did this investigation tell you?

Here is a game you might like to play from Motorsport Mathematics

7 comments:

  1. We have also done this test in Year 5 as part of an investigation to prove that air exists. Not only did the children enjoy doing it, it also gave them some concrete proof that air does exist. I'm interested to find out what you discovered from the test.

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    1. thank you for leaving a coment on
      awere year 4 blog the expermant
      were too see if awerer para shoot
      were going too slow down if it
      was heavy
      or if it was lighter it would
      make it go slower.
      we
      found out the heaver the fasster it would
      go down.

      from ela logan joshua and chloe

      xxx

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  2. It was great because I liked it espectually with the making the parashoits

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  3. well done by Bailey

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  4. It was really fun doing it it was great I wish we could do it again. by abbie

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  5. Hello Year 4,

    Your air resistance experiments look brilliant. When a larger surface area is exposed to quickly flowing air, the pressure of the air on a surface can hold it back. You have probably all been in strong wind and felt it pushing you backwards as you try to go forward.

    When designing cars, aeroplanes, trucks, and trains, wind resistance is looked at. They look at the way air flows over the surfaces, the aerodynamics of the shape. Cars with rounded surfaces, low heights and little sticking out allow air to pass more freely so they are more fuel efficient.

    I can remember watching people when I was in Hawaii. We were on a high cliff face where wind had swept across the Pacific Ocean having last touched the US mainland. Smaller people were holding on to rails pulling themselves up to the lookout then hanging on to prevent being blown backwards. I did see one person start to be pushed back but her friends helped her. In my case, I walked up to the lookout without needing to hang on to the rails.

    Think of the science in this. The heavier, stronger body can make its way through heavier winds than the lighter, weaker body. From your photos, it looks as though you were matching people who could run at about the same speed. The cardboard would then act against one runner making it more difficult for them to run. Going back to my Hawaii example, if I had to hold a large board in front of me, I would probably have been pushed back as well.

    Did you know all objects drop at the same speed when released?

    A feather and a hammer will drop together yet, when we try it, the feather takes longer to hit the ground. When the experiment was attempted by astronauts of the Moon, they did fall together.

    Thinking about your experiment, can you explain this?

    @RossMannell
    Teacher, NSW, Australia

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  6. well done all of you me and luke c are nearly the same speed i am a littel bit faster by Davey.

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