Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 5 Science Guides

Year 5 - Science

Air resistance: do and review

Forces including simple machines

Unit Summary

This unit covers the effects of gravity, air resistance, water resistance, and friction on objects. It explores how mechanisms like levers, pulleys, and gears magnify forces. Emphasis is on taking precise measurements, recording complex data, and presenting findings.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to carry out an investigation into air resistance and evaluate results.

Key Notes

  • Scientists often repeat tests in order to gather more information and make sure their results did not happen by chance.
  • The findings from an investigation can be summarised in a conclusion.
  • A greater surface area on a moving object can increase air resistance.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • force: A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, change speed, change direction or change shape.
  • air resistance: Air resistance is a type of frictional force that acts between the air and the surface of a moving object.
  • fair test: A fair test is where only one thing is changed to see what effect that has on the results of the investigation.
  • conclusion: In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Air resistance does not exist or it only works vertically.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Scientists often repeat tests in order to gather more information and make sure their results did not happen by chance. The findings from an investigation can be summarised in a conclusion.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'force'

A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, change speed, change direction or change shape. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Air resistance does not exist or it only works vertically. Correction: Explicit teaching including diagrams and examples of air resistance working in all directions.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 5 Science guide library.