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Year 5 - Science

Water resistance: plan

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 plan an investigation to identify the effects of water resistance.

Key Notes

  • Water Resistance is a force which acts to slow down or stop objects that are moving through liquid.
  • Water resistance acts in the opposite direction to a moving object.
  • Scientists ask questions about water resistance to help them to find out more about it.
  • Scientists control variables and plan tests to investigate water resistance.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • force: A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects change speed, change direction or change shape.
  • water resistance: Water resistance is a type of friction force which acts between a liquid and the surface of an object.
  • comparative test investigation: In a comparative test, the thing that is being changed has labels, such as the types of materials.
  • variables: A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • All objects experience the same amount of water resistance, regardless of their size or shape.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Water Resistance is a force which acts to slow down or stop objects that are moving through liquid. Water resistance acts in the opposite direction to a moving object.

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

A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects 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: All objects experience the same amount of water resistance, regardless of their size or shape. Correction: Discussion and explicit teaching. The investigation they plan will, in the next lesson, show them that this is not true.

More Lessons In This Unit

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