LIFE IN MOTION

ACTIVITY #3 Gosh -- Gravity!

Approximate Time Required 90 min

Key Question
When dropped from the same height, which object of each pair will hit the ground first: an orange
vs. a baseball, or a large vs. a small marble?

Student Learning
In addition to the competencies listed in the next section, students will:
• predict which of a pair of objects of similar diameter but different masses will hit
the ground first, and will
• test their predictions.

Competencies
Science and Competency 2: To appreciate how human activities are influenced by the specific
Technology contributions of science and technology
• The student describes how science and technology are used in human activities relating
to a problem
• The student examines the impact of science and technology as it relates to the
problem
Competency 3: To propose acceptable explanations in appropriate scientific and
technological languages
• The student develops the ability to use ordinary language related to science and
technology when dealing with a problem

Cross- Competency 1: To use information

Curricular Competency 2: To solve problems
Competencies Competency 4: To be creative
Intellectual Competency 3: To work with others
Personal Socl

Areas of
Lifelong The student participates actively in his/her learnings with other members of his/her
Learning community
Social
Relationships

Links to Competency 3: The student views/ reads visual texts critically

other Sub.
Areas
Lang. Arts
Materials
Per class Per student Per group of students

Galileo story Journal Round objects of similar diameter, but different

Baseball, tennis ball, orange mass, e.g. tennis ball and an orange
or marbles

Constructivist Activity Steps

Role of Teacher Role of Student
Engage Read Galileo story just far enough to Listen to the story. Offer description of
show his ideas but do not read about his the
experimentation yet. Ask students who objects and prediction.
they think was right – Galileo or
Aristotle.
Have students touch and hold a tennis
ball and an orange to discuss their
attributes. Ask students to predict
which one of
these objects will hit the ground first
if dropped from the same height.
Individual Ask students to write down Write down your predictions in a journal.
predictions their predictions in a journal.
Group Ask students to work in groups to Share and formulate your group prediction.
predictions compare and discuss their individual
predictions.

Activity/Experi Suggest that students drop pairs of Drop pairs of objects from the same
ment objects from the same height to see height to see which hits the ground first.
which hits the ground first. Have Record which object hits the ground first.
them perform the activity a few times. Perform the activity a few times, possibly
using different pairs of objects of the
same diameter.
Group reports Allow discussion time to clarify results. Offer results to class to substantiate
Group discussion predictions. Explain why the predictions
why predictions were accurate or inaccurate.
were
accurate or
inaccurate

Short explanation Read the rest of the Galileo story. All objects Ask questions
 (except those with increased friction) fall to the
ground at the same rate due to the force of gravity;
gravity pulls all objects to earth at the same speed
Apply to a new If a low flying plane were to drop supplies to a Answer teacher question
situation disaster area, e.g. earthquake, one box of potatoes using knowledge gained in
and one identical box of blankets, which box reaches this activity.
the ground first?

Evaluation Ideas
• Write a cloze passage based on the activities carried out and the conclusions
reached, and have the students fill in the blanks using new knowledge gained from the
activities.
• Create a true and false statements sheet based on the activities carried out in the
class and ask students to answer the true/false questions.

Extensions
• To show that the force of gravity acts the same way on objects whether they are moving forward
or falling straight down, demonstrate for the class that two marbles of the same size, one dropped
from the edge of the table and the other flicked forward, both land at the same time. One marble
falls straight to the floor while the other has been propelled into the air. Listen to which marble
lands first.
• To demonstrate the different impacts made by different masses upon hitting the ground- two
marbles of different masses can be dropped into a pail of water and heavier marble will make larger
splash. Perform this activity from various heights.

Teacher Comments from Field Testing

The Galileo story is an excellent springboard for this activity. Try to influence the students
to believe that Galileo's ideas were really ridiculous. This leads for more interesting
discussions when students try to predict whose ideas are correct (Galileo vs. Aristotle).
Allow the students to suggest any classroom object that may be dropped to test the
theories. A ladder can be used to increase the heights if desired. Students were quite
curious to hear the end of the story.
Websites:
1. www.fourmilab.ch/gravitation/
2. www.phy.syr.edu
3. http://physicsweb.org/TIPTOP/
4. www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/Bboard.html
5. http://ericir.syr.edu
6. www.physlink.com
7. www.ksw.org.uk/departments/physics/TOP20Physics.html
8. www.particleadventure.org
9. http://library.thinkquest.org/16600
10. http://www.k12science.org