Engage students by discussing the thrilling experience of skydivers and how they are pulled towards the Earth. Ask students to guess what force is responsible for this pull.
Go to the LessonLearning Objectives
- Understand that gravitational force is the force that pulls objects toward the Earth.
- Recognize that the strength of gravitational force is influenced by an object's mass.
- Explain that the distance between objects affects the strength of gravitational force.
- Describe how gravity keeps objects on the Earth's surface.
Introduction and Hook
Direct Instruction
Introduce the concept of gravitational force, explaining how it pulls objects towards the Earth and is influenced by mass and distance.
Guided Exploration
Facilitate a discussion on how gravity keeps objects on the Earth's surface and how it varies with mass and distance.
Hands-On Activity
Conduct an experiment where students drop various objects to observe gravitational pull and discuss their observations.
Independent Practice
Assign students to explore gravitational force by observing objects in their environment and noting how gravity affects them.
Check for Understanding
Engage students in a class discussion to share their observations and reinforce their understanding of gravitational force.
Review and Reflection
Review the key concepts of gravitational force, mass, and distance. Encourage students to reflect on how these concepts apply to real-world scenarios.
Assessment and Extension
Use the 'Gravity and Air Resistance' assessment to evaluate students' understanding by having them design and test parachutes, analyzing the impact on motion.
Encourage students to take the quiz to assess their comprehension of gravitational force concepts.
Try the Quiz