New
New
Year 5

Introduction to gravity

I can explain why unsupported objects fall towards Earth.

New
New
Year 5

Introduction to gravity

I can explain why unsupported objects fall towards Earth.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Gravity is an invisible pulling force that makes unsupported objects fall towards Earth.
  2. Scientists in the past have helped us to understand and learn more about gravity.

Common misconception

Heavy objects fall faster than light objects.

The activity of dropping two plastic bottles (one filled and one half-filled with water) will help children see what happens.

Keywords

  • Earth - Earth is the planet that we live on.

  • Force - A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, slow down, change direction or change shape.

  • Pull - A pull is force that brings an object closer.

  • Gravity - Gravity is the force that attracts objects to Earth.

  • Unsupported - If something is unsupported, it is not held up by anything.

Encourage children to notice how important science is to their lives by highlighting how many of our daily experiences depend on gravity.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Plastic bottles - at least 2 of each type. See additional materials for further information.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What are pushes and pulls types of?
Correct Answer: forces, force, Forces, Force
Q2.
Match the force to the way it acts.
Correct Answer:Contact forces,Act between objects that are touching each other.

Act between objects that are touching each other.

Correct Answer:Non-contact forces,Act between objects that are not touching each other.

Act between objects that are not touching each other.

Correct Answer:Forces,Pushes and pulls that make things move or change direction.

Pushes and pulls that make things move or change direction.

Q3.
Are all metals magnetic?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: no, No, NO
Q4.
Which of these images show pull forces?
Correct answer: plucking a guitar
Correct answer: brushing hair
ringing a doorbell
using scissors
Q5.
Magnetic force can work at a distance, so it is a is a force.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: non-contact, non contact
Q6.
Which of these things can forces do?
make something change mass
Correct answer: make something stop moving
Correct answer: make something start moving
Correct answer: make something change direction
Q5 UYSEG

6 Questions

Q1.
According to stories, which type of falling fruit helped Isaac Newton understand gravity?
An image in a quiz
orange
pineapple
Correct answer: apple
melon
Q2.
is a pulling force that makes unsupported objects fall towards Earth.
Correct Answer: Gravity, gravity
Q3.
Which of these scientists did not help us learn about gravity?
Isaac Newton
Aristotle
Galileo Galilei
Correct answer: Charles Darwin
Q4.
Do all objects have gravitational pull?
Correct Answer: yes, Yes
Q5.
Big objects have a gravitational pull than small objects.
Correct Answer: stronger, greater , larger, bigger
Q6.
Which of these statements explains what Galileo discovered about gravity?
Correct answer: Objects of the same shape, but different mass fall at the same rate.
Objects of the same mass, but different shape fall at the same rate.
All objects fall at the same rate.

Additional material

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