Resource Guide
CONCEPT FOCUS:
Galileo in Space: Gravity Beyond Earth
Through a reenactment of Galileo’s gravity experiment and a video exploration of how gravity acts in space, students compare gravitational effects on Earth and beyond.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcome 8
How do things move?
6.8.1
I can investigate, through simple experimentation, the effect of gravity, as a force which pulls things to the Earth.
6.8.2
I can show that air resistance exerts an opposing force to a moving object.
6.8.3
I can demonstrate the effect of air resistance on differently shaped objects.
6.8.4
I can apply principles of gravity and air resistance to everyday life.
6.8.5
I can research about scientists who have worked on gravitational theories e.g. Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton.
Resources provided
- Presentation containing short videos on gravity in Space
- Worksheets with prediction charts and gravity comparison tables
Suggested Activities
- Start the lesson by showing students a short video showing astronauts demonstrating weightlessness on the ISS. A second clip also will show astronauts jumping on the moon.
- Engage the students in a discussion. Ask:
- Why do they float?
- What’s the difference between space and Earth?
- Introduce Galileo and how his experiment helped us understand gravity.
- Carry out the ‘Galileo’s Drop Test’ activity with the class. Drop two objects (e.g. a tennis ball and a heavy ball of the same size) from a high place, such as a chair or table. Ask the students to predict which one will hit the ground first. Then test a flat sheet of paper vs a crumpled one to explore air resistance. Each time making predictions before testing it. Explain the importance of making predictions and testing them through the scientific method.
- While carrying out the activity, ask students to record their predictions and results on the worksheet.
- The rest of the worksheet asks students to make predictions if the experiment were repeated on other planets. This can either be completed in class as a group activity, or else assigned to the students to complete at home as homework.
Tip #1: Depending on the size of the class it may be useful to split into groups. Within each group it may be helpful assign roles during the experiments as follows:
- Equipment Managers: Carry the balls and papers that will be used in the experiment and carry out the experiment when instructed.
- Observers: Students assigned to make their observation as to which item landed first.
- Recorders: Students assigned to write down what the observers agree landed first.
- Presenter: Explains again the experiment to the class before starting it, and counts down the seconds for the objects to be dropped at the same time.
Tip #2: Completing all the activities and worksheet sections within a 40-minute lesson may be challenging. It is therefore suggested to focus mainly on Part 1 and selected questions from Part 2 during class time, while using Part 3 as homework or extension work.
Cross-curricular links
- Mathematics:
- Data Handling and Comparison: Recording predictions and test outcomes in tables.
- English:
- Scientific Explanation Writing: Describing observations and drawing conclusions.
- History:
- Scientists and Discoveries: Contextualising Galileo’s contributions.