Chain Reaction

Building Blocks Students will gain:
– An understanding of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and a falling object
– The ability to identify the effects of air resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces
– The ability to recognise that some mechanisms including levers, pulleys and gears allow a smaller force to have a greater effect

Curriculum Links Students will be working scientifically to:
– Pay attention to objectivity and concern for accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility
– Evaluate risks
– Ask questions and develop a line of enquiry based on observations of the real world, alongside prior knowledge and experience
– Make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding
– Present reasoned explanations, including explaining data in relation to predictions and hypotheses
– Evaluate data, showing awareness of potential sources of error identify further questions arising from results

PHYSICS
– Energy changes and transfers
– Simple machines give bigger force but at the expense of smaller movement (and vice versa): product of force and displacement unchanged
– Other processes that involve energy transfer: changing motion, dropping an object, stretching a spring.
– Using physical processes and mechanisms, rather than energy, to explain the intermediate steps that bring about such changes
– Forces as pushes or pulls, arising from the interaction between 2 objects
forces: associated with deforming objects; stretching and squashing – springs; with rubbing and friction between surfaces, with pushing things out of the way; resistance to motion of air
– Non-contact forces: gravity forces acting at a distance on Earth
– Opposing forces and equilibrium: weight held by stretched spring or supported on a compressed surface
– Forces being needed to cause objects to stop or start moving, or to change their speed or direction of motion

Beyond the curriculum Students will have the opportunity to:
– Understand the importance of teamwork, inclusivity, and listening to others opinions and ideas