Falling Paper 

Material: 

Several pieces of paper

8 X 11 inches

A book approximately the size of the paper

  

 

Future Quicktime Movie and photos of the demo to go here!

Procedure:

Crumble up one of the pieces of paper into a ball. Hold the ball of paper and a sheet of paper out and drop these simultaneously asking students to observe which will hit the ground first. Next, challenge the students to devise away in which they can have each piece of paper hit the ground at the same time without altering either piece of paper. Place the flat sheet of paper on top of a book and drop.

Questions:

Why do the objects fall at different rates?

Why does the flat paper ìfloatî to the ground?

How could you make it move faster?

What role does the book play?

 

Rationale:

The book acts as a barrier to the air. It diminishes the air resistance against the paper directly. It is the air resistance that is causing the flat piece of paper to ìfloatî to the ground.

 

Application: 

Air resistance

Physical Menu

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