PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson

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published by the Physics Education Technology Project
content provider: the UTeach - University of Texas

This lesson plan was crafted by PhET teacher-fellows specifically to accompany the simulation Projectile Motion. It is quite comprehensive, providing both teacher and learner with appropriate support to learn about projectile motion with or without air resistance. It contains scripted teacher discussion, background information, explanations of fluid properties of air and coefficient of drag, common misconceptions, and modifiable worksheets.

See Related Materials for a link to the Projectile Motion simulation, which must be running to complete this activity.

Editor's Note: Allow two class periods. Appropriate for Grades 8-9, but may be easily adapted to a course in Physics First or Conceptual Physics.

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Applications of Newton's Laws - Motion in Two Dimensions = Projectile Motion - Newton's Second Law = Force, Acceleration - Newton's Third Law = Action/Reaction Fluid Mechanics - Statics of Fluids = Atmospheric Pressure Other Sciences - Mathematics	- Middle School - High School	- Instructional Material = Activity = Instructor Guide/Manual = Interactive Simulation = Lesson/Lesson Plan = Problem/Problem Set

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics	- Lesson Plan - Activity - Assessment - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Educator
Learner
Formats:: application/pdf
application/ms-word
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2012 PHET; University of Colorado
Additional information is available.
Keywords:: 2d motion, acceleration, ballistic motion, drag, drag coefficient, gravity, interactive multimedia, kinematics, projectile motion
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created September 13, 2012 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: September 20, 2012 by Caroline Hall
Last Update when Cataloged:: June 22, 2012

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion

6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.
9-12: 4F/H1. The change in motion (direction or speed) of an object is proportional to the applied force and inversely proportional to the mass.
9-12: 4F/H4. Whenever one thing exerts a force on another, an equal amount of force is exerted back on it.
9-12: 4F/H8. Any object maintains a constant speed and direction of motion unless an unbalanced outside force acts on it.

9. The Mathematical World

9B. Symbolic Relationships

6-8: 9B/M2. Rates of change can be computed from differences in magnitudes and vice versa.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

6-8: 11B/M1. Models are often used to think about processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small a scale to observe directly. They are also used for processes that are too vast, too complex, or too dangerous to study.
9-12: 11B/H1a. A mathematical model uses rules and relationships to describe and predict objects and events in the real world.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Alignments

Standards for Mathematical Practice (K-12)

MP.4 Model with mathematics.

Expressions and Equations (6-8)

Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables. (6)

6.EE.9 Use variables to represent two quantities in a real-world problem that change in relationship to one another; write an equation to express one quantity, thought of as the dependent variable, in terms of the other quantity, thought of as the independent variable. Analyze the relationship between the dependent and independent variables using graphs and tables, and relate these to the equation.

Functions (8)

Define, evaluate, and compare functions. (8)

8.F.2 Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions).

Common Core State Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6—12

Text Types and Purposes (6-12)

1. Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content. (WHST.6-8.1)

Production and Distribution of Writing (6-12)

WHST.6-8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Motion in More Than One Dimension

An excellent two-day lesson to accompany the PhET simulation Projectile Motion (see Activities below). It was crafted by educators to provide robust support to both teachers and learners on projectile motion with and without air resistance. You will find scripted teacher discussion, explanations of fluid properties of air, and modifiable worksheets. Created for middle school, but can be easily adapted to Physics First or Physics Prep courses.

Link to Unit:

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<a href="http://www.thephysicsfront.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=12408">UTeach - University of Texas. PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson. Boulder: Physics Education Technology Project, June 22, 2012.</a>

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PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson (Physics Education Technology Project, Boulder, 2012), WWW Document, (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542).

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PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson (Physics Education Technology Project, Boulder, 2012), <http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542>.

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PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson. (2012, June 22). Retrieved May 23, 2013, from Physics Education Technology Project: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542

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UTeach - University of Texas. PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson. Boulder: Physics Education Technology Project, June 22, 2012. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542 (accessed 23 May 2013).

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PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson. Boulder: Physics Education Technology Project, 2012. 22 June 2012. UTeach - University of Texas. 23 May 2013 <http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542>.

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@misc{ Title = {PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson}, Publisher = {Physics Education Technology Project}, Volume = {2013}, Number = {23 May 2013}, Month = {June 22, 2012}, Year = {2012} }

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%T PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson
%D June 22, 2012
%I Physics Education Technology Project
%C Boulder
%U http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542
%O application/pdf

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%0 Electronic Source
%D June 22, 2012
%T PhET Teacher Activities: Air Resistance Lesson
%I Physics Education Technology Project
%V 2013
%N 23 May 2013
%8 June 22, 2012
%9 application/pdf
%U http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3542

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