Forces: Video playlist

A cyclist is used as an example to explain what air resistance is. Drag is mentioned. Two ways to reduce air resistance are stated: reducing the area in contact with air (by the cyclist ducking down or cycling behind someone else) and by being more streamlined (wearing smoother surfaces or a more streamlined helmet).

Students could investigate the force of gravity and the opposing force of air resistance by measuring how fast different objects fall to the ground, e.g. two pieces of A4 paper, one crumpled into a ball and one flat. Students could go on to make paper aeroplanes to explore which shape is the most streamlined and which has the most air resistance. Challenge students to investigate how a natural adaptation to air resistance by animals has been adopted by humans to improve the efficiency of an object or system. The shape of bike helmets or aeroplanes could be explored as a case study for instance, and then presented to the class.