Free 12th Grade The Free Fall Lesson Plan (Science)

Topic: Motion in one dimension by constant acceleration

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe the characteristics of a free fall and explain why a body falls with a constant acceleration in a vacuum.

Materials

• Chart of different objects falling in a vacuum chamber
• Calculator
• Pencil#_ note-_-

Warm-up

• Ask students to describe the process of falling in terms of the different phases that a body goes through during the process.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of free fall, which is when a body is falling under the influence of only the force of gravity and is not affected by any other forces.
• Explain that the equation for free fall, , can be derived from the concept of constant acceleration.
• Show that if the acceleration, , of a body is constant, then the velocity, , of the body will also be constant.
• Using the equations for distance and time, show that the body will fall a distance, , proportional to the time, .
• Since the body falls the same distance in the same time regardless of the starting height, it will reach the ground at the same time regardless of the starting height.

Guided Practice

• Have students apply the concept of free fall to a specific scenario, such as a skydiver falling with a constant acceleration due to gravity.
• Have students work in pairs to solve problems involving constant acceleration in one dimension.
• Assist students as needed and encourage them to apply the concept of free fall to solve the problem.
• Example problems could include:
• A car accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds
• A space ship falling from a height of 1000 km with a constant acceleration due to gravity

Independent Practice

• Have students complete a worksheet or problem set involving constant acceleration in one dimension.
• Students should solve the problems using the concept of free fall to determine the velocity and acceleration of an object in free fall.
• Encourage students to check their work and discuss their solutions with their peers.

Closure

• Review the concept of free fall and constant acceleration in one dimension.
• Have students share any difficulties they encountered in the independent practice and how they were able to resolve them.
• Remind students of the importance of understanding the concept of free fall and constant acceleration in one dimension for the study of physics.

Assessment

• Observe students during the guided and independent practice to ensure they are understanding the concept of free fall and constant acceleration in one dimension.
• Evaluate students’ presentations or written reports on their independent practice project for their ability to demonstrate understanding of the concept of free fall and constant acceleration in one dimension.