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Science Launch G5 / Week 05 / Launch Lab
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Week 05 · Gravity Pulls Down

Launch Lab

Launch Lab: Slow-fall challenge
// Earth pulls everything toward its center
⏱ about 15 min

Launch Lab: Slow-fall challenge

Rocket spreads paper, tape and string across the floor. "Today we fight gravity," he says. "Well, slow it down."

Raven holds up a paper clip. "Each team builds something that makes this clip fall as slowly as possible," she says.

Rocket already has three ideas and has started taping. Raven has drawn a plan first.

Nova floats near the ceiling as the judge. "Remember," she says. "Gravity always pulls down. Your job is to use the air."

  1. Earth's gravity pulls objects toward the planet's center, so down points to the center.
  2. The Moon's gravity is one sixth of Earth's.
  3. Air resistance slows flat, light objects as they fall.
  4. With no air, a hammer and a feather fall at the same rate.
◇ SLOW-FALL CHALLENGE
Each team gets one paper clip, one sheet of paper, tape and string.
Build something that slows the clip's fall, like a paper parachute.
A grown-up drops each design from the same height while standing on the floor.
Count seconds out loud until it lands.
Improve your design and try again.
For a grown-up
Ask: what did you notice? What would you change?
Do all drops yourself from standing height. Scissors, if used, are handled by you.
WEEK CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why does a paper parachute fall slowly?
Which way does gravity pull you right now?
The Moon's gravity is one ____ of Earth's.
Air ____ slows flat, light objects as they fall.
Something weighs 24 pounds on Earth. About how much on the Moon? Type a number.
WHY THIS EXERCISE24 divided by 6 is 4.

Great building and thinking. Next week we will discover where a giant tree gets its material.

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