Gravity Gaps Slides
Gravity Gaps
Why do things fall?
Science Lab • 3rd-4th Grade
The Great Debate
"Do heavy things fall faster than light things?"
👍
YES
👎
NO
Raise your hand to vote!
Meet Isaac Newton
The scientist who changed how we look at the world.
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Think: What is a "force"?
What is Gravity?
A FORCE
Gravity is a pull that brings objects toward each other.
MASS MATTERS
Bigger things (like Earth) pull harder than smaller things.
THE PULL
Earth pulls everything down toward its center.
🍎
"Everything that goes up... must come down!"
Lab Mission: The Drop Test
1
Pick Two
Choose two objects of different shapes or weights.
2
Predict
Which will hit the floor first? Record it on your sheet!
3
Drop!
Hold them at the SAME height. Release at the SAME time.
Safety First: Do not drop heavy objects on feet or fingers!
The Secret Obstacle
Air Resistance
Air isn't empty! It is full of gas molecules that push back against falling objects.
"Flat objects catch more air, so they fall slower. It's like a parachute!"
📄
Flat Paper
Slow (lots of air push)
⚽
Crumpled Paper
Fast (less air push)
Mission Debrief
Write your conclusion:
How does gravity affect objects?
Why did some objects fall slower than others?
What did you learn about "Heavy" vs "Light"?
"Gravity pulls everything, but air can get in the way!"
Gravity Gap Lab Worksheet
Gravity Gap Lab
Investigation: Does mass affect falling speed?
Scientist:
Date:
Step 1: The Big Question
Before we start, what do you think? Do heavy things fall faster than light things? Circle your answer:
YES, FASTER
NO, THE SAME
Step 2: The Drop Tests
| Pairs of Objects | My Prediction
(Which will hit first?) | Result
(Draw what happened) | Notes
(Fast vs. Slow) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Paper vs.
Crumpled Paper | |
| |
| Pencil vs.
Heavy Book | |
| |
| Your Choice:
_________ vs.
_________ | |
| |
Step 3: Conclusion
Think about your results. Why did some objects (like the flat paper) fall slower than others? What did you learn about Gravity and Air Resistance?
Gravity pulls down
Air pushes up
Mass isn't everything!
Lab Reference: Newton's Laws of Motion • Physics Unit
Gravity Gap Teacher Guide
Instructional Support
Gravity Gap
Teacher Guide
3rd - 4th Grade
Duration: 50 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will conduct simple experiments to test gravity and air resistance. They will discover that while gravity pulls all objects equally, air resistance can change how fast they appear to fall.
Materials Needed
- "Gravity Gaps" Slide Deck
- "Gravity Gap Lab" Worksheets
- Classroom objects (pencil, book, paper)
Lesson Timeline
5
Warm-up: The Vote
Pose the question: "Do heavy things fall faster than light things?" Take a hand vote and record the tally on the board. Don't reveal the answer yet!
5
Video: Sir Isaac Newton
Watch the video "Happy Birthday, Sir Isaac Newton!" Focus on the gravity section (1:20-2:03). Discuss: What is a "force"? (A push or a pull).
25
The Drop Test Lab
Guide students through dropping paired objects. Ensure they are released from the same height at the same time.
Key Moment: When dropping the Pencil vs. Book, they should land at the same time. If they don't, check for release errors!
10
Conclusion & Reflection
Students write their conclusion: "Gravity pulls everything, but air can get in the way." Discuss the role of surface area (flat vs. crumpled paper).
Misconception
Most students believe heavier objects fall faster. In reality, Earth's gravity accelerates all objects at the same rate. When things fall slower, it is due to air resistance—the air pushing back.
Galileo's Gap
Before Newton, Galileo Galilei reportedly dropped two balls of different masses from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to prove they landed at the same time, debunking Aristotle's idea that heavy things fall faster.
