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Gravity & Falling Objects

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Forces & Motion|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_AvrQauS_zX

Explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object

Mastery Evidence

  • Define gravity as a force of attraction between the Earth and objects
  • Explain that unsupported objects fall because gravity pulls them towards the Earth
  • Give examples showing gravity in action (dropping objects, jumping, water flowing downhill)

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] explain why everything falls downwards when you let go of it, and name the force that causes this?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

5-PS2-1Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5codes only
Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.
Y5.Sci.F.1The national curriculum in England
Gravity and falling objects

explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object

Science · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites4

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Balanced & Unbalanced Forces soft

    Balanced/unbalanced forces supports understanding gravity as an unbalanced force on unsupported objects

    • Pushes & Pulls hard

      Must understand pushes/pulls before investigating balanced vs unbalanced forces

      • Drawing Force Diagrams soft

        Understanding pushes and pulls as forces is supported by the arrow representation of magnitude and direction

    • Drawing Force Diagrams hard

      Investigating balanced and unbalanced forces requires drawing force diagrams to record and analyse experimental findings

    • Friction & Surfaces hard

      Must understand friction affects motion before investigating balanced/unbalanced forces

      • Pushes & Pulls hard

        Must understand forces change motion before comparing movement on different surfaces

        • Drawing Force Diagrams soft

          Understanding pushes and pulls as forces is supported by the arrow representation of magnitude and direction

      • Forces Vocabulary hard

        Comparing how things move on different surfaces requires friction vocabulary

  • Forces Vocabulary hard

    Explaining gravity requires the force vocabulary: gravity, weight, non-contact force

  • Drawing Force Diagrams hard

    Explaining gravity as a downward force requires representing it as a downward arrow in a force diagram

  • Contact & Non-Contact Forces hard

    Must know about non-contact forces before learning gravity as a non-contact force

    • Forces Vocabulary hard

      Distinguishing contact from non-contact forces requires these exact terms

    • Drawing Force Diagrams soft

      Distinguishing contact and non-contact forces is clarified by drawing force diagrams showing where arrows originate

    • Friction & Surfaces hard

      Must experience contact forces like friction before distinguishing contact vs non-contact forces

      • Pushes & Pulls hard

        Must understand forces change motion before comparing movement on different surfaces

        • Drawing Force Diagrams soft

          Understanding pushes and pulls as forces is supported by the arrow representation of magnitude and direction

      • Forces Vocabulary hard

        Comparing how things move on different surfaces requires friction vocabulary

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