Science Aims For This Week:

• Use test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests.
• Identify the effects of water resistance that act between moving surfaces.

Science Activity 1:

Exploring the effects of water resistance and how to overcome it

You will need:

• 2 litre plastic water or drinks bottles
• A small lump of Plasticine or similar

Please download:  Water Resistance PowerPoint and Design A Boat Worksheet

Please note: you can click on these links and you will have to log into Twinkl to download them or scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can download everything without logging in.

Watch video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a85Qepkt6J0

Discuss: Can you think of any examples in nature where the effects of water resistance have been overcome?

What about in the man-made world?

Read through Water Resistance PowerPoint.

Investigate: Now have a go at carrying out your own streamlined shape testing

• Use scissors to remove the top section of two empty 2 litre plastic bottles (get an adult to help you do this) - see picture at the bottom of the page if you are unsure
• Fill both bottles with water
• Using Plasticine (Blu-tac is a great substitute), create two shapes. Drop each shape in the water at the same time. Which one hits the bottom first?
• Repeat using your fastest shape and adapt the other shape to see if you can make it more streamlined!

Extensions:

• Try adding fins made out of the cut off plastic you removed from the top of the bottle
• Try using different liquid such as oil or shampoo to see what happens with more viscous liquid.

Record your ideas: Thinking about what you now know about streamlining, design your own boat, labelling features that you have included to overcome the effects of water resistance. Record your ideas on the Design A Boat Worksheet (page 1 = challenge 1, page 2 = challenge 2, page 3 = challenge 3).

Extension task: have a go at building a boat using junk modelling materials.

We would love to see photos of any of the above, in your book, if you are able to take/print them!