Gravity & Falling Objects
Explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object
Typical age: 9–11 years
“Can your child explain why everything falls downwards when you let go of it, and name the force that causes this?”
0 / 3 mastered
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Needs first
- Balanced & Unbalanced Forces
Balanced/unbalanced forces supports understanding gravity as an unbalanced force on unsupported objects
- Forces VocabularyREQUIRED
Explaining gravity requires the force vocabulary: gravity, weight, non-contact force
- Drawing Force DiagramsREQUIRED
Explaining gravity as a downward force requires representing it as a downward arrow in a force diagram
- Contact & Non-Contact ForcesREQUIRED
Must know about non-contact forces before learning gravity as a non-contact force
Unlocks next
- Levers, Pulleys & Gears
Gravity context helps understand why we need mechanisms to lift heavy things
- Mass vs WeightREQUIRED
KS3 weight = mass × g extends KS2 introduction to gravity as the force pulling objects toward Earth
- Air Resistance & Friction
Understanding gravity helps contextualise resistive forces opposing gravitational motion