Did you know that when a diver jumps off a 10-meter platform, they fall faster as they get closer to the water? In fact, they cover the last seven meters of their fall quicker than the first three meters. This is because as they fall, they pick up speed due to gravity. The same thing happens with a falling rock, although rocks aren’t as exciting to watch!
By the time a diver or a rock has fallen three meters, they are already moving at about 17 miles per hour. As they continue to fall, they speed up even more, which means they cover the remaining distance in less time. This is a cool example of how gravity works.
Imagine a race between a world record sprinter, like Usain Bolt, and an Olympic diver. Bolt starts 10 meters from the finish line on the ground, while the diver starts 10 meters above it. Who do you think would win?
Usain Bolt’s time for running the first 10 meters of his world record sprint was 1.74 seconds. On the other hand, a rock falling from 10 meters takes only 1.43 seconds to hit the ground. So, technically, the rock would win by a small margin.
However, a diver isn’t just a rock. When a diver jumps off the platform, they usually push upwards a bit, which adds about a third of a second to their fall. This means the diver takes around 1.78 seconds to hit the water. In this fun race, Bolt wins by a very close finish!
While it’s amazing how fast Usain Bolt can run, the race reminds us that gravity, a natural force, doesn’t give you a super-fast start. That’s why if you drop something, it’s easiest to catch it right away. If you wait even a second, it could be 15 feet down and moving at 20 miles per hour. So next time you drop something, act fast!
Conduct a simple experiment to observe gravity in action. Drop two objects of different weights from the same height and time how long they take to reach the ground. Discuss why they hit the ground at the same time despite their weight difference. This will help you understand how gravity affects falling objects.
Calculate the speed of a diver at different points during their fall. Use the formula for gravitational acceleration to determine how fast the diver is moving after falling 3 meters and then 10 meters. This will reinforce your understanding of how speed increases with distance fallen.
Reenact the race between Usain Bolt and the diver. Assign roles to classmates as the diver, Usain Bolt, and the timer. Use a stopwatch to measure the time it takes for each to reach the finish line. Discuss the results and what factors influenced the outcome.
Participate in a class discussion about gravity and motion. Discuss how gravity affects different objects and how it compares to other forces, like the force exerted by Usain Bolt when sprinting. Share your thoughts on why gravity is a consistent force in nature.
Write a short story imagining a race between a diver and Usain Bolt. Describe the race from the perspective of the diver, including their thoughts and feelings as they fall. This will help you creatively express the concepts of speed and gravity.
Diver – A person who jumps into water from a height, often used to study the effects of gravity and motion. – The diver leaped off the platform to demonstrate how gravity accelerates objects towards the Earth.
Gravity – The force that attracts a body towards the center of the Earth, or towards any other physical body having mass. – Gravity is the reason why objects fall to the ground when dropped.
Speed – The rate at which an object covers distance, calculated as distance divided by time. – The speed of the car was measured to be 60 kilometers per hour.
Fall – The motion of an object moving downward due to the force of gravity. – The apple began to fall from the tree, accelerating as it approached the ground.
Distance – The amount of space between two points, often measured in meters or kilometers. – The distance between the two cities is 150 kilometers.
Seconds – A unit of time, used to measure the duration of events. – It took the ball three seconds to hit the ground after being dropped.
Rock – A solid mineral material that can be used to study the effects of gravity and motion when dropped. – The rock was thrown into the air to observe its trajectory and speed.
Platform – A raised level surface from which divers or objects can be launched. – The diver stood on the platform, ready to jump into the pool below.
Water – A liquid substance that can be used to study buoyancy and the effects of gravity on floating objects. – The water in the pool provided a safe landing for the diver.
Race – A competition of speed, often used to measure how quickly participants can cover a distance. – The students participated in a race to see who could solve the math problem the fastest.
