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Water Resistance KS2

Teach your KS2 class about water resistance with this ready-to-teach lesson. In this Year 5 Forces lesson, your children will consider the differences between moving on land and in water. They will discuss their predictions of the speed at which different objects will fall through water before exploring their ideas in an exciting practical activity.

This Water Resistance KS2 Science lesson includes:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities

This lesson is part of our Forces in Action Science scheme of work for Year 5.

Water Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack

£2.99

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Water Resistance KS2 Slideshow Example 1
Water Resistance KS2 Slideshow Example 2
Water Resistance KS2 Slideshow Example 3
Water Resistance KS2 Slideshow Example 4
Water Resistance KS2 Slideshow Example 5
Water Resistance KS2 Worksheet Example 1
Water Resistance KS2 Worksheet Example 2
Water Resistance KS2 Lesson Plan Example 1

Water Resistance

What is water resistance?

Water resistance is a type of friction force which acts between a liquid and the surface of an object. It acts to slow down or stop objects that are moving through liquid.

This force acts in the opposite direction to the object moving through the liquid.

 

A boat travelling through water encountering water resistance

A boat travelling through water encountering water resistance

 

Objects experience a different amount of water resistance, depending on their size and shape.

The larger the object, the more water resistance it will experience.

Some shapes are more streamlined than others. This means that the object has a smooth contour or outline, so it can travel through the water more easily as it encounters less water resistance.

 

Water resistance and gravity

As well as affecting objects like boats that move horizontally through the water, water resistance can affect objects moving down through water, i.e. an object sinking. Gravity pulls the object down towards the Earth's surface, but water resistance acts in the opposite direction, slowing down the sinking object. The more streamlined the object is, the faster it will sink, as it is less affected by water resistance.

Gravity and water resistance exerting opposite forces on an object sinking in water

Gravity and water resistance exerting opposite forces on an object sinking in water

 

When should children learn about water resistance?

According to the National Curriculum objectives for Science, children learn about water resistance in KS2. It is assigned as compulsory learning in Year 5 under the 'Forces' strand of learning.

  • identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces

The non-statutory guidance suggests that pupils might explore resistance in water by making and testing boats of different shapes.