After the students played around with gravity last week (which was the informal research of the question), we decided to formally experiment with standardized variables following the scientific method. We learned that Galileo was also one of the first scientists to follow and develop some sort of scientific method and not just think and make guesses based on observations, which the older philosophers did.
After determining our set variables of objects that were about the same size but different weights and objects the same weights but different sizes, we were ready to create our procedure to test and compare them.
The students practiced their observation skills by looking carefully to see which object fell faster and notice any problems with how the person dropped the objects. They practiced recording and using tables to organize their data.
Then, the students analyzed their data to determine if their hypothesis was correct. However, everyone is still working on their observation and analysis skills since no one came to the same conclusion that Galileo did!
After taking a second look as a class at how the objects were falling, we determined that they all fell at the same speed, except for paper. However, if the paper was dropped vertically, then it was the same speed! This meant that it was air that was affecting the lighter objects and not gravity!
We thought of how could we test this theory with no air, and some students said to go to the moon and do it! This is actually what the Apollo austronauts did, so we watched a video of them on the moon conducting the experiment. Galileo was right!
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