This lesson develops pupils’ understanding of resistive forces, building on their prior knowledge of friction. Students explore air resistance and water resistance as types of drag, learning how particles cause these forces and how factors such as surface area and speed affect the size of the force. The lesson also introduces streamlining, helping pupils understand how shapes can be adapted to reduce drag and increase speed.

Clear diagrams, particle models, and real‑world examples (parachutes, cyclists, boats, rockets) make this lesson highly visual and accessible for Year 7 learners. Activities encourage prediction, explanation, and application of scientific ideas.

What Students Will Learn

How friction works between surfaces and how drag forces relate to it

What air resistance and water resistance are

How particles in air and water create resistive forces

How surface area and speed affect drag

Why streamlining helps objects move faster

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.