Education Technology


Air Resistance

Activity Overview

Students will use the tools of integral calculus to investigate the motion of a freely falling object, which is governed by both acceleration due to gravity and air resistance. (See "Before the Activity")

Before the Activity

Students are ready for this activity after they have had some experience solving simple differential equations.

See the attached Activity PDF file(s) for detailed instructions for this activity.

During the Activity

Follow the procedures outlined in the activity.

Students will:

  • Be able to solve simple differential equations.
  • Understand the math of free fall.
  • After the Activity

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary