Year 5 - do heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects?

As part of their Forces topic, Year 5 were set the task of investigating whether Aristotle's theory about falling objects was correct - do heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects?

Having pinpointed weight as the only allowable variable in the test, the children discussed ways in which air and drag resistance could be kept constant so as not to skew the results. Though it was impractical to try one group's suggestion of dropping hollow and solid Easter eggs from a height, it was decided to use equal size sports balls with differing weights and plastics bottles filled with different substances. The children made their predictions then ventured outside to witness the objects being dropped from a first floor window. Many pupils were surprised to discover their investigative ideas were very close to that of Galileo, thus proving Aristotle to be incorrect!