YEAR 8 ASSESSMENT TASK NOTIFICATION

FACULTY: Science TASK: Research Task

CLASS: Year 8 Science WEIGHT OF TASK: 25%
NOTIFICATION: Term 3, Week 3 DUE DATE: Term 3, Week 6
If the task is not submitted by the due date, penalties will apply – see the school’s Stage assessment policy.

Outline of Task:
PART A: Using their knowledge of balanced and unbalanced forces, students are to draw diagrams indicating
balanced and unbalanced forces acting on two given scenarios
PART B: Using reliable secondary sources, students are to produce an information brochure about the use of
technology in finding solutions to everyday problems involving forces. The information brochure should include
TWO different technologies that are used in everyday life to reduce the impact of forces.

This task will assess how well you can:

• Extract information from reliable secondary sources
• Demonstrate effect communication and presentation skills
• Describe some examples of technological developments that have contributed to finding solutions to
reduce the impact of forces in everyday life, e.g. car safety equipment and footwear design.
• Demonstrate the understanding of balanced and unbalanced forces

Outcomes to be assessed:

● SC4-9WS presents science ideas, findings and information to a given audience using appropriate scientific
language, text types and representations
● SC4-10PW describes the action of unbalanced forces in everyday situations

The completed task is to be handed in with this cover

sheet DATE SUBMITTED: / / .

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
I certify that:

• The planning, development, content and presentation of this task is my own work
• It has not been copied from another person’s work or from books, internet or any other source
• I have used appropriate research methods and have not used the words, ideas, designs, skills or workmanship of
others in the task or its development without appropriate acknowledgement
• I have prepared for and completed the work to the best of my ability.
 STUDENT SIGNATURE: ……………………………………….……. DATE: / / .

TASK OUTLINE:
PART A: Balanced and unbalanced forces in everyday situations
1. Select TWO of the everyday situations from the list below:

 A bullet train travelling at a constant speed

 A skydiver who releases their parachute

2. For each scenario selected provide a diagram with labelled force arrows
indicating the direction, the size of force acting.
The force of the engine accelerating the
bullet train is balanced by the sum of all
Bullet train moving at a constant speed the frictional forces acting backwards on
the train.
The thrust force.
Created by the bullet
trains engine.
The reaction force is the force of gravity
but in the opposite direction, keeping
the train on the surface of the Earth and
not sinking down into the Earth.

The size of the force of gravity is the

weight of the train

Parachute deployed

There is a
massive amount
There is a small of force (air
amount of force resistance) going
going down up from when
(gravity). the parachute is
being deployed.
3. Explain how the forces acting in the two scenarios that you have selected above
affect the motion of the vehicle or person.

Bullet Train moving at a constant speed: The thrust force of the train’s engine is
causing it to move forward. The train is moving at a constant speed because it is
balanced by the air resistance, gravity and reaction force. All of these forces are
balanced which is why the train is moving at a constant speed. The gravity acting
on the train is pulling it down towards the centre of the Earth but is not sinking
down into the Earth because of the reaction force. The reaction force is the same
size as the force of gravity but acts in the opposite direction as the train’s weight.
Parachute being deployed: When the parachute is being deployed a massive
amount of air resistance is acting on the parachute which is making the man fall
very slowly. Air collects under the fabric parachute, pushing it up as gravity pulls
the man down. This pushing slows the fall of the man by resisting the air under the
parachute. This is why the parachute was invented.