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KS3 Science: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
 

What is the science behind the magic flying car?

Main image of KS3 Science: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
 
Author Ryan Deneven-Lewis
Topic Balanced and unbalanced forces
Curriculum linksNC KS3 Sc3

A short extract from second Harry Potter film in which the young wizard finds himself a passenger in a flying car.

A flying car? In science? Well, it's an unexpected way of re-capping on balanced and unbalanced forces...

 

Activity

What is the science behind the magic? After watching the extract, freeze the action on a frame that shows the car flying through the valley. Ask pupils to identify the forces acting on the car, drawing arrows to illustrate these over the image on an interactive whiteboard. This could adpated, using a frame in which both the car and train are visible.

End by playing the final part of the sequence, which shows the car flying, wobbling and then crashing. Freeze on three separate frames, asking pupils to identify the balanced and unbalanced forces at work.

 
 

Some more ideas

Can students narrate the sequence (with the sound turned down) from the point of view of Harry Potter, but using as many 'scientific' key words as possible?

 
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Thumbnail image of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

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