This resource provides examples of solving problems using Fermi Estimates. These examples are similar to the ones covered in the resource "Estimates From Limited Data". The tasks may be suitable for group and internet access may be beneficial.

‘A secret of bees’ is a series of 7 problems that looks at an interesting feature of the family tree for bees. The series shows how to take a complicated problem and break it down into manageable parts. It is recommended that the sheets are given to students one at a time.

Initially a family tree for bees is...

‘Ball bouncing’ is a series of 7 problems that looks at what happens if you put a tennis ball on top of a basketball and then drop them both. This is done through mathematical modelling. The series shows how to take a complicated problem and break it down into manageable parts. It is recommended that the sheets are...

‘Interstellar flight’ is a series of 7 problems that plan for establishing a base in another solar system. The first four problems involve getting to the base, the final three focus on what to bring and whom to take along.

The mathematics required for the first problems include use of the formulae for...

This problem serves as an introduction to the ideas of Fermi problems. The question posed is ‘how many dump trucks would you need to move Mount Fuji, a major mountain in Japan?’
The topics required to complete this problem are calculating the volume of a pyramid, working out mass from density and volume, and...

This question asks us to consider a person opening a burger bar, doing all of the cooking themselves, and then estimate how much space should they rent?

The main topics required are rates (number of burgers per hour that one person could cook, number of customers per hour), and areas. 

This is an unplugged resource to simulate the fetch-decode-execute cycle in a processor. It is a frantic starter activity aimed at students aged 17-18. The teacher acts as the computer memory, passing out instructions to the students. The students take on three different roles, fetcher, decoder and executer.  At...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit encouraged students to gather information about different types of fabric and the fibres from which they are made. The unit introduces aspects of fabric manufacturing processes and the different uses of fibres and fabrics....

In this resource from CensusAtSchool, students are asked to apply their knowledge of the Poisson distribution to real life data in the context of a school problem. This resource is good at contextualising and reinforcing understanding of the Poisson distribution, it requires students to consider developing a...

By using a helical spring and varying the mass on the end of it, students can time the period of oscillation to calculate the acceleration due to gravity.  This can be done by plotting the extension (e) by the time period squared (T²).  This would be good to use computer software to assist with this....

By using a constant head apparatus or similar you will investigate the shape of a water path projected through the gravitational field of the Earth to find the acceleration due to gravity. This would benefit from using slo-mo filming or photography, or even to introduce students to a travelling microscope.

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This investigation uses a linear air track that is tilted to a slope to calculate the acceleration of an object due to gravity.  SUVAT can be used to calculate this value, and datalogging, especially using light gates can be used. Students can also use a protractor to measure angles which can be varied.

This...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit was designed to encourage students to study fire in the context of safety at home, fire prevention and the role of the Fire Service.

Guidance for teachers and technicians...

These materials, from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service, contain an activity in which students are asked to relate theory to practice as they inspect fire extinguishers and fire blankets in real situations. The students locate, identify and plot fire protection equipment on plans of their work areas in...