Forces and motion

Forces and motion: I can spot pushes and pulls, explain gravity and friction, predict what magnets do and plan a fair test.

1. A force is a push or a pull. Let's sort some forces.

   Throwing a basketball and pressing a doorbell are pushes. A push moves something away from you.

   Dragging a heavy bag and tugging a kite string are pulls. A pull moves something towards you.

   Picture: Sorting into 2 groups: Push, Pull. Push: Throw a basketball (basketball), Press a doorbell (bell). Pull: Drag a heavy bag (school bag), Tug a kite string (kite).

2. Your turn: Yusuf holds a drawer handle and opens the drawer. The drawer slides towards him. Is opening the drawer a push or a pull?

   Choose one:

   • A push
   • A pull

   Answer

   The answer: A pull

   A pull. The drawer moves towards Yusuf, so he is pulling it.

3. Pushes and pulls can change the way something moves. They can change its shape too.

   Pushing a toy car makes it start moving. Catching a tennis ball makes it slow down and stop.

   Kicking a rolling ball back makes it change direction.

   Squeezing a sponge changes its shape.

   Picture: Sorting into 4 groups: Starts or speeds up, Slows down or stops, Changes direction, Changes shape. Starts or speeds up: Push a toy car (car). Slows down or stops: Catch a tennis ball (tennis ball). Changes direction: Kick a rolling ball back (ball). Changes shape: Squeeze a sponge (sponge).

Words to know

force:

A push or a pull.

gravity:

A pull that makes things fall towards the Earth.

friction:

A force between two surfaces that rub together. It slows moving things down.

attract:

To pull towards. A magnet attracts iron and steel.

repel:

To push away. The same poles of two magnets repel.