Forces

Let's Learn About Forces!

TEKS 5.7.A

Forces are all around us. They're like invisible pushes and pulls that make things move or stop. Let's explore some cool things about forces!

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Let's Learn About Forces!

A force is a push or pull on an object. When you kick a ball, you're using a force. When a magnet sticks to your fridge, that's a force too!

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What Are Forces?

Multiple Select

Forces...

• push

• pull

• May cause a change in an object's motion

• are the same thing as energy

Multiple Select

Forces can make a ball...

• start moving

• stop moving

• speed up

• slow down

• stop

Sometimes forces are balanced. This means the pushes and pulls are equal.

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Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

When forces are balanced, things don't move.

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Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Imagine you and your friend pushing a heavy box from opposite sides with the same strength. The box won't move because the forces are balanced.

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Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

But when forces are unbalanced, things start to move! If you push harder than your friend, the box will move in your direction.

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Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Multiple Select

Balanced Forces...

• Cancel each other out

• are equal in size and opposite in direction.

• are in the the same direction

• are stronger in one direction than the other

Multiple Choice

This is an example of...

• Balanced Forces

• Unbalanced Forces

Gravity is a special force that pulls everything down towards the Earth. It's why things fall when you drop them. Even when you jump, gravity brings you back down!

Gravity: The Down Force

Friction is a force that tries to stop moving things. It's why your bike slows down when you stop pedaling. Friction between your shoes and the ground helps you walk without slipping.

Friction: The Slowing Force

Dropdown

When you slide down a playground slide, ​ ​ ​

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pulls you down, while ​

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​ between you and the slide slows you down.

How Forces Change Motion

Forces can make things:

• Start moving

• Stop moving

• Speed up

• Slow down

• Change direction

How Forces Change Motion

The more force you use, the bigger the change in motion. A small push moves things a little, but a big push moves things a lot!

Multiple Choice

True or False: When you sit on a chair, you're balanced. The chair pushes up with the same force as gravity pulls you down.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

True or False: In a tug-of-war game, if no one is moving, the forces are balanced.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

True or False: Adding weight to an object increases the force of gravity on it.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

True or False: A car moving at the same speed on a straight road has balanced forces.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Sometimes, forces can be tricky. Here are some things to watch out for:

BE CAREFUL!

Some students might think that a car going at a steady speed in the same direction has unbalanced forces. This isn't true!

Steady Speed Doesn't Mean Unbalanced Forces

Steady Speed Doesn't Mean Unbalanced Forces

Here's why:

• When a car moves at the same speed in a straight line, the forces are actually balanced.

• The car's engine pushes forward with the same strength as the forces trying to slow it down (like air resistance and friction).

• These equal forces cancel each other out, keeping the speed steady.

• If the forces were unbalanced, the car would speed up or slow down.

Remember: Steady speed in a straight line = Balanced forces!

Multiple Choice

True or False: A car moving at the same speed on a straight road has balanced forces.

• TRUE

• FALSE

1. The paddle carries force from your swing.

2. When the paddle touches the ball, it passes this force to the ball.

3. The ball then speeds off in a new direction.
   
   
   
   

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When you hit a table tennis ball with a paddle:

Remember: The harder you swing the paddle, the more force it will transfer to the ball, making the ball go faster.

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Dropdown

The ​

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you swing a table tennis paddle, the ​

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energy it will ​

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to the ball.

Poll

How do you feel about forces?

• I know it and can teach a friend about it.

• I know it just the way my teacher taught it,

• I know some simple stuff but can't do the hard parts.

• with some help I can do it.

• Even with help I can't do it.