FORCES

Forces

Forces are just pushes and pulls in a particular direction. Forces are shown by arrows in
diagrams. The direction of the arrow shows the direction in which the force is acting. The
bigger the arrow, the bigger the force.

Balanced forces

If two forces are balanced, it means the forces are the same size but are acting in opposite
directions. If two balanced forces are acting on an object, that object will not change its
motion. If it is still, the object will stay still or if it is moving, it will continue moving in the
same direction and at the same speed.

Unbalanced forces

When two forces acting on an object are not equal in size, we say that they are unbalanced
forces. Unbalanced forces do change the way something is moving. They can make objects
start to move, speed up, slow down or change direction.

Friction

Friction is a force between two surfaces that are sliding, or trying to slide, across each other.
For example, when you try to push a book along the floor, friction makes this difficult.

Friction always works in the direction opposite to the direction in which the object is
moving, or trying to move. Friction always slows a moving object down.

The amount of friction depends on the materials from which the two surfaces are made. The
rougher the surface, the more friction is produced. Friction also produces heat. If you rub
your hands together quickly, you will feel them get warmer.
Friction can be a useful force because it prevents our shoes slipping on the pavement when
we walk and stops car tyres skidding on the road. When you walk, friction is caused between
the tread on shoes and the ground. This friction acts to grip the ground and prevent sliding.

Sometimes we want to reduce friction. For example, we use oil to reduce the friction between
the moving parts inside a car engine. The oil holds the surfaces apart and can flow between
them. The reduced friction means there is less wear on the car's moving parts and less heat
produced.

Gravity

The force that pulls things to the centre of Earth (and other planets) is called gravity.

Gravity also holds Earth and the other planets in their orbits around the Sun.

The force of gravity also exists on the Moon but it is not as strong as it is on Earth. This is
because the Moon is much smaller than our planet.

Magnetic forces

When two magnets are close, they create pushing or pulling forces on one another.

These forces are strongest at the ends of the magnets. The two ends of a magnet are known as
the north pole and the south pole.

Same poles repel

If you try to put two magnets together with the same poles pointing towards one another, the
magnets will push away from each other. We say they repel each other.

Different poles attract

If you put two magnets together with different poles pointing towards one another, the
magnets will pull towards each other. We say they attract each other.
Magnetic metals

Magnetic materials are always made of metal, but not all metals are magnetic.

Iron is magnetic, so any metal with iron in it will be attracted to a magnet. Steel contains iron,
so a steel paperclip will be attracted to a magnet too.

Most other metals, for example aluminium, copper and gold, are NOT magnetic.