Force and Motion

A force is the push, or pull of an object.

• Pushing an object will move it away from the force.
Example: When you jump in the air, you push yourself down, off the ground, causing
your body to go up.
• Pulling an object will move it towards the force.
Example: Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the earth. So when you jump,
gravity is what pulls you back down. We cannot see a force, but we can see the effects
of a force Forces can help an object speed up, slow down, stay in place, or even change
shapes; forces cause motion or a lack of motion.
To change an object's motion, a force needs to be applied. So if a rock was in place,
still, not moving, chilling, and living its life, a force would have to come along in order
for it to move (because a rock can't move on its own!).
What would happen if the rope
breaks in the middle as a result
of the forces the kids are using?
a. The kids will be thrown
backwards, in opposite
directions from each other,
the same distance.
b. Three kids will be thrown
backwards while the other
kids will move forwards.

c. Since the six kids are the same

mass, neither kids will be
thrown backwards.
d. The breaking of the rope will
only cause three kids to be
thrown backwards.