ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Any type of motion means a force is at work – it is one of the Duration of resource: 12 Minutes
most fundamental concepts in physics, and has formed the
basis of the work of many pioneering scientists, including Year of Production: 2013
Isaac Newton. This video production introduces forces and
some important basic laws and principles of physics. Content
covered includes defining and identifying forces, balanced
forces, unbalanced forces and inertia. Led by a presenter, a
range of familiar objects is used to demonstrate and simplify
a number of concepts – including a car, a canoe, a bicycle -
even a milkshake. It is an engaging resource, aimed at lower
to middle level secondary students of Science, which uses
everyday situations to explain these important fundamental
areas.

Resource written by:

Jodie Ashby Ba Science, Ba Education

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 Push and Pull Force

For Teachers
Introduction
Physics is best introduced to students through fun and real life examples. This program takes students
through the concept of forces. Students will investigate balanced and unbalanced forces on a playground,
in water and on a push bike – all of which provide students with real life examples they can easily relate
too. The use of a vehicle pulls all the ideas of friction, gravity, balanced and unbalanced forces and inertia
together.

Timeline
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:46 Newtons
00:03:59 Balanced forces
00:06:19 Unbalanced forces
00:08:50 Inertia
00:11:21 Credits
00:12:01 End program

Related Titles
Forms of Energy
The Energy of Chemical Reactions
Chemical Analysis Techniques

Recommended Resources
 www.pbs.org/teachers/sid/scienceadventures
 www.glasgowsciencecentre.org
 www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_laws.html
 http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/science/physical.htm

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 Push and Pull Force

Student Worksheet Name: _______________________________

Initiate Prior Learning

1. List all the times you have pushed something today.

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2. List all the times you have pulled something today.

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3. Forces are all around us. Brainstorm what you know about forces and share this with a friend. Are
your results similar?

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 Push and Pull Force

Active Viewing Guide

What is a force?

1. A force is a

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2. Force is measured in

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3. Name two things that might happen to an object when we apply a force.

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Identifying forces

4. Circle the correct response: Friction always…

a) makes objects go faster

b) keeps objects moving in the same direction

c) opposes motion

5. On the diagram of the bike, label the following: gravity, supporting force, friction force, driving force.

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 Push and Pull Force

Balanced forces

6. When is a force balanced?

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7. What have you done today that requires balanced forces?

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Unbalanced forces

8. When is a force unbalanced?

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9. What have you done today that requires unbalanced forces?

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Inertia

10.What is inertia?

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11.Circle the correct response: If a car is turning left and you are not wearing a seatbelt, you would:

a) go left

b) go right

c) remain stationary

d) move forward

12.When does a seatbelt apply a force on us?

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Activity 1: On the right-hand side of this page, tabulate (create a table) 5 examples of balanced forces
and 5 examples of unbalanced forces in everyday life.

Activity 2: In your workbooks, create a title page for this topic, ‘Forces’, by designing a cartoon to show
one of the following: Inertia, Unbalanced force, Friction.

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 Push and Pull Force

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 Push and Pull Force

Extension Activities

13.Investigate what the force of gravity is on other planets. How do they compare with the Earth’s
gravitational pull?

14.Working in a small group, make up a table with the headings ‘Balanced Forces’ and ‘Unbalanced
forces’. Try to list at least six examples of each. Share your results with another group.

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 Push and Pull Force

Suggested Student Responses

Active Viewing Guide
What is a force?

1. A force is a
A push or pull

2. Force is measured in
Newtons, N

3. Name two things that might happen to an object when we apply a force.
Speed up, slow down, change its shape or change direction.

Identifying forces

4. Circle the correct response: Friction always…

a) makes objects go faster

b) keeps objects moving in the same direction

c) opposes motion

5. On the diagram of the bike, label the following: gravity, supporting force, friction force, driving force.

Balanced forces

6. When is a force balanced?

Could include: When an object is stationary, when an object is floating, bridge, when the
parachutist falls at constant speed.

7. What have you done today that requires balanced forces?

Answers will vary but may include: sitting on a chair, standing still or travelling at a constant
speed in a car or on a bike.

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 Push and Pull Force

Unbalanced forces

8. When is a force unbalanced?

Could include: when a car brakes or accelerates, playground rides

9. What have you done today that requires unbalanced forces?

Answers will vary but may include: falling over, jumping up and down, accelerating from a stop
at traffic lights, running fast then slowing down.

Inertia

10.What is inertia?
The resistance of an object to any change in the way it is moving.

11.Circle the correct response: If a car is turning left and you are not wearing a seatbelt, you would:

a) go left

b) go right

c) remain stationary

d) move forward

12.When does a seatbelt apply a force on us?

When the forces are unbalanced.

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 Push and Pull Force

Extension Activities
1. Following the program, add to your concept map. You might want to add in the terms unbalanced
forces and balanced forces and draw diagrams with force arrows.
Answers will vary

2. A force is measured in Newtons (N). Using a spring balance and a small object, record the force that is
required to pull the object over a range of different surfaces. How does the type of surface affect the
force required?
The rougher the surface the greater the force required to pull the object over

3. Investigate what the force of gravity is on other planets. How do they compare with the Earth’s
gravitational pull?
Answers will vary depending on the planet. For example, the force of gravity is much less on
Mars and Mercury, similar on Venus and much greater on Jupiter.

4. Working in a small group, make up a table with the headings ‘Balanced Forces’ and ‘Unbalanced
forces’. Try to list at least six examples of each. Share your results with another group.
Answers will vary but may include: balanced - when an object is stationary, when the
parachutist falls at constant speed, when a car travels at constant speed; unbalanced - when a
car brakes or accelerates, playground rides, when a sprinter starts running on hearing the
starter’s gun.

5. Design a cartoon to show one of the following: Inertia, Unbalanced force, Friction.
Answers will vary

6. The program showed various examples of inertia in a car. Use these ideas to explain what happens to
you when you are standing on a train and it: a) takes off, b) stops at a station, c) travels at constant
speed, d) takes a left bend.
a) Takes off – you appear to fall backwards because your body has not initially moved with the
train b) Stops at the station – you move forward because your body does not stop with the
train. No seatbelt to hold you still like in a car. C) Travels at constant speed – your body feels
like it’s not moving because you are travelling at the same speed as the train d) takes a left
bend – your body appears to go right as it has not moved left like the train

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Reproducing these support notes
You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website or ClickView for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.