Introduction to Forces

Push & PullContact vs Non-ContactInteraction PairsNewton Meter

1. What is a Force?

A force is a push or a pull of an object. Forces can change the shape, direction, or speed of an object.

Check Your Knowledge:

Unit of Force:
Equipment to measure:
N

A Newton Meter

2. Pull or Push?

Categorise the following actions by selecting the correct force type.

🚪

Closing a door

🐕

Walking a dog on lead

📦

Dragging a box

3. Types of Forces

Drag the forces into their correct categories based on whether objects must touch or not.

Available Forces

Friction
Magnetic
Gravity
Tension
Electrostatic
Air Resistance

Contact Forces

Non-Contact Forces

4. Interaction Pairs

Action Reaction

Forces always act in equal and opposite pairs on different objects.

Interaction Question:

"If you push on a wall with 50N, how much force does the wall push back with?"

5. Investigation: Stretching a Rubber Band

Simulation: Change the mass to see how far the rubber band stretches. Collect results to draw the graph.

Elasticity Test Station

0g
0cm5cm10cm15cm20cm25cm

Data Log

Mass (g)Stretch (cm)

Distance vs Mass Graph

0g500g
25cm0

Variables & Patterns

1. Identify the variables:

Independent Variable:

Dependent Variable:

2. Describe the pattern observed:

Conclusion: This experiment shows that a larger force (provided by the weight of the mass) results in a larger change in the shape (stretch) of the rubber band. This is a direct effect of force.

Final Knowledge Check

A force is the push or 1. of an object. The unit of force is 2. and is measured using a 3. . A force can change shape, direction, and 4. of an object. Forces can be grouped into 5. or non-contact forces. Examples of non-contact forces are magnetic and 6. forces. Forces always act in pairs. There is the 7. and reaction. This is known as 8. pairs which are equal and 9. . They also act on 10. objects.

Newton Pull Newton meter Interaction Speed Contact Electrostatic Action Opposite Different