Pushes and pulls — Physical education, 7–10 years
Forces can make things start, stop, turn or change shape. Physical education, 7–10 years.
A force is a push or a pull
When you kick a ball, open a drawer or squeeze clay, you are using a force. A force can make an object move, slow down, stop, turn or change shape. Forces often work in pairs: you push the ball, and the ball pushes back on your foot.
Why do we need this idea?
People noticed that the same object behaves differently when it is pushed harder, pulled sideways or left alone. Talking about forces helps us explain these changes instead of saying only that something “just moved”. This idea grew from watching machines, tools and moving objects and asking what made them change.
Example: moving a box
A toy box is on the floor. First, Ana pushes it gently, but it stays still because the push is too small to overcome the rubbing from the floor. Next, she pushes harder and the box slides one metre. She stops pushing, and the box slows down and stops because another force, friction, acts against its movement.
The common mix-up
It is tempting to think that a moving object must still have someone pushing it. That seems sensible because a swing keeps moving while you push it. But after the push ends, an object can continue for a while; friction, air and other forces gradually change its motion. Movement does not prove that a push is still happening.
Forces in everyday life
You use forces when you pedal a bicycle, pull a zip, catch a ball or press a light switch. Engineers think about forces when they design bridges, bicycle brakes and playground equipment. They need to know which parts will move, which must stay still, and how strong the materials need to be.
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