Forces change motion — Science, 7–10 years
A push or a pull can start, stop, speed up, slow down or turn an object. Thinking about forces helps explain everyday motion instead of treating it as something that simply happens.
Pushes and pulls
A force is an interaction that pushes or pulls. It can make a still ball move, make a moving ball stop, or change the ball’s direction. The bigger the force, or the less an object resists it, the bigger the change in motion may be.
Why study forces?
People wanted to understand why a cart moved when pulled, why a stone fell and why a sliding toy eventually stopped. The idea of force connects these events: motion changes when interactions act on an object. It lets us make safer bridges, better wheels and more useful machines.
Kicking a football
A football is still on the grass. First, your foot pushes it, so it starts moving forwards. If you kick harder, its speed increases more. Then a goalkeeper pushes against it and stops it. If your foot touches one side, the force can also make the ball turn.
Motion does not need a constant push
It is reasonable to think that a toy car needs a constant push to keep moving, because on the floor it soon stops. But stopping is caused by forces such as friction and air resistance. On a smoother surface, the same car travels farther before those forces slow it down.
Forces in sport and transport
Cyclists push pedals to move forwards, use brakes to slow down and turn handlebars to change direction. Shoes need friction so a runner can push against the ground without slipping. Engineers use the same ideas when designing bicycles, cars, helmets and playground equipment.
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