Pushes, Pulls & Motion
A student gives a still toy car a gentle push. What may happen to the car?
The car may begin moving.
Is gravity a pushing force or a pulling force?
A pulling force.
Which could demonstrate objects pushing apart without touching: a rope, a ladder, two bar magnets, or two soccer balls?
Two bar magnets.
When investigating how a pull changes a wagon, should you focus on its color or its speed?
Its speed.
A child pulls a wagon up a hill, but the wagon stays still. Does a pull always make an object move?
No. A push or pull does not always cause a change in motion.
Name two ways a push can change the motion of a rolling ball.
Speed it up, slow it down, stop it, or change its direction. Any two.
Does gravity need objects to touch in order to act on them?
No. Gravity acts at a distance. A noncontact force.
Can a magnet attract some objects without touching them?
Yes. Magnetic force can act across a distance.
What tool could you use to measure how long an object takes to fall?
A timer or stopwatch.
Two people pull a cart in opposite directions with equal strength. What happens to the cart?
It stays still because the forces are balanced.
A wagon is pulled toward the left. What two things could you observe to investigate how the pull affects it?
Its speed and direction of movement.
A ball is tossed upward and then falls back to the ground. What force pulls it back down?
Gravity
A magnet attracts a steel paper clip but not a plastic button. What does this tell you?
Magnets attract certain materials, not all objects.
Why should scientists record observations and measurements during an investigation?
To collect evidence, compare results, and identify patterns.
A rope holds a box above the floor. What force does the rope apply, and what force pulls the box downward?
The rope pulls upward, and gravity pulls downward.
A swing is moving forward. How could a person use a force to make it slow down or stop?
Apply a push or pull that acts against its motion.
A rock, a small marble, and a pebble are dropped and take about the same time to fall. What does this suggest about mass and falling time?
Objects with different masses can have the same falling time.
Two magnets move away from each other when brought close together. What is this force called?
The magnets repel each other.
A magnet sticks to a metal toy truck but cannot lift it. Give one possible explanation.
The truck may be magnetic but too heavy for the magnet to lift.
A student pushes hard against a sturdy wall, but the wall does not move. What does this demonstrate about pushes?
Pushes do not always cause a change in motion.
Two students push a crate, but it does not move. What could they change to make it more likely to move?
Apply a stronger force in the same direction.
An open parachute falls more slowly than a closed parachute of the same mass. Why might this happen?
The open parachute has a different shape and size, allowing air to push upward more and slow its fall. Gravity still pulls downward.
The north pole of one magnet is brought near the south pole of another magnet. What will happen?
The magnets will attract each other.
During an investigation about how a push affects a ball, name one thing you could measure or observe and explain why it is useful.
Speed or direction, because these show how the ball's motion changes.
A student pushes a swing harder than before. How might the swing's motion change?
It may move faster or rise higher, depending on the direction and effect of the push.