Force
What is force?
A push or pull upon an object resulting from the object's interaction with another object.
What is magnetism?
When certain metals attract and repel
What is gravity?
The force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass.
What is friction?
Friction is when two things rub against each other, and it makes it harder for them to move.
How could you test if different surfaces change how far a car rolls down a ramp?
Use a ramp and a toy car. Try rolling the car down the ramp covered with sandpaper, then cloth, and measure the distance.
Name two types of forces.
Magnetism and gravity.
What tool do we use to test magnetism?
Magnet.
Is gravity a pulling force or a pushing force?
Pulling force.
What happens when you slide down a slide?
Friction between your clothes and the slide slows you down a bit.
What experiment can show how gravity pulls objects towards Earth?
Drop two objects of different weights from the same height and see if they land at the same time
How can you increase the force on an object?
By applying more force to it.
What tool do we use to navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field?
A compass.
Explain how gravity is involved when a ball is kicked in the air.
Gravity is a pulling force that pulls the ball back down to the surface of the Earth.
Why do we use oil in a bike chain?
Oil helps reduce friction, so the bike chain moves smoothly and doesn't stick.
How can we show that using more force makes a balloon rocket go further?
Set up a balloon rocket on a string. Use one puff of air to inflate the balloon, then two, then three, and measure how far it travels each time.
What is the unit of measure for force?
The newton (N).
What happens to the force of magnetism when the distance between the object and the magnet is increased?
The force of magnetism decreases.
What happens to the force of gravity when the distance between objects increases? Does it increase or decrease?
The force of gravity decreases.
Why is it harder to walk on ice than on a sidewalk?
Because there is less friction on ice, so it’s slipperier than a sidewalk.
Can we design an experiment to test if the slope of a ramp affects how fast a car goes?
Use ramps with different slopes and roll a car down each. Time how long it takes for the car to reach the bottom.
How is the amount of force related to the acceleration of an object?
The greater the force that is applied the greater the acceleration.
How do we know that the Earth has a gravitational pull that affects us?
We know gravity exists because we can drop an object and observe its effects as it falls.
Explain how gravitational force is related to the orbit of planets around the sun.
Gravitational force keeps planets in orbit around the sun; it provides the necessary force to maintain the orbits.
How do car brakes use friction to stop a moving car?
When you push the brake pedal, brake pads press against the wheels, using friction to slow down the car.
How can we use a balloon and a string to explore how different amounts of force affect movement?
Attach a balloon to a string stretched between two chairs. Inflate it different amounts and release. Measure how far it travels each time to see how force affects distance.