Force Facts
What is a force?
A push or a pull.
What is friction?
A force that slows down or stops motion.
Is opening a door a push or a pull?
It can be either!
What is gravity?
A force that pulls things toward Earth.
How many laws of motion did Isaac Newton create?
Three.
What unit do we use to measure force?
Newtons.
Which surface has more friction: ice or carpet?
Carpet.
Is kicking a ball a push or pull?
Push.
Who discovered gravity?
Sir Isaac Newton.
Newton’s First Law states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in _____ will stay in _____.
Motion
What tool is used to measure force? We use these to measure weight of produce at grocery stores...
A spring scale.
How can you reduce friction?
Use something smooth, slippery, or add wheels.
Is tug-of-war a push or pull?
Pull.
What keeps the planets orbiting around the sun?
The sun’s gravity.
Newton’s Second Law says Force = ______ × ______.
Mass × Acceleration.
If you push harder on an object, what happens to the force?
The force increases.
Why do car tires have tread?
To increase friction for better grip.
When you row a boat, what kind of force do you use?
Push and pull.
What is inertia?
The tendency of an object to resist a change in motion.
What is Newton’s Third Law?
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
What two things can a force change about an object?
Its speed or direction.
What happens if there were no friction?
Things would keep moving and never stop.
Describe a real-life example that uses both a push and a pull.
(Example: Closing a drawer, riding a bike, etc.)
Why do you move forward when a car stops suddenly?
Because of inertia—your body wants to keep moving.
Give an example of Newton’s Third Law.
(Example: A rocket launches because gases push downward and the rocket pushes upward.)