Forces min a Nutshell

Forces

The big idea is that forces can change how an object is moving and they can change an object’s shape.

To make the most of teaching forces, pupils need to experience forces physically - causing forces with their muscles and experiencing forces acting on their bodies. They need to be taught how to describe the sensations on their bodies and the effects on their bodies, initially in simple language, but developing to use more scientific terminology.

The key problem with forces is that it is difficult to put the sensations children have into words. Gestures can help.

Key questions

What do you feel when a car/bus/train speeds up or slows down?
What do you feel when a car/bus/train goes around a corner?
What happens to the truck when you push it harder?
How can you slow the truck down?
What does it feel like when you jump off something or go down a slide?
How can you bend that stick? What does it feel like when it snaps?

Common misconceptions

Many students think forces can only be exerted by living things and some machines, but not by inanimate objects such as tables or shelves, but tables push upwards on an object, balancing the gravity pulling the object downwards.

Many students think that a force is needed to keep an object moving with a constant speed, but an object will continue at a steady speed if there are no forces acting (it takes a force to make it speed up or slow down).

Many students do not realise that you need at least two objects to have a force - something pushing and something pushed. You can never have one without the other.

EYFS

Encourage pupils to talk about the forces they feel and the effects they have.

KS1

Forces can cause objects to bend, stretch or squash.
Forces can speed an object up or slow it down.

KS2

Many forces need contact between two objects, but some forces can act at a distance (magnets, gravity and the force between charged objects).

Moving objects (such as balls and toy cars) slow down more quickly on some surfaces than others (friction).

If you drop an object, it will fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object.

Objects such as tables and shelves can provide forces - for example, a table pushes up on an object, balancing the force of gravity pushing downwards.

The Solar System is held together by gravity (otherwise the planets would shoot off away from the Sun).

Air resistance, water resistance and friction act between moving surfaces.

KS3

Use force arrows in diagrams,
Understand balanced and unbalanced forces
Forces deform objects including springs.
Forces are measured in newtons

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