Forces

“Forces are pushes and pulls. They help explain how things move, stop, speed up, slow down, stretch, squash, turn, fall, float, and change direction.”

What Are Forces?

A force is a push or a pull.

Forces can make things move.

Forces can make things stop.

Forces can make things speed up, slow down, turn, stretch, squash, or change shape.

Forces are everywhere. You use forces when you open a door, kick a ball, pick up a bag, ride a bicycle, or pull on a zip.

Some forces need contact. This means two things must touch.

Other forces can act from a distance, such as gravity and magnetism.

Forces Are Everywhere

Look around you.

Can you spot forces in:

☐ A door being pushed open

☐ A ball being kicked

☐ A pencil being pulled across paper

☐ A magnet pulling a paperclip

☐ A person jumping and landing

☐ A bike slowing down

☐ A leaf falling from a tree

Forces are often invisible, but we can see what they do.

Types of Forces

Pushes

A push moves something away.

Examples:

Pushing a door open
Pushing a toy car
Pushing a swing
Pressing a button

Pulls

A pull moves something closer.

Examples:

Pulling a drawer open
Pulling a rope
Pulling up a zip
Pulling a suitcase

Gravity

Gravity is a force that pulls objects towards each other.

On Earth, gravity pulls things towards the ground.

This is why dropped objects fall down.

Gravity also helps keep the Moon near Earth and planets moving around the Sun.

Friction

Friction is a force that happens when two surfaces rub together.

Friction can slow things down.

It helps shoes grip the ground.

It helps bike brakes work.

Without friction, things would slide around much more easily.

Magnetism

Magnetism is a force that can pull or push some materials.

Magnets can attract some metals, such as iron and steel.

Magnets can pull without touching.

This makes magnetism a non-contact force.

Air Resistance

Air resistance is a force caused by air pushing against a moving object.

It can slow things down.

A parachute uses air resistance to help a person fall more slowly.

Water Resistance

Water resistance is a force caused by water pushing against a moving object.

It can slow things down in water.

Swimmers, boats, fish, and ducks all move through water resistance.

Forces and Movement

Forces can change how something moves.

A force can:

start movement
stop movement
speed something up
slow something down
change direction
change shape

A football does not kick itself.

A bicycle does not pedal itself.

A door does not open itself.

Something must apply a force.

Balanced &

Unbalanced Forces

Sometimes forces are balanced.

This means the forces are equal and opposite.

If a book is resting on a table, gravity pulls it down and the table pushes it up. The book stays still.

Sometimes forces are unbalanced.

This means one force is stronger than another.

Unbalanced forces can make things move, stop, speed up, slow down, or change direction.

You can think of balanced forces as a tug-of-war where both teams pull equally hard. The rope does not move because the forces cancel out.

If one team pulls harder, the forces become unbalanced and the rope starts to move in that direction.

Scientists use this idea to explain why some objects stay still, why some keep moving steadily, and why others speed up or slow down.

Deeper Understanding

As scientists learn more about forces, they begin to describe motion in greater detail.

Force Is Measured in Newtons

The unit of force is called the newton (N), named after Sir Isaac Newton.

A small force, such as lifting an apple, might be only a few newtons.

The force needed to move a car is much larger.

Scientists often use force meters to measure forces.

Resultant Forces

Objects are often affected by more than one force at the same time.

The overall force acting on an object is called the resultant force.

For example:

If a force of 10 N pushes right and a force of 10 N pushes left, the resultant force is 0 N.
If a force of 15 N pushes right and a force of 5 N pushes left, the resultant force is 10 N to the right.

A resultant force of zero means forces are balanced.

A non-zero resultant force means forces are unbalanced and the object’s motion can change.

Newton’s First Law

Newton’s First Law states that an object will stay at rest, or continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line, unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

This idea is called inertia.

The greater an object’s mass, the harder it is to change its motion.

This is why it is easier to push an empty shopping trolley than a full one.

Mass and Weight

Mass and weight are not the same thing.

Mass is the amount of matter in an object and is measured in kilograms (kg).

Weight is the force caused by gravity acting on that mass and is measured in newtons (N).

On the Moon, an astronaut’s mass stays the same, but their weight is lower because the Moon’s gravity is weaker than Earth’s.

Forces and Energy

Forces often transfer energy.

When you kick a football, energy is transferred from your muscles to the ball.

As friction acts on the moving ball, some of that energy is transferred to the surroundings as heat and sound.

Understanding the link between forces and energy helps scientists explain how machines, vehicles, and natural systems work.

Forces in Everyday Life

Forces help us:

walk
run
climb
lift
carry
throw
catch
write
cycle
open doors
use tools
build things
play sports

Forces are part of almost every movement we make.

Forces in Nature

Forces are not only found in machines or toys.

They are also found in nature.

Gravity pulls rain down from clouds.

Wind pushes leaves across the ground.

Waves push and pull pebbles on a beach.

Rivers move stones and soil.

Glaciers slowly push and scrape across land.

Earthquakes happen when stored forces inside Earth are suddenly released.

Forces help shape the world around us.

Forces Across the

Discovery Word Search Collection

Forces appear in many books across the collection.

Key places to explore include:

Physics Word Searches: Forces, Push and Pull, Gravity, Friction, Magnets, Motion, Speed, Machines, Rockets, and Floating and Sinking.
Physics Word Searches 2: Forces, Motion, Acceleration, Gravity, Friction, Springs, Weight, Pressure, Energy Transfers, Air Resistance, Water Resistance, and Floating.
Geology Word Searches: Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Tectonic Plates, Erosion, Rivers and Rocks, Glaciers, Coasts, and Fault Lines.

These topics show how forces affect movement, energy, machines, landscapes, and natural processes.

Try This

Push and Pull Hunt

Can you find:

☐ Something you can push

☐ Something you can pull

☐ Something that falls because of gravity

☐ Something that slows down because of friction

☐ Something that moves through air

☐ Something that moves through water

☐ Something that changes shape when force is applied

Simple Activity

Test Friction

Find a small toy car or round object.

Try rolling it on:

a smooth floor
carpet
a towel
grass
a table

Which surface helps it move furthest?

Which surface slows it down fastest?

The rougher surface usually creates more friction.

Real-World Connections

Forces help explain:

why objects fall
why bikes need brakes
why magnets can pull some metals
why parachutes slow people down
why boats must push through water
why rivers carry rocks
why waves shape beaches
why tectonic plates can cause earthquakes
why machines make work easier

The more you notice forces, the more you see science happening all around you.

Further Exploration

Read

Physics Word Searches
Physics Word Searches 2
Geology Word Searches

Observe

Watch a ball roll and stop.
Notice how your shoes grip the ground.
Feel a door move when you push it.
Watch leaves move in the wind.
Look for waves pushing pebbles on a beach.
Notice how water moves stones in a stream.

Ask

What force is acting here?

That one question can help learners begin to see physics, nature, movement, and Earth science working together.

Keep Wondering

The next time something moves, stops, falls, rolls, slides, floats, stretches, turns, or changes shape, ask:

Was there a push or a pull?

Forces are everywhere.

They are in our bodies.

They are in our homes.

They are in machines.

They are in weather.

They are in rivers, rocks, waves, mountains, and the ground beneath our feet.

Search the words.

Notice the movement.

Discover the forces.

Key Takeaways

A force is a push or a pull.
Forces can start, stop, speed up, slow down, or change the direction of movement.
Some forces need contact, while others, like gravity and magnetism, act from a distance.
Gravity pulls objects towards Earth and causes things to fall.
Friction, air resistance, and water resistance can slow moving objects down.
Balanced forces do not change an object’s motion, while unbalanced forces do.
Force is measured in newtons (N).
Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass.
Forces transfer energy and help explain how machines, vehicles, and natural systems work.
Forces are involved in everyday activities and natural processes all around us.