Movement and forces
Forces are pushes and pulls: gravity, friction and magnetism. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.
Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz
Push and pull
Shutting a door is a push; opening a drawer is a pull. A still object only starts moving when a force acts on it. Push a ball harder and it goes faster and further.
- Two equal forces in opposite directions: the object stays still.
- Push a heavy and a light box equally hard: the light box moves faster.
Friction
A ball rolling on grass stops sooner than on a smooth floor, because grass has more friction. On ice there is very little friction, so it is slippery.
| More friction (helps us) | Less friction (helps us) |
|---|---|
| Bicycle brakes to stop | Oil on the bicycle chain |
| Studs under soccer boots | Wheels or rollers under a heavy box |
Gravity and air resistance
Gravity pulls everything down. A feather falls more slowly than a stone, because the air pushes against the feather: this is called air resistance. A parachute uses air resistance to land slowly.
On a wet road cars slide more easily: the water lowers the friction.
Remember this and test yourself
- A force is a push or a pull.
- Gravity pulls everything towards the Earth.
- Friction is the force between two surfaces that rub; it slows things down. Rough surfaces have more friction.
- A force can make something start moving, stop, go faster or slower, or change direction.
- A magnet pulls iron, like a nail.
Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.
A force is a Push or a Pull. Friction is nature’s brake: rougher = more brake.
Important words
First say what the word means, then turn the card over.
Match column A to column B
Tap a word in column A, then its meaning in column B. You can also start in column B.
True or false?
Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.
Now the real quiz!
The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.
Take the quiz: Movement and forces- Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
- The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.
Follows CAPS for Grade 4 Natural Sciences and Technology. Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.