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Science Launch G3 / Week 01 / Friday
5/6
Week 01 · Balanced or Not?

Friday

Forces all around
// Pushes, pulls and what they do
⏱ about 15 min

Friday: Forces All Around

At the park, Rocket kicks a soccer ball. It flies, bounces and rolls to a stop by Raven's feet.

"That one kick started a lot of changes," Rocket says.

Raven smiles. "What do you notice? How many forces can you find?"

Nova hovers above the field. "Follow the ball from start to stop," she says. "Name each push or pull."

Forces at the park

Forces are everywhere. Watch a soccer ball to see them.

Your kick is an unbalanced push, so the ball starts moving.

Gravity pulls the ball back down to the ground.

Friction from the grass slows the ball until it stops.

A ball sitting still on the grass has balanced forces. Its motion does not change.

At the parkTrue or false?
A kick is an unbalanced push.?
Gravity pulls a kicked ball back down.?
Friction makes a rolling ball go faster.?
A ball sitting still has balanced forces.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEKicks start motion, gravity pulls down, and friction slows things.
BALANCED OR UNBALANCED?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A swing hangs still on a calm day. Are the forces balanced or unbalanced?
A friend pushes you on the swing and you speed up. Balanced or unbalanced?
A bike rider squeezes the brakes and slows down. Balanced or unbalanced?
A push or pull is a ____.
The force that makes things fall is ____.
The force from rubbing surfaces is ____.

One trip, many forces

Think about riding a bike down a street.

Your feet push the pedals. That unbalanced force speeds you up.

You ride at a steady speed. Now the forces are balanced.

You squeeze the brakes. Friction slows the wheels, and you stop.

PUT THE BIKE RIDE IN ORDER
  • ?The bike speeds up.
  • ?You ride at a steady speed.
  • ?You squeeze the brakes.
  • ?The bike stops.
  • ?You push the pedals.
WHY THIS EXERCISEA push speeds you up, balanced forces keep you steady, and friction stops you.
NAME THAT FORCE
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A ball rolls down a slide and speeds up. Which force pulls it down?
You slide across a carpet in socks and slow down. Which force slows you?
Balanced forces leave motion the same. Unbalanced forces do what to motion? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEUnbalanced forces change motion. Balanced forces do not.
Try it
Go on a force hunt around your home.
Find one balanced force: something still.
Find one unbalanced force: something that starts or stops.

You did it! You can spot balanced and unbalanced forces anywhere. Tomorrow is Launch Lab with your family.

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