Pushes and Pulls
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flagWhat you'll discover
- arrow_forwardExplain that a force is a push or a pull
- arrow_forwardShow that a bigger force makes the box speed up faster
- arrow_forwardDiscover that friction is a force that slows moving things down
- arrow_forwardRead the force arrow and the speed arrow on a moving object
Forces are pushes and pulls
Every time you kick a football, open a door or pull your school bag, you are using a force. A force is simply a push or a pull, and scientists measure it in newtons (N) — named after Isaac Newton.
In the simulation, hold the big arrow buttons to push the box. The pink arrow shows your force, and the blue arrow shows how fast the box is moving. Watch how they are connected!
Bigger push, faster speed-up
When you push something, it does not jump to full speed instantly — it speeds up little by little. Scientists call speeding up "acceleration". A bigger force makes things accelerate faster, and a heavier object needs a bigger push to speed up the same amount.
Try the push strength slider: with a gentle 10 N push the box gets going slowly, but with a mighty 60 N push it zooms away in no time!
Friction: the invisible brake
Stop pushing the box and it slowly comes to a stop. Why? Because of friction — a force between the box and the ground that always pushes against motion, like an invisible brake. Rough surfaces have lots of friction; smooth, slippery ones have very little.
Switch friction off in the simulation and the box glides on and on without stopping, like a puck on ice. Friction is also your friend: without it your shoes would slip with every step!