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Forces KS2

These fully-planned and prepared Forces KS2 lesson packs cover magnetism, gravity, friction and air/water resistance, and how forces are used in machines with levers, pulleys and gears.

The lessons are designed to address the National Curriculum Science objectives for forces for KS2 and include detailed lesson planning and guidance for teachers, engaging slides for the teaching input, and a range of resources for practical scientific activities, enquiries and experiments.

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Forces KS2

What are forces?

A force is a push or a pull that can make an object move, stop, change direction, or change shape. Forces act on objects when they come into contact with them or even from a distance, like gravity pulling us towards the centre of the Earth.

Forces can be balanced, meaning they cancel each other out and result in no movement, or unbalanced, which causes a change in motion. They are measured in newtons (N) and play a crucial role in everything from everyday activities to complex engineering and scientific discoveries.

Which forces are studied at KS2?

Forces in KS2 are explicitly taught in Year 3 and Year 5. The National Curriculum for Science states that in Year 3 children should explore friction (comparing how objects move on different surfaces) and magnets. In Year 5, children move on to explore gravity, air resistance, water resistance and friction, as well as how forces work with levers, pulleys and gears.

Forces KS2 National Curriculum Objectives

The Year 3 'Forces and Magnets' curriculum objectives are as follows:

Pupils should be taught to:

  • compare how things move on different surfaces
  • notice that some forces need contact between two objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance
  • observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
  • compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether
  • they are attracted to a magnet, and identify some magnetic materials
  • describe magnets as having two poles
  • predict whether two magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are facing.

The Year 5 'Forces' curriculum objectives are as follows:

Pupils should be taught to:

  • explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object
  • identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces
  • recognise that some mechanisms, including levers, pulleys and gears, allow a smaller force to have a greater effect.

Our 'Forces and Magnets' scheme of work is designed to cover all the Year 3 forces objectives from the National Curriculum.

Our 'Forces in Action' scheme of work is designed to cover all the Year 5 forces objectives from the National Curriculum.

Friction

Friction is a force that occurs when two surfaces rub against each other, resisting motion. It acts in the opposite direction to movement and can slow down or stop objects from moving. We experience friction every day—it helps us walk without slipping, allows cars to grip the road and enables us to hold objects without them sliding from our hands.

Too much friction can cause wear and tear on materials (such as when carpets get worn down when they are walked on too much) while too little friction can make surfaces dangerously slippery. Too much or too little friction can both be helpful and unhelpful to us: we use a lot of friction when sandpaper wears away the surface of wood, for example, making it smoother and allowing us to shape it; and having slippy surfaces is great fun for ice-skating!

There are different types of friction, including static friction (preventing movement), sliding friction (resisting motion between surfaces), rolling friction (affecting wheels and balls) and fluid friction (acting in liquids and gases).

Magnets

Magnets are objects that produce an invisible force called magnetism, which can attract or repel certain materials, mainly metals like iron, nickel and cobalt. Magnetic forces are non-contact forces, meaning they can act on objects without physically touching them. Every magnet has two poles—a north pole and a south pole. Opposite poles attract each other, while like poles repel. The area around a magnet where its force is felt is called the magnetic field.

There are lots of ways in which magnets are used in everyday life, from keeping fridge doors closed to powering electric motors and generating electricity in power stations. They are used by recycling centres to help separate different types of metals. They are also used in medical devices, such as MRIs. They can even be used to lift trains in the air–Maglev trains use magnets to lift and propel the train above the tracks, reducing friction and enabling high speeds!

Diagram showing how like poes repel and opposite poles attract

Diagram showing how like poles repel and opposite poles attract.

Gravity

Gravity is a force that pulls objects toward each other. It is what keeps us on the ground, makes objects you drop fall to the ground and holds planets in orbit around the Sun. Gravity is present everywhere in the universe, and its strength depends on the mass of objects and the distance between them—the larger the mass, the stronger the gravitational pull.

Gravity was first discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, a mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, born in 1643. It is believed that he first started to consider gravity as a fundamental force when he saw an apple falling from a tree. Gravity is a fundamental force that influences everything from the movement of galaxies to the way we walk and jump on Earth.

Portrait of Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was the first person to discover and explain gravity.

Air Resistance

Air resistance is a type of friction that acts against objects moving through the air. It slows objects down by pushing against the object in the opposite direction of travel. The faster an object moves, the greater the air resistance it experiences.

Air resistance depends on several factors:

  • Speed: Faster objects experience more air resistance.
  • Shape: Streamlined shapes, like airplanes and sports cars, reduce air resistance.
  • Surface Area: Larger surfaces (like parachutes) experience more air resistance.
  • Density of Air: Thicker air (e.g. at lower altitudes) creates more resistance than thinner air.

Air resistance is why parachutes slow people down when they fall; the resistance the parachute is experiencing allows the parachute to slow down, making it safe to fall to the ground.

Air resistance is why cyclists and other athletes wear tight clothing; if there is less for the air to resist against, it won't slow the athlete down as much.

A parachute floating over fields

Parachutes take advantage of air resistance to allow people to jump out of planes safely!

Water Resistance

Water resistance is a type of friction that slows down objects moving through water. Just like air resistance, it acts in the opposite direction of motion, making it harder for objects to move forward. Have you ever tried walking in a swimming pool? It's much harder than walking in the air outside; this is water resistance.

Water resistance depends on several factors:

  • Speed: The faster an object moves, the greater the resistance.
  • Shape: Streamlined shapes, like fish and submarines, reduce water resistance.
  • Surface Area: A larger surface area increases resistance (for example, a flat paddle experiences more water resistance than a narrow spear).
  • Water Density: Denser liquids create more resistance than lighter ones. It would be harder to walk in custard than in water!

Swimming costumes, boats, and submarines are designed to reduce water resistance to move more efficiently through water.

Levers, Pulleys and Gears

Levers, pulleys, and gears are simple mechanisms that help us apply a smaller force to achieve a greater effect, making tasks easier. These mechanisms use mechanical advantage to multiply the force applied, allowing us to lift heavy objects, move loads with less effort and transfer motion efficiently.

A lever consists of a rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point called a fulcrum. By placing the fulcrum closer to the load and applying force at the opposite end, a small effort can lift a much heavier object. This is why crowbars, seesaws and bottle openers make lifting and prying easier.

A pulley is a wheel with a rope or chain running over it, used to lift loads. A simple pulley changes the direction of force, while a system of multiple pulleys, called a block and tackle, reduces the effort needed to lift heavy objects. Pulleys are used in cranes to lift heavy materials on a building site, to allow elevators to rise and fall, and to lift and drop the sails on sailing ships.

Gears are toothed wheels that transfer force and motion. When gears of different sizes interlock, they can increase speed, change direction, or amplify force. For example, in bicycles, small gears require less force to turn larger gears, making pedaling easier while maintaining speed. Gears are also used in clocks, cars and industrial machines, helping to control and distribute mechanical power efficiently.

 

A crane on a building site
A crane on a building site

Cranes use pulley systems to make lifting very heavy objects easier.

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