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Mass and gravity cause a backpack full of books to feel heavy when you lift it.

Forces 01

Forces act everywhere. From opening a door to riding a bike, pushes and pulls change the way objects move or stay still in our world.

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Fascinating Fact:

You use forces all the time, even when you don’t notice—like when you sit on a chair or push open a door.

In KS2 Science, you’ll study how forces affect motion. From gravity to friction, forces explain why things fall, roll, or stop moving around us.

Key Terms

Force: A push or pull that can change the speed, direction, or shape of an object.
Friction: A force that slows objects down when surfaces rub together.
Gravity: The pulling force that keeps objects on Earth and makes them fall when dropped.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a force in science?

A force in science is a push or a pull that can change how an object moves, stops, or changes shape.

What are common examples of forces?

Common examples include gravity pulling objects down, friction slowing things, and applied forces like pushing a swing.

Why are forces important in everyday life?

Forces are important because they explain how we walk, drive, play sports, and even keep furniture in place.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

If you roll a ball across the carpet, which forces will cause it to slow down and then stop?

The push from your hand and gravity

Magnetic pull and upthrust

Gravity, friction and air resistance

Upthrust and air resistance

Gravity pulls the ball against the carpet. The ball rubs against the carpet, which is friction, and the air around the ball also rubs against it

2 .

Which of the following is not a force?

Electricity

Gravity

Upthrust

Friction

Electricity is a type of energy

3 .

In which direction does gravity exert force (as experienced by people or objects on Earth)?

Down

Both up and down

Gravity can exert force in any direction

Gravity pulls all objects (on the Earth's surface or in its atmosphere) down towards the centre of the Earth - the Earth's gravity even keeps the Moon in orbit because it pulls the Moon towards its centre (otherwise the Moon would travel in a straight line out into space)

4 .

What is a force?

A source of energy

A push or a pull

A magnet

A measurement

A force is always exerted either as a push or a pull

5 .

What causes a backpack full of books to feel heavy when you lift it?

Friction

Air resistance

Upthrust and friction

Mass and gravity

The force of gravity acting on mass (the amount of matter in an object) is called weight - which is, of course, what makes an object feel heavy

6 .

What are forces measured in?

Newtons

Kilometres

Millilitres

Degrees Celsius

The newton is named after the famous scientist Isaac Newton who you may have heard of

7 .

In a diagram, a force is represented by what?

An X

A circle

A tick

An arrow

When labelling a diagram, you use arrows to show the direction of a force

8 .

Forces can cause objects to change what?

Their speed

Their direction

Their shape

All of the above

Forces can speed things up and slow them down, push or pull them in a new direction, or squash and stretch them!

9 .

Which unit should be used to measure mass (the amount of matter an object contains)?

Grams

Newtons

Centimetres

Degrees Celsius

Although weight is often given in kilograms and grams, this measurement really refers to mass. Weight is dependent on gravity and can change if the force of gravity is different (you wouldn't weigh the same on the Moon as you do on Earth, because the Moon has less gravity)

10 .

Which of the following would you use when measuring force?

A ruler

A hygrometer

A forcemeter

A thermometer

Another name for a forcemeter is a Newtonmeter

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is a force?

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)