Exploring the World of Science - Level I

Chapter 4 - Force and Motion

Force and Motion

 Exploring the World of Science - Level I
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion

Learning Points
• 4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
Define force and give examples of contact and noncontact forces.
Explain how a force affects motion and how it is measured.
Define friction and explain its effect on moving and non moving
objects.
Identify factors that affect friction.
Describe how electrically charged objects interact.
Explain the cause of magnetic force and describe how magnets
work.
 Exploring the World of Science - Level I
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion

Learning Points
• 4.1 Forces in Nature
Define, describe, and give an example of force of gravity.
Describe factors that affect the strength of gravity.
Define weight and relate it to mass and to the pull of gravity on
Earth.
Define and give examples of buoyant force.
Define density and describe how objects of different densities
behave in water.
Section Review
Discussion questions
Section exercises
 Exploring the World of Science - Level I
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion

Learning Points
• 4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
Explain how to calculate net force and describe how forces are
represented in force diagrams.
Define balanced forces and describe their effect on motion.
Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.

Section Review
Discussion questions
Section exercises
 Exploring the World of Science - Level I
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion

Learning Points
• 4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
Explain how motion is related to a frame of reference using an
example.
Define speed and explain how to calculate it.
Analyze position versus time graphs.
Define velocity, give an example of velocity, and relate it to speed.
Define acceleration and identify its different forms.
Analyze speed versus time graphs.
Explain how gravity, friction, and other forces affect motion.
 Exploring the World of Science - Level I
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion

Learning Points
• 4.3 Measuring Motion
Relate mass and force to acceleration and give examples.

Section Review
Discussion questions
Section exercises
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Textbook page 108)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Textbook page 109)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Textbook page 109)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Textbook page 109)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Workbook page 62)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Workbook page 62)

0.1 N varies They sink

0.2 N varies It sinks
0.05 N varies It floats
1.1 N varies It floats
1.2 N varies It sinks
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Workbook page 62, 63)

The paperclips, the eraser, and the metal block sink. The
_________________________________________________
cork and the wooden block float.
_________________________________________________

The weight of an object that sinks appear to change . The

_________________________________________________
weight of the object that float appears to become 0 N .
_________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Workbook page 63)

The water pushes up on the objects that float. The amount

_________________________________________________
the water pushes up is the same as the amount that gravity
_________________________________________________
pulls down on an object.
_________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Workbook page 63)

_________________________________________________
The density of an object determines whether it will sink or
_________________________________________________
float. The paperclips were very light, but also had a small
_________________________________________________
volume. They sank. The wooden block was heavier, but it
_________________________________________________
was much larger than the paperclips. It floated. The
_________________________________________________
weight of the metal block was similar to the wooden
_________________________________________________
block, but it was much smaller. It sank.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Explore what buoyant force is.
(Workbook page 63)

_________________________________________________
How does the shape of an object affect whether it will sink
_________________________________________________
or float? I could test objects made of the same material
_________________________________________________
that have the same mass but have different shapes to see
_________________________________________________
whether they sink or float.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP1: Define force and give examples of contact and noncontact forces.
(Textbook page 110)

Forces All Around

A force is a push or pull. A tugboat can push or pull another boat to
make that boat move. A tugboat needs to touch an object to apply
a force to the object. The force a tugboat applies is a contact force.
Contact forces can act only between objects that are touching.
Noncontact forces can act between objects that are at a distance.
For example, Earth pulls on the moon without touching it.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP1: Define force and give examples of contact and noncontact forces.
(Workbook page 63)

Contact

Noncontact
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP2: Explain how a force affects motion and how it is measured.
(Textbook page 110)

Forces make objects start moving and speed up. Forces

also make objects slow down and stop. Forces can pull
objects to the ground, but they also help objects stay upright.
Forces also act on objects that are not moving. Forces push or pull
on objects in different directions and by different amounts. You
can use a spring scale to measure force. Force is measured in
newtons (N). You need to apply about 10 N of force to lift a 1-L
bottle full of water.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP2: Explain how a force affects motion and how it is measured.
(Textbook page 110)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP2: Explain how a force affects motion and how it is measured.
(Workbook page 63)

directions
amounts
spring balance
newton
1 liter bottle of water
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP3: Define friction and explain its effect on moving and non moving objects.
(Textbook page 111)

Friction
You can easily glide down a water slide. But you will not
go down the slide as fast if it were not covered in water. The friction
between you and the slide would slow you down. Friction is a force
that resists the motion of touching surfaces that tend to slide
against each other. Friction is a contact force. Friction is often the
reason why objects slow down and stop.
Friction acts on objects that are rolling or sliding. It acts on rolling
car wheels and on a book pushed across a table. Friction may also
act on objects that are not moving. It acts on the car wheels of a
car parked on a hill. Friction between the parking brakes resists the
motion of the car so the car does not roll down the hill, and friction
between the road and the wheels prevents it from slipping.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP3: Define friction and explain its effect on moving and non moving objects.
(Workbook page 64)

False
True
True
False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP4: Identify factors that affect friction.
(Textbook page 111)

Friction is not the same between all surfaces. It is

larger between rough surfaces than it is between
smooth surfaces. If you look at any surface with a microscope,
you would see that even the smoothest surface is made up of
many tiny hills and valleys. Friction happens because the hills of
two touching surfaces stick together. Rougher surfaces have more
hills and valleys, so rougher surfaces have more friction. Friction
also depends on how strongly the surfaces are pressed together.
You can easily slide your hands over a rock when you touch it
lightly. It is harder to slide your hand when you press down on
the rock firmly.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP4: Identify factors that affect friction.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP4: Identify factors that affect friction.
(Workbook page 64)

_______________________________________
Roughness of surface,
_______________________________________
how tightly the surfaces are pressed
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP5: Describe how electrically charged objects interact.
(Textbook page 112)

Electrical and Magnetic Forces

When you pull a sweater over your head on a dry day,
your hair might stand up. The static electricity that causes your
hair to stick out is an electrical force. Electrical force is the result
of interaction between positive charges and negative charges. Like
charges repel each other. To repel means to push away. Unlike
charges attract each other. To attract means to pull toward. Your
hair stands up because each strand of hair has the same charge.
So, the strands push away from each other. On the other hand,
static cling causes clothes to stick together because the clothes
have opposite charges.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP5: Describe how electrically charged objects interact.
(Workbook page 64)

charges
repel
attract
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP6: Explain the cause of magnetic force and describe how magnets work.
(Textbook page 112)

Magnetic force is caused by the movement of

electrons within atoms. It causes magnets to push and
pull on each other. It also causes magnets to pull on certain
materials, such as iron and cobalt. All magnets have a north pole
and a south pole. Like poles of magnets push away from each
other. Opposite poles pull toward each other. The north pole of
one magnet is always attracted to the south poles of other
magnets. Both electrical forces and magnetic forces can act at a
distance.
The strength of these forces gets smaller as distance increases.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP6: Explain the cause of magnetic force and describe how magnets work.
(Textbook page 112)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP6: Explain the cause of magnetic force and describe how magnets work.
(Workbook page 64)

False

True

False
True
True

False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP7: Define, describe, and give an example of force of gravity.
(Textbook page 113)

Gravity
When you knock a pencil off a desk, it always falls
down. Gravity pulls the pencil and other falling objects
downward. Gravity is a force that pulls objects together because
of their mass. The force of gravity of Earth pulls every object
toward the center of Earth. Gravity can pull objects together at a
distance. Gravity cannot push objects apart.
Gravity exists between all objects. For example, gravity exists
between two pencils. So why aren’t all objects stuck together?
The gravity between light objects is too small to be noticeable.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP7: Define, describe, and give an example of force of gravity.
(Workbook page 64)

True
True
False
False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP8: Describe factors that affect the strength of gravity.
(Textbook page 113)

The law of gravity describes how gravity is related to

distance and mass. The larger the mass of an object is,
the larger the force of gravity between the
object and other objects is. The gravity
between Earth and other objects is large
because Earth has a large mass. The force of
gravity between two pencils is very small
because their masses are small.
Gravity decreases as the distance between two
objects increases. The sun is much more
massive than Earth, but it is very far away. So,
the force of gravity between you and the sun is
weaker than the force of gravity between you
and Earth.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP8: Describe factors that affect the strength of gravity.
(Workbook page 64)

False

False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP9: Define weight and relate it to mass and to the pull of gravity on Earth.
(Textbook page 114)

Weight
Weight is a measure of the pull of gravity on an object.
Weight depends on an object’s mass. Gravity is different on the
moon and on other planets. The force of gravity on the moon is
about one sixth the force of gravity on Earth. So, your weight on
the moon would be about one-sixth of your weight on Earth.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP9: Define weight and relate it to mass and to the pull of gravity on Earth.
(Workbook page 64)

the pull of gravity on the object

mass of the object
different
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP10: Define and give examples of buoyant force.
(Textbook page 114)

Buoyant Force
Gravity pulls down on a pelican. But a pelican can float
on water because the water pushes up on the bird. Buoyant force
is an upward force that a liquid or a gas exerts on an object.
Buoyant force is what keeps some objects from sinking.
A pelican and water cannot take up the same space. When an
object is placed in a fluid, it displaces some of the fluid. The
volume of fluid that is displaced has a certain weight. The strength
of the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid that is
displaced. If the buoyant force on an object equals the weight of
the object, the object floats. If the buoyant force is less than the
weight of the object, the object sinks.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP10: Define and give examples of buoyant force.
(Textbook page 114)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP10: Define and give examples of buoyant force.
(Workbook page 65)

upward

displaced

floats
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP11: Define density and describe how objects of different densities behave in water.
(Textbook page 115)

Recall that density is the amount of mass in a given

volume. A denser object has more mass in a given
volume than a less dense object has. Because weight depends
on mass, a denser object of a certain volume weighs more than a
less dense object of the same volume. An anchor is denser than
water. Therefore, the weight of the anchor is greater than the
weight of the water that it displaces. The buoyant force on the
anchor is not enough to keep the anchor from sinking. Objects
that are less dense than water float in water. Objects that are
denser than water sink.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP11: Define density and describe how objects of different densities behave in water.
(Textbook page 115)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
LP11: Define density and describe how objects of different densities behave in water.
(Workbook page 65)

True

False
False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Summary
(Textbook page 115)

Summary
A force is a push or a pull. You observe different forces every day.
For example, friction resists the motion of objects that are
touching. Electrical forces and magnetic forces can push and pull
from a distance. Gravity is a force that depends on mass and
distance. Objects float because of buoyant force.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 115)

1. Define force.
A force is a push or a pull.
2. Identify three forces that can act at a distance.
Gravity, electrical force, and magnetic force can act at a
distance.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 115)

3. Compare and contrast friction and gravity.

Friction and gravity are both forces. Friction resists motion
of objects that are touching. Gravity can pull objects
together from a distance. Friction depends on the texture of
the surface and how tightly they are pressed together.
Gravity depends on how far apart the objects are and on the
mass of the objects.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 115)

4. Apply the law of gravity to explain whether your weight

would change on other planets.
The law of gravity states that gravity is less when objects
are farther apart or when they have less mass. Different
planets have different masses. Therefore, their forces of
gravity are different. Weight is a measure of the pull of
gravity. So my weight would change depending on the
planet.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 115)

5. Predict whether a 50-N object that displaces 40 N of water

will sink or float in water. Explain your prediction.
The object will sink. The buoyant force is the weight of the
water that is displaced. The buoyant force on the object is
less than the weight of the object, so the object will sink.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Section exercises
(Workbook page 65)

stronger gravity weaker gravity

weaker gravity stronger gravity

 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Section exercises
(Workbook page 66)

gravity
electrical force magnetic force
buoyant force
friction
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Section exercises
(Workbook page 66)

____________________________________________________
The ball will roll farther on the smooth floor. The force of
____________________________________________________
friction is greater between rough surfaces than it is between
____________________________________________________
smooth surfaces. The carpet is rougher than the cement, so it
____________________________________________________
will resist the motion of the ball more.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Section exercises
(Workbook page 66)

____________________________________________________
The object will float because it is less dense than water. The
____________________________________________________
weight of the water that is displaced by the object is greater
____________________________________________________
than the weight of the object. Therefore, the buoyant force on
____________________________________________________
the object is greater than the force of gravity on the object.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.1 Forces in Nature
Section exercises
(Workbook page 66)

____________________________________________________
The mass of the spacecraft stays the same. The weight of the
____________________________________________________
spacecraft is the greatest on Earth. It decreases as the
____________________________________________________
spacecraft gets farther from Earth. It will have very little
____________________________________________________
weight when it is traveling through space and is far from
____________________________________________________
planets. Its weight will increase as it gets close to the moon.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 116)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 116, 117)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 117)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 117)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 67)

__________________________________________________
The block does not move.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 67)

__________________________________________________
The block moves to the right. When I increase the force to
__________________________________________________
1.5 N, the block continues to move to the right. When I
__________________________________________________
increase the force to 2 N, the block slows down and begins
__________________________________________________
moving to the left.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 67)

__________________________________________________
The block moves in a diagonal direction between the spring
__________________________________________________
scales. When I increase the force on one of the spring scales,
__________________________________________________
the block moves more in that direction.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 67)

_________________________________________________
(Step 2) Net force = 1 N – 1 N = 0 N. (Step 3) Net force = 1.5
_________________________________________________
N – 1 N = 0.5 N to the right; 1.5 N – 1.5 N = 0 N; 2.0 N – 1.5
_________________________________________________
N = 0.5 N to the left.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 68)

_________________________________________________
The block did not move in Step 2. At first, the block moved
_________________________________________________
to the right in Step 3. It continued to move to the right
_________________________________________________
when the force was 1.5 N on both scales. It slowed down
_________________________________________________
and then moved to the left when the force on the left scale
_________________________________________________
increased to 2 N.

_________________________________________________
Applying equal but opposite forces does not change the
_________________________________________________
motion of an object. When I applied 1 N of force to both
_________________________________________________
sides of an unmoving block, it did not move. When I applied
_________________________________________________
1.5 N to both sides of a block that was moving, it continued
_________________________________________________
to move in the same direction.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 68)

_________________________________________________
Applying unequal but opposite forces can make an object
_________________________________________________
start moving or change the direction of an object’s motion.
_________________________________________________
When I applied a net force of 0.5 N to the right on the wood
_________________________________________________
block that was not moving, it began moving to the right.
_________________________________________________
When I applied a net force of 0.5 N to the left on a block
_________________________________________________
that was moving to the right, the block slowed down and
_________________________________________________
began moving to the left.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Measure balanced forces and unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 68)

_________________________________________________
The net force was not 0 N. The block moved in a diagonal
_________________________________________________
direction. It would not have moved if the net force were 0 N.
_________________________________________________
The direction of the net force was in the diagonal direction
_________________________________________________
between the directions that the forces were applied.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP1: Explain how to calculate net force and describe how forces are represented in force diagrams.
(Textbook page 118)

Describing Forces
Most objects have several forces acting on them. The net force is
the combination of all forces acting on an object. To find the net
force, forces acting in opposite directions are subtracted. Forces
acting in the same direction are added together.
Suppose that you push a box with 10 N of force to the left. Your
friend pushes the box with 8 N of force to the right. You subtract
the forces because they are in opposite directions. The net force is
2 N to the left.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP1: Explain how to calculate net force and describe how forces are represented in force diagrams.
(Textbook page 118)

Now suppose your friend pulls the box to the left while
you push. You add the forces because they are in the
same direction. The net force is 18 N to the left.
Force diagrams are used to show the forces acting on an object.
Longer arrows represent larger forces. The arrows point in the
direction of the force. A push is a force pointing away from the
body exerting it while a pull acts towards the body exerting it.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP1: Explain how to calculate net force and describe how forces are represented in force diagrams.
(Textbook page 118)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP1: Explain how to calculate net force and describe how forces are represented in force diagrams.
(Workbook page 68, 69)

_______________________________________________
8N

_______________________________________________
16 N

The force I exert.

_______________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP2: Define balanced forces and describe their effect on motion.
(Textbook page 119)

Balanced Forces
During tug-of-war, both teams pull on the rope. The
rope may not move even though forces are applied to it. The forces
on the rope are balanced. Two forces acting on an object are
balanced when their net force is zero—They cancel each other.
During tug-of-war, both teams exert forces in opposite directions. If
these forces are equal, their net force is zero—no team wins.
Balanced forces do not change the motion of an object. Objects
that are not moving will stay at rest. For example, gravity pulls
down on a book resting on a desk. The desk pushes up on the book
with the same amount of force. Gravity and the desk’s force are in
opposite directions. The two forces cancel, and the book does not
move.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP2: Define balanced forces and describe their effect on motion.
(Textbook page 119)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP2: Define balanced forces and describe their effect on motion.
(Textbook page 119)

Balanced forces may act on moving objects. The forces

on a moving object are balanced if the object does not
speed up, slow down, or change direction. A moving car has many
forces acting on it. These forces are balanced when the car moves
in a straight line at a constant speed.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP2: Define balanced forces and describe their effect on motion.
(Workbook page 69)

False
True

True

False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 120)

Unbalanced Forces
You change the motion of a book when you pick it up.
The forces on the book and the rope are unbalanced. Unbalanced
forces are forces whose sum is not zero. The force you apply to
pick up the book is greater than the force of gravity pulling the
book down. In a game of tug-o-war, both teams pull the rope with
equal forces— tension is the same on both ends of the rope.
However, the team who wins is the one who can push against the
ground with a greater force. As a reaction, the ground pushes back
on the teams causing an unbalanced net force acting on the
system (teams + rope); the system moves toward the stronger
team.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 120)

Unbalanced forces cause changes in motion. For

example, they can make objects start moving. They can
make moving objects slow down and stop. They can also cause
moving objects to move faster. An unbalanced force can also
change the direction that an object moves. A soccer player applies
an unbalanced force with her foot to make a soccer ball roll in a
new direction.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 120)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 120)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 121)

Unbalanced forces act on a cable car. The net force

determines the change in motion. The uphill force
applied by the cable is greater than the forces of gravity and
friction when the car starts to move up the hill. As long as the net
force acting on the car is greater than zero, the car speeds up.
When the car nears the top, the pulling force is reduced. The
pulling force is now less than the forces of gravity and friction. So
the direction of the net force is down the hill. The car still moves
up the hill, but it slows down and eventually stops. Balanced forces
act on the car once it is stopped at the top.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 120)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Textbook page 121)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
LP3: Define and give examples of unbalanced forces.
(Workbook page 69)

_________________________________________________
Speed up, slow down, stop a moving body, start moving,
_________________________________________________
change direction
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Summary
(Textbook page 121)

Summary
All the forces acting on an object combine to produce the net force.
Balanced forces do not change the motion of an object. Unbalanced
forces change the motion of an object.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 121)

1. Identify the net force on a car that is not moving.

The net force is 0 N.
2. Use numbers to find the net force on an object that is being
pushed up with a force of 6 N and being pulled down with a
force of 20 N.
Net force = 20 N – 6 N = 14 N down
3. Explain what happens when the forces on a forward-moving
bike become balanced.
The bike will keep moving forward in the same direction and
at the same speed.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 121)

4. Analyze why a car moving forward may not change direction

when a net force greater than 0 N is applied in the backward
direction.
Because the car is moving, the net force in the opposite
direction would make the car slow down and possibly stop.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Section exercises
(Workbook page 69)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Section exercises
(Workbook page 69)

do not change motion change motion

net force is 0 N start motion
stop motion
net force is not 0 N
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Section exercises
(Workbook page 70)

Gravity pulls down on the ball. The ground pushes up on the

__________________________________________________
ball. Friction resists the motion of the ball. The forces are
__________________________________________________
unbalanced because the ball is slowing down.
__________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Section exercises
(Workbook page 70)

Forces cause both cars to move. Friction between the road

__________________________________________________
and the cars and between the air and the cars resists the
__________________________________________________
motion of the cars. Gravity pulls down on the cars and the
__________________________________________________
road pushes up. The forces on the first car are balanced.
__________________________________________________
The forces on the second car are unbalanced. A net force
__________________________________________________
on the second car causes it to turn right.
__________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.2 Balanced Forces and Unbalanced Forces
Section exercises
(Workbook page 70)

The forces on the balloon are balanced. The balloon is floating

__________________________________________________
at a given height because an upward force on the balloon is
__________________________________________________
balanced by the downward force of gravity. Because the
__________________________________________________
balloon is traveling at a constant speed, no unbalanced force
__________________________________________________
is acting it. (Note: The upward force on the balloon is the
__________________________________________________
buoyant force, but students may not know this.)
__________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Textbook page 122)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Textbook page 123)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Textbook page 123)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Textbook page 123)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Workbook page 71)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Workbook page 71)

6 4 2 7
13 8 4 13
19 11 6 17
24 15 8 20
30 20 10 25
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Workbook page 71)

__________________________________________________
The student’s graph should show three lines: one for the
__________________________________________________
walking data, one for the jogging data, and one for the
__________________________________________________
running data. The running line will have the steepest slope
__________________________________________________
and the walking line will be the least steep. The jogging line
__________________________________________________
will be in between the running line and the walking line.

The steepness of the lines increased as I moved faster.

__________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Workbook page 72)

__________________________________________________
The student’s graph should show three lines: one for the
__________________________________________________
walking data, one for the jogging data, and one for the
__________________________________________________
running data. The appearance of the lines will depend on
__________________________________________________
how well the student was able to keep a constant pace. A
__________________________________________________
constant pace will be seen as a horizontal line.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Explore how heat flows.
(Workbook page 72)

__________________________________________________
My speed was constant when I ran. It varied slightly when I
__________________________________________________
walked. My speed varied a lot when I jogged.

__________________________________________________
The student’s graph should show a line that has a changing
__________________________________________________
slope. The line will initially have a slight upward slope, then
__________________________________________________
a steeper slope, and then a downward slope. The student
__________________________________________________
should circle the part of the line that has the downward
__________________________________________________
slope.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP1: Explain how motion is related to a frame of reference using an example.
(Textbook page 124)

Detecting Motion
You can jump when you shoot a basketball. You can run to the left
or right or step backwards. You are in motion any time you move
from one place to another. Motion is the change in position of an
object.
How can you tell when basketball players are in motion? You see
objects around the players that do not move. You see when the
players move toward a basket or close to the sidelines of the court.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP1: Explain how motion is related to a frame of reference using an example.
(Textbook page 124)

The objects that are not moving make up your

frame of reference. A frame of reference is all the
surrounding objects that a person uses to detect motion.
Your frame of reference affects how you view motion. Imagine
that you are sitting on a boat. Relative to the boat, you are not
moving because your position relative to the boat is not changing.
But you see people, rocks, and trees on shore moving by the boat.
However, the people on shore have a different frame of reference.
The objects on land are not moving to them. They see your boat
moving by these objects.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP1: Explain how motion is related to a frame of reference using an example.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP1: Explain how motion is related to a frame of reference using an example.
(Workbook page 72)

shore
boat
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP2: Define speed and explain how to calculate it.
(Textbook page 125)

Describing Motion
You can describe an object’s motion by the direction it
moves, the distance it moves, and how fast it moves. A student
may travel a distance of 1 km to reach school. Another student
may travel 6 km. During their trips, they may turn or move in a
straight line.
Suppose that the first student reached school in 10 min, and the
second student reached school in 30 min. You must compare the
speeds of the students to know which one was faster. Speed is the
distance an object moves per unit time. Speed is calculated by
dividing distance by time. The first student went 1 km in 10 min. This
student’s speed was 1 km ÷ 10 min = 0.1 km/min.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP2: Define speed and explain how to calculate it.
(Textbook page 125)

The second student went 6 km in 30 min. This

student’s speed was 6 km ÷ 30 min = 0.2 km/min. The
second student was faster than the first student.
A common unit for speed is meters per second (m/s), but speed
may also have other units. The speed of cars is often given in
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mi/h or mph).
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP2: Define speed and explain how to calculate it.
(Textbook page 125)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP2: Define speed and explain how to calculate it.
(Workbook page 72)

240 km ÷ 3h = 80 km/h
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP3: Analyze position versus time graphs.
(Textbook page 126)

Graphing Speed
A graph of an object’s position versus time shows the
object’s speed. When the object travels in a straight line, its position
is the distance from its starting point. A graph of position versus time
can show whether an object changes speed.
The graphs below show the speed of two people traveling in straight
lines. The distance in meters is the y-axis. The time in seconds is the
x-axis. Both people are moving away from a starting point. So, the
graphs show that distance increases as time increases. The graphs
also show that the people have the same average speed.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP3: Analyze position versus time graphs.
(Textbook page 126)

Average speed is the distance of the entire trip divided

by the total time. Both people have an average speed
of 1.2 m/s because they went 12 m in 10 s.
The green line is straight. It shows that the person walked at a
constant speed. The red line changes slope. It shows that the
person walked at different speeds. You can use graphs to predict
the position and speed of an object. From the green line, you can
predict that the person would be 24 m away from the starting
point in 20 s.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP3: Analyze position versus time graphs.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP3: Analyze position versus time graphs.
(Workbook page 73)

6m

2s

0 to 3 second, 3 to 4 seconds; 4 to 9 seconds, 9 to 10 seconds.

 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP3: Analyze position versus time graphs.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP4: Define velocity, give an example of velocity, and relate it to speed.
(Textbook page 127)

Changes in Motion
Speed describes only how fast an object moves. It does
not tell you the direction of the motion. A person can walk at 1
m/s to the east and then turn north. The person’s speed is the
same if they walk at 1 m/s to the north. However, the person’s
velocity changes. Velocity is the speed in a specific direction. The
walking person’s velocity changes from 1 m/s east to 1 m/s north.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP4: Define velocity, give an example of velocity, and relate it to speed.
(Workbook page 73)

speed direction
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP5: Define acceleration and identify its different forms.
(Textbook page 127)

Acceleration is a change in velocity per unit of time.

Acceleration happens when an object speeds up, slows
down, or changes direction. Slowing down is sometimes called
deceleration. An object that turns while moving at the same
speed is also accelerating because it is changing direction.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP5: Define acceleration and identify its different forms.
(Workbook page 73)

True
True

True
False
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP6: Analyze speed versus time graphs.
(Textbook page 127)

You can graph the acceleration of an object that is

moving in a straight line. You need to know its speed
at different times. Speed is on the y-axis and time is on the x-axis.
A line on an acceleration graph that slopes upward shows that
speed is increasing and that the object is accelerating. A line that
slopes downward shows that speed is decreasing and that the
object is decelerating. Any straight line shows that acceleration is
constant. A horizontal line shows that the object is traveling at
constant speed, and its acceleration is zero.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP6: Analyze speed versus time graphs.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP6: Analyze speed versus time graphs.
(Textbook page 127)
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP6: Analyze speed versus time graphs.
(Workbook page 73)

accelerating

decelerating

constant

constant
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP7: Explain how gravity, friction, and other forces affect motion.
(Textbook page 128)

Effect of Forces on Motion

You can predict how unbalanced forces will affect an
object’s motion. You know that you will speed up as you go down a
hill on a bike unless you use the brakes. Gravity causes acceleration
toward the center of Earth. Friction between the wheels and brakes
and between the bike and the air causes your bike to slow down.
An object accelerates in the direction of the net force. Suppose that
you pull on a chair so that the net force is 60 N to the right. The
chair will accelerate to the right. Then, suppose that you sit on the
chair. Your weight pushes down on the chair, and the floor pushes
up on the chair. The chair does not accelerate in any direction
because the forces on the chair are balanced.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP7: Explain how gravity, friction, and other forces affect motion.
(Textbook page 128)

An unbalanced force applied in the direction that an

object is moving will cause the object to move faster.
Gravity causes a bike moving downhill to move faster. An
unbalanced force applied in the direction opposite to an object’s
direction of motion causes the object to slow down. Gravity
causes a bike that is moving uphill to slow down. Moving objects
also change direction because of unbalanced forces. A strong
wind can push a bike sideways as the bike moves.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP7: Explain how gravity, friction, and other forces affect motion.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP7: Explain how gravity, friction, and other forces affect motion.
(Workbook page 74)

accelerate towards the center of Earth

slow down /decelerate

net force

forces on it are balanced

 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP7: Explain how gravity, friction, and other forces affect motion.
(Workbook page 74)

slows it down

speeds it up

unbalanced forces
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP8: Relate mass and force to acceleration and give examples.
(Textbook page 129)

The acceleration of an object depends on both the

applied force and the mass of the object. Suppose that
you push a heavy wooden table and light plastic table with the
same amount of force. The wooden table has more mass than the
plastic table. Therefore, the wooden table will accelerate less than
the plastic table. You can make an object accelerate more by
applying more force. For example, you can apply more force to a
shopping cart when you want the cart to accelerate more.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP8: Relate mass and force to acceleration and give examples.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
LP8: Relate mass and force to acceleration and give examples.
(Workbook page 74)

less

greater
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Summary
(Textbook page 129)

Summary
A frame of reference is used to detect and describe motion. Speed is
distance divided by time. Velocity includes both speed and direction.
Acceleration is a change in velocity. Graphs of speed and
acceleration can be used to describe motion. An unbalanced force
determines the change in motion of an object.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 129)

1. A frame of reference is all the surrounding objects that a

person uses to detect motion. Describe your current frame
of reference.
My current frame of reference includes my desk, a floor lamp,
a rug, and a doorway.
2. Explain why acceleration is not defined as a change in
speed.
Acceleration is a change in velocity. Velocity is speed in a
given direction. Therefore, acceleration is a change in speed
or direction.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 129)

3. Compare the acceleration of a 5 kg object and a 15 kg object

when the same net force is applied to the objects.
The acceleration of the 5 kg object will be greater than the
acceleration of the 15 kg object.
4. Use numbers to find the speed of an object that traveled
60 m in 15 s.
Speed = distance/time = 60 m/15 s = 4 m/s
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Discussion questions
(Textbook page 129)

5. Describe the motion of a car that is represented by a

horizontal line on a graph of distance versus time.
The car is not moving. If the line is horizontal, its position is
not changing.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Section exercises
(Workbook page 74)

The graph does not

________________ constant speed
show changes in
________________ slowing down
direction, which is
________________
also acceleration.
________________
speeding up
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Section exercises
(Workbook page 75)

speed
acceleration

velocity

___________________________________________________
The car is accelerating because it changes direction as it circles
___________________________________________________
around the track.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Section exercises
(Workbook page 75)

The first ball will move to the left. The second ball will move to
___________________________________________________
the right. The second ball will accelerate faster because 8 N is
___________________________________________________
greater than 4 N.
___________________________________________________
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
4.3 Measuring Motion
Section exercises
(Workbook page 75)

Once the forces are

_______________________
balanced, acceleration
_______________________
stops. The speed after 10 s
_______________________
is the same as the speed at
_______________________
10 s, which is 11 m/s.
_______________________
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review – Chapter Summary

(Textbook page 130)

Forces push and pull objects. Some forces can act at a

distance and some forces can act only between objects
that are touching. Friction is a force that resists the
motion of touching surfaces that tend to slide against
each other. Gravity, electrical force, and magnetic forces
can act at a distance. The strength of the pull of gravity
between two objects depends on the masses of objects
and the distance between them. Buoyant force pushes up
on objects in liquids and gases.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review – Chapter Summary

(Textbook page 130)

The effect of the forces acting on an object depends on

the size and direction of the net force. Balanced forces are
forces whose sum is zero. Unbalanced forces are forces
whose sum is not zero. The motion of an object is not
affected by balanced forces. The motion of an object
changes when an unbalanced force acts on the object.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review – Chapter Summary

(Textbook page 130)

A frame of reference includes objects that are not moving.

Different observers may have different frames of reference.
Speed describes how fast an object is moving. Speed is the
distance an object moves per unit time. A graph of position
versus time shows the speed of an object. Velocity is the
speed in a specific direction. Acceleration is a change in
velocity. A graph of speed versus time shows the
acceleration of an object. An object accelerates in the
direction of the unbalanced force acting on the object.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 131)

1. c, 2. b, 3. a, 4. f, 5. d, 6. e
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 131)

balanced forces

frame of reference
force
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 131)

True

False. The upward force that a liquid or a gas exerts on an

object in the liquid or the gas is buoyant force.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 132)

Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 132)

Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 132, 133)

The ball will sink. Gravity is pulling down on the ball with 12
N of force. Buoyant force is pushing up on the ball with 9 N
of force. The net force is 3 N down, so the ball will sink.
 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

balanced unbalanced
magnetic
friction force
electrical gravity
force acceleration
velocity
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 133)

Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 133)

The speed of the car is 75 km/h. After 4 hours the car will have
traveled 300 km.

A force must be applied in the direction opposite the train’s

motion to make the train decelerate. A force must also be
applied to the east to change the direction that the train is
moving.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 133)

 Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Textbook

(Textbook page 133)

Before the parachute opens, the force diagrams should show

gravity pulling down with force equal to the weight of the skydiver
and air resistance pushing up with less force. At this point in the
skydiver’s fall, the net force is greater than 0 N in the downward
direction. So the skydiver accelerates toward Earth as his or her
velocity increases. After the parachute is opened, the force diagram
should show that the force of air resistance is greater than the
force of gravity. At this point in the skydiver’s fall, the net force is
greater than 0 N in the upward direction. The skydiver’s velocity
decreases and he or she decelerates. Eventually, air resistance will
decrease until it balances gravity, and the net force on the skydiver
will be 0 N. At that point, the skydiver stops accelerating and falls
at a constant velocity called the terminal velocity.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 76)

Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 76)

Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 76)

object at rest start motion

constant velocity stop motion
0 N net force acceleration
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 76)

True

___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
False
Friction acts only on objects that are touching. OR
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Magnetic force can act on objects that are touching
___________________________________________
or that are at a distance.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 76)

False
___________________________________________
Balanced forces act on objects that are at rest or
___________________________________________
that are moving with a constant velocity.
___________________________________________
True

___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 77)

Unbalanced forces accelerate

Balanced forces
constant velocity Friction
decelerate
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 77)

Gravity
____________________________________________________
pulls the orange toward Earth. Friction between the air
and
____________________________________________________
the orange pushes up on the orange. The net force is
greater
____________________________________________________
than 0 N toward Earth.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 77)

The
____________________________________________________
frame of reference of the person on the train is different
from
____________________________________________________
the person watching the train. Other people sitting on
the
____________________________________________________
train do not seem to be moving to the passenger. They are
not
____________________________________________________
moving with respect to the rest of the train. For the
passenger,
____________________________________________________
the landscape and the person watching the train
seem
____________________________________________________
to be moving by the train window. The landscape is the
frame
____________________________________________________
of reference for the person watching the train. The train
and
____________________________________________________
the passengers move by the landscape.
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 77)

The pull of gravity on the smaller boat is two-thirds the pull

___________________________________________________
of gravity of the bigger boat. The buoyant force will also be
___________________________________________________
about two-thirds that of the larger boat because both boats
___________________________________________________
are floating. Friction balances the forward force on both
___________________________________________________
boats when they are moving at constant velocity. After the
___________________________________________________
gust of wind blows, both boats will accelerate to the west.
___________________________________________________
The smaller boat will accelerate more.
___________________________________________________
Chapter 4 - Force and Motion
Chapter Review - Exercises - Workbook

(Workbook page 77)

Student models should show the stationary objects in each

___________________________________________________
observer’s frame of reference and show how objects appear
___________________________________________________
to move with respect to those objects.
___________________________________________________