topic 7: forces and speed

2.1 Practical and enquiry skills: a) exploring how the creative application of scientific ideas can bring about technological developments; c) plan and carry out practical and investigative activities, both individually and in groups;
3.1 Energy, electricity and forces: b) forces are interactions between objects and can affect their shape and motion
How  Science Works: 1.1 a) scientific thinking – developing explanations using ideas and models;  1.1a3 developing argument and  1.1d communication for audience and with purpose;
4 Energy, electricity and forces; 4.1 Forces Describe what forces do to objects

• Recognise some examples of  forces (in action) around you
• Explain the effect of force on a spring
• Recognise what forces do to objects
• Identify some examples of contact and non-contact forces
• Describe the differences between balanced and unbalanced forces
• Draw forces on diagrams
• Explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object’s movement or motion
• State what is meant by speed
• Describe how speed is measured
• Calculate the speed of an object
• Recognise the use of standard units of measurement
• Calculate the speed of some objects
• Evaluate the accuracy of an experiment
• Describe the effects of friction
• Recognise that friction is the force that opposes the movement of an object
• Recognise some examples of where friction is useful and where it is a problem
• Describe air resistance and its effects
• Explain what air resistance is using the idea of particles
• Apply the concept of air resistance to a skydiver’s descent
• Describe what streamlining is and how it works
• Measure the speed of descent of different objects in fluid
• Use experimental data to understand the effects of streamlining

Key Terms

forces
newton
contact force
magnetic force
speed
lubricant
pressure

pull
stretch
non-contact force
electrical force
acceleration
streamlining

push
elastic
air resistance
balanced force
decelerate
terminal velocity

turning
spring
upthrust
unbalance force
constant speed
particles

gravity
friction
surface tension
force diagram
average speed
drag

Classroom Materials
Force metre pratical
Different forces around us worksheet
Measuring the Forces around Us worksheet
Can You Force It practical
Flinkers
Measuring Speed practical
Speeding Along worksheet
Marbel Motion practical
Speed Cameras
Friction practical
Streamlining practical

Useful Links
Click here and complete the BBC Bitesize Forces activity.
Click here for additional information on Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Gamequarium Forces and Motion
Science Class Newton's Laws
Force and Motion Game by Quia
Gravity Is More Than A Name


Learning Objectives

1. I can measure the size of a force and use the right units.
2. I can identify some different forces and describe how forces change movement.
3. I can explain the link between the speed of an object and the forces on it.
4. I can describe how forces change an object’s shape, speed or direction.
5. I know how to measure distance and time and what units to use.
6. I know that friction is a force that opposes movement.
7. I know that upthrust pushes upwards and weight pulls downwards.
8. I can compare the speeds of different things and give some examples of streamlined objects.
9. I know what can increase friction, air resistance and water resistance.
10. I can identify the forces acting on an object and say which  direction they are acting in.
11. I can describe situations where forces are balanced or unbalanced.
12. I know that if the forces on an object are unbalanced, it will either change shape or speed.
13. I can draw and use force diagrams with arrows to show the direction a force is acting in.
14. I can describe what speed means scientifically and use the correct units.
15. I can describe places where friction is useful and some ways of reducing it where it resists motion.
16. I know that air resistance is the force of friction of air on objects moving through it.
17. I can describe how streamlining reduces air and water resistance.
18. I know that if an object’s speed changes then the forces acting on it must be unbalanced.
19. I know that if the forces on an object are balanced then it moves at a constant speed.
20. I can use the relationship between speed, distance and time.
21. I can describe how air and water resistance change with speed and begin to link these ideas to the particle model.
22. I know about the forces on falling objects.
23. I can use the particle model to explain scientifically why air  and water resistance increase with speed.
24. I can explain how unbalanced forces cause an object to accelerate.
25. I can calculate speed, distance or time from the other two measurements and identify the correct units.
26. I can relate ideas and understanding about forces to situations in society, such as detecting drivers’ braking speed limits.
27. I can explain the relationship between the forces on a falling object.
28. I can explain, with reference to the particle model, what causes air and water resistance.

Video Clips