Introduction to Forces
Students investigate how pushes, pulls, gravity, and friction affect objects. They observe how these forces change the movement and shape of different items.
About This Topic
Students investigate how pushes, pulls, gravity, and friction affect objects. They observe how these forces change the movement and shape of different items.
Key Questions
- How do pushes and pulls change the way an object moves?
- What role does friction play when a toy car rolls on different surfaces?
- How can we measure the effect of a force on an object?
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Activities & Teaching Strategies
See all activities
More in Engineering Principles and Systems
Material Properties
Students explore the characteristics of various materials such as strength, flexibility, and transparency. They evaluate why specific materials are chosen for certain products.
2 methodologies
Structures and Stability
Students learn how shapes and materials contribute to the stability of structures like bridges and buildings. They experiment with building strong frameworks.
2 methodologies
Simple Machines
Students investigate simple machines like levers, pulleys, and wheels. They discover how these systems use forces to make work easier.
2 methodologies
Designing for a Purpose
Students combine their knowledge of materials and forces to design a solution to a specific problem. They sketch and plan a simple engineered product.
2 methodologies
Testing and Improving Designs
Students test their engineered solutions to see how they behave under different forces. They evaluate their products and suggest improvements based on material performance.
2 methodologies