ScienceGrade 3rd· What Is Force and Motion?

What Is Force and Motion?

A force is a push or a pull

Learning Objective

Students will learn that a force is a push or a pull, that forces cause objects to move or change direction, and that motion is when an object changes position.

What You'll Learn

A force is a push or a pull
Forces can make things start moving, stop moving, speed up, slow down, or change direction
Motion is when an object changes its position
Some forces are contact forces (you touch the object): pushing a door, kicking a ball
Some forces act at a distance: gravity pulls things down, magnets pull metal
Friction is a force that slows things down when two things rub together
Gravity is a force that pulls everything toward Earth
When forces are balanced, an object stays still or keeps moving at the same speed

Words to Know

Force: A push or a pull that can change how something moves; "Kicking a ball is a force."
Motion: When an object changes its position; "A rolling ball is in motion."
Push: A force that moves something away from you; "Pushing a door open."
Pull: A force that brings something toward you; "Pulling a wagon."
Friction: A force that slows things down when surfaces rub; "Friction stops a ball on grass."
Gravity: A force that pulls everything toward Earth; "Gravity makes dropped things fall down."

Check What You Learned

Quick Quiz

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What is a force?

Fun Facts

A force is a push or a pull that can change how an object moves
Source: NGSS / physics textbooks
Forces can make objects start moving, stop moving, speed up, slow down, or change direction
Source: NGSS 3-PS2-1
Motion is when an object changes its position over time
Source: physics textbooks
Contact forces require touching: pushing a door, kicking a ball, pulling a rope
Source: NGSS
Non-contact forces act at a distance: gravity, magnetism, static electricity
Source: NGSS 3-PS2-2
Friction is a force that opposes motion when two surfaces rub together
Source: physics textbooks