A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move, slow down, change direction or change shape.

A push is a force that moves an object further away.

A pull is force that brings an object closer.

Contact forces occur when objects are touching each other.

A Venn diagram is a way of displaying how you group items. It is made up of overlapping circles.

Contact forces

Science

In this Simple forces including magnets unit, pupils learn to compare how things move on different surfaces. In the Forces including simple machines unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces

In the Everyday materials unit, pupils learnt to compare and group together materials on the basis of their simple physical properties. In this Simple forces including magnets unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to compare and group materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet or not

Simple forces including magnets 

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Which of these activities involves both pushing and pulling?

Contact forces act between objects that are {{}} each other.

When skating, there are no contact forces.

When skating, the wheels of the skate make contact with the floor.

Which of these statements about skating is true?

squeezing blu-tack between finger and thumb

A {{}} force happens when two surfaces move over each other.

What do friction forces do to moving objects?

How would you make this light switch work?

Are friction forces helpful or unhelpful for these activities? Match the word to the activity.

Content guidance

Exploration of objects

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Contact forces

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.