Forces – How to identify them around you

Can you identify the different forces acting around you?

Are you able to predict how they may change with speed and different conditions?

Do you know your balanced and unbalanced forces and how they can be represented?

Read on to find out more about Forces, Newtons and Friction.

Here are five key facts about forces for KS3 Physics:

1.  A force is a push or a pull that can change the motion of an object. Forces can cause objects to speed up, slow down, or change direction. Make sure you can think of examples of these in everyday life.

2.  Forces can be balanced or unbalanced. When forces are balanced, the object remains stationary or moves at a constant speed in a straight line. When forces are unbalanced, the object accelerates in the direction of the overall force.

3.  Newton (N) is the unit force is measured in.  This is defined as the amount of force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kilogram at a rate of 1 meter per second squared.  Forces can be categorised into four main types:  gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, weak nuclear

4.  The most commonly encountered forces in everyday life are gravitational and electromagnetic forces. Again make sure you can think of examples of these to show you understand the differences between them

5.  Friction is a force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact. It can cause objects to slow down or come to a stop. There are two main types of friction: static friction, which acts on objects that are not moving, and kinetic friction, which acts on objects that are in motion.   You will learn about the effect of friction in a variety of different situations.

Overall forces are all around us and we encounter them in everything that we do, so being able to understand and explain them will help you with your science understanding.