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A final review of all concepts learned about pushes, pulls, and motion.
Have you ever wondered why a ball starts to roll or how a swing reaches the sky? It is not magic—it is the secret power of forces!
Everything that moves needs a force to get started. A force is simply a push or a pull. When you move something away from you, like kicking a soccer ball, that is a push. When you move something closer to you, like opening a drawer or tugging on a leash, that is a pull. If you use a big force, the object might move a long way! If you use a small force, it might only move a little bit. We can use math to think about it: if Force is bigger than Force , then Object will usually go faster or further.
Let's look at how you get your snack: 1. Reach for your backpack zipper. 2. Tug the zipper toward your hand. This is a pull. 3. Reach for the lid of your lunchbox. 4. Move the lid away from the box to open it. This is a push!
Quick Check
If you are throwing a paper airplane away from your body, are you using a push or a pull?
Answer
A push.
Once an object starts moving, we call that motion. Not everything moves in a straight line! Some things go zigzag, some go round and round, and some go back and forth like a clock pendulum. We also describe how they move using speed. A rocket moves fast, while a turtle moves slow. When we describe motion, we are telling the story of where an object goes and how it gets there.
Imagine a bee flying in a garden: 1. The bee starts at a flower and flies fast to the next one. 2. It flies in a zigzag to dodge a tall sunflower. 3. It spins round and round a tasty clover. 4. Finally, it slows down to a slow crawl to land.
Quick Check
What word describes a movement that goes side-to-side in sharp turns?
Answer
Zigzag.
The playground is the best place to see forces in action! When you are on a swing, you move back and forth. To go higher, your friend gives you a big push. On the slide, you move in one direction: down. On the see-saw, you and a friend take turns. When you push your feet off the ground, you go up, and your friend comes down. Every time something moves at the park, a push or a pull is making it happen!
How do we make a merry-go-round spin? 1. Stand outside the wheel and grab the bar (a pull to get a grip). 2. Run and move the bar away from your body (a heavy push). 3. The wheel moves round and round. 4. To stop it, you must use a force in the opposite direction to slow it down!
Which of these is an example of a pull?
If you want a toy car to go very FAST, what should you do?
A swing moves in a zigzag line.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to find one thing you push (like a light switch) and one thing you pull (like a drawer) to start your day!
Practice Activity
Use a toy car and a piece of string. Try to move the car across the room using only a pull, then try using only a push. Which was easier?