Naming forces: pushes and pulls

Science · Forces & Motion · ages 5-8

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which force pulls things down towards the ground?
- Friction
- Gravity
- Upthrust
What word means 'a push or a pull'?
- Force
- Friction
- Gravity
Friction is a force that needs two things touching each other.
Circle one: True False
Which force pushes up on a boat and keeps it floating on water?
- Upthrust
- Gravity
- Air resistance
A sledge slides on snow and slows down near the bottom. Which force is slowing it?
- Gravity
- Upthrust
- Friction
Gravity pulls an apple down, but nothing touches the apple first. What kind of force is gravity?
- Contact force
- Non-contact force
- Not a force at all
A skydiver falls fast. Then their parachute opens and pushes against the air, slowing them down. Which force slows the fall?
- Air resistance
- Upthrust
- Gravity
Sam says, 'My weight is how much stuff I am made of.' What is wrong with what Sam said?
- Nothing is wrong, weight and mass mean the same thing
- Weight only exists in space
- Weight is a force from gravity, not the same as mass

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Gravity · Gravity is the force that pulls everything down towards the ground.
Force · Force is the general word for a push or a pull. Friction and gravity are types of force.
True · Friction only happens when two surfaces rub together, so it needs contact.
Upthrust · Upthrust is the push from water that holds the boat up.
Friction · Friction rubs against the sledge and slows it down.
Non-contact force · Gravity works without touching, so it is a non-contact force.
Air resistance · Air resistance pushes back against the parachute and slows the fall.
Weight is a force from gravity, not the same as mass · Weight is the pull of gravity on you. Mass is how much stuff you are made of, and they are not the same.