Force

A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make things start moving or stop moving. They can also change the way something is going. You use forces all the time without thinking about it. Kicking a ball or opening a door uses force.

Pushes and Pulls

Pushing moves something away from you. Pulling brings something closer. When you push a shopping cart, you use force. When you pull a wagon, that is force too. Forces can be strong or weak depending on how hard you push or pull.

A diagram shows how pushing or pulling moves an object.
A diagram shows how pushing or pulling moves an object. (Original image: Eric Gaba (User:Sting) - derivative work: Interstate295revisited at en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons)

Forces in Nature

Some forces work without touching things. Gravity is a force that pulls things down. Magnets use force to attract or repel metal. Wind is a force that can push boats across water. Even the force of friction helps slow things down.

Fun Facts

  • Forces are measured in units called newtons, named after Isaac Newton.
  • It takes more force to move a heavy object than a light one.
  • Two forces can cancel each other out, which keeps things still.

Did You Know?

When you sit on a chair, your weight pushes down on it and the chair pushes up with the same amount of force.