Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A playground with a girl pushing a swing, a ball rolling across grass and a wagon on a gravel path.

Science / All lessons / Pushes, Pulls and Magnets

Change the Motion

Swings, balls and wagons. Push harder and see.

Lesson 17 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Change the Motion

Rey kicks a ball across the grass. It rolls and slows down. Then he kicks it harder. It goes farther and faster. He stops it with his foot.

Pushes and pulls change an object's position and its motion. They can start it, speed it up, slow it down, stop it or change its direction.

A stronger force makes a bigger change. Let's see how to test that.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Push it farther

    25 minutes · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Toy car
    • Ruler or tape measure
    • Paper
    • A smooth floor
    • Masking tape

    Do this

    1. Make a start line with tape.
    2. Predict how far the car goes with a gentle push.
    3. Push it gently and measure.
    4. Push it harder and measure.
    5. Push it a third time harder still.
    6. Measure each distance.
    7. Record in a table.
    Write or draw: A table with push size and distance in cm.

    Watch for: Notice that harder pushes send the car farther.

    Safety: Keep the path clear so no one trips.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1A force can start or stop motion.

    Nothing changes without a push or pull.

    Rule 2A bigger force makes a bigger change.

    Hard kicks go far.

    Rule 3Describe position with a landmark.

    Near the door. Past the desk.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    motion
    Movement of an object.
    position
    Where an object is.
    direction
    The way something is going.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • What did a harder push do? How do you know?
    • What things at home do you push or pull to change their motion?
    Did you know

    A soccer ball can change direction as soon as someone kicks it from the side.

    Someone who does this

    A coach teaches players how to push and pull on a ball.

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