Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Roll a toy car on carpet and on a smooth floor, or hold two magnets end to end, before the matching pages. For the speed page, time your child walking a measured distance and find their own speed. Check each page with the answer key.

Label forces as balanced or unbalanced and find the net force in newtons. A force is a push or a pull, measured in newtons (N). Balanced forces add up to zero, so motion does not change. Unbalanced forces leave a leftover push or pull, the net force, that changes motion. The directions on the page read: Circle a word and write the net force for 1 to 4. Then, answer 5. The page opens with a worked example, and the answer key shows every answer.

Yes, both. We made it for 5th Grade forces and motion, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

Balanced forces add up to zero, so an object's motion does not change. Unbalanced forces leave a leftover push or pull, the net force, which makes the object start, stop, speed up or turn.

Divide the distance by the time. A dog that runs 30 feet in 5 seconds has a speed of 6 feet per second. Always write the units.

A spring scale measures force in newtons. When an object hangs from the hook, the spring stretches and the pointer shows the force; a heavier object stretches the spring more.

Yes. All five forces and motion sheets have an answer key that shows every answer, including sample answers for the questions children explain in their own words.