Grade 6 Science: Forces and Motion
Free Grade 6 Science unit on Forces and Motion: 10 lessons in order, starting with Forces and Balanced forces. Includes practice questions and answer keys.
10 lessons in this unit
Forces
Learn that a force is a push or pull measured in newtons with a newton meter, that forces can change speed, direction or shape, that forces act in pairs, and how to draw force arrows.
Lesson 2Balanced forces
Learn that forces are balanced when they are equal and opposite so there is no change in motion, that objects at rest stay at rest and objects moving steadily keep moving steadily, and apply this to floating, standing and tug-of-war.
Lesson 3Unbalanced forces
Learn that unbalanced forces produce a resultant that changes motion, that greater force or less mass gives greater acceleration, calculate the resultant of forces in a line, and investigate with trolleys and masses.
Lesson 4Gravity
Learn that gravity is the force pulling masses together, how weight is the pull of gravity on mass (W = m × g with g about 10 N/kg), how mass and weight differ and how weight changes on other worlds.
Lesson 5Friction
Learn that friction is a force that opposes movement between surfaces, depends on the surfaces and the force pressing them together, can be useful or a nuisance, and investigate friction by pulling a block with a newton meter.
Lesson 6Air resistance
Learn that air resistance (drag) is a friction-like force that opposes movement through air, depends on shape, size and speed, explain terminal velocity for a falling object and parachute, and test parachute size safely.
Lesson 7Motion
Learn to describe motion using position, distance, displacement, speed and direction, read and draw simple distance–time graphs, and describe steady, changing and stationary motion.
Lesson 8Speed
Learn that speed is distance divided by time, calculate speed, distance and time using the formula triangle, convert units, and calculate average speed for a journey.
Lesson 9Force and motion investigations
Plan, carry out and report a full investigation into how a variable such as ramp angle, mass or surface changes the motion of a trolley or car, using variables, repeats, a results table, a graph and a conclusion.
Lesson 10Practical applications
Apply forces and motion to the real world, seat belts and crumple zones, brakes, streamlining of vehicles and cyclists, bridges and levers, and design a simple solution such as an egg-drop or catapult-free safety device.