Making things move
This Topic is About...
- I will explore small pushes and bigger pushes.
- I will find out which things need electricity to work.
- I will make predictions about what might happen.
- I will record what I observe in a table.
- I will describe what happened and check if it matched my prediction.
You’re going to be a science explorer!
Key Words
- cell
- mains
- little
- tiny
Tap to Learn the Meanings!
- cell: A very small battery that gives electricity to some toys and devices.
- mains: Electricity that comes from plugs in the wall.
- little: Small in size.
- tiny: Very, very small.
Great job learning new science words!
Pushes and Pulls in Action
When you move, you use push and pull forces.
A Skateboarder’s Forces
The skateboarder pushes with his feet.
Pulling to Move
He pulls with his hand.
Think Like a Scientist: Measure the Push and the Slide
Question: How does the size of a push change how far things slide?
You will need: a chair, sticky tape, a large rubber band, large sheets of paper, bricks, objects to slide
In Topic 6.2 you used a rubber band to give things a pushing force.
If you pull harder on the rubber band, you give a bigger pushing force.
Try this now.
Safety First:
- Be careful when pulling the rubber band so it does not snap.
- Keep your face and fingers away from the stretched band.
Method:
- Choose some things to push with the rubber band.
- Predict any things that will not move with just a little push.
- Give each thing a little push, a bigger push, and a biggest push.
- Measure how far each thing slides using the bricks.
- Record your results.
Record your results like this:
| Thing | Little push | Bigger push | Biggest push |
|---|---|---|---|
| pen | 4 bricks | 6 bricks | 9 bricks |
Follow-up:
Well done for testing different pushes and measuring carefully.
Electricity Makes Things Move
Electricity can make things move. Many things that move do not need electricity, but some things need electricity to make them move.
Cells and Mains Power
Some things use electric cells, and other things use mains electricity.
Real-Life Examples
This toy car has electric cells. The food mixer uses mains electricity. Electricity makes the toy car and the food mixer move.
Safety First
Take care! You should not touch mains powered plugs and wires.