forces experiments year 5

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Year 5: Forces

This list consists of lesson plans, activities and video clips to support the teaching of forces in Year Five. It contains tips on using the resources, suggestions for further use and background subject knowledge. Possible misconceptions are highlighted so that teachers may plan lessons to facilitate correct conceptual understanding. Designed to support the new curriculum programme of study it aims to cover many of the requirements for knowledge and understanding and working scientifically. The statutory requirements are that children are taught to:

• explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object

• identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces

•  recognise that some mechanisms, including levers, pulleys and gears, allow a smaller force to have a greater effect.

Visit the primary science  webpage to access all lists.

Forces and Gravity

Quality Assured Category: Science Publisher: Institute of Physics

Children think of forces in terms of movement, not staying still. If an object is not moving they think that there are no forces acting upon it. This misconception may be challenged using the demonstration on slides 14-17. A ping pong ball is  prevented from falling to the ground by placing a straw on top of it and sucking some of the air out. The pressure of the air above the ball is lower than the pressure below it so the ball is prevented from being pulled down by gravity.    This video , which could be carried out in class also uses a ping pong ball to demonstrate forces in action.

Arrows are used to show the direction of forces acting on the object. It is important to place these arrows on the object as they act on objects. Quite often children will try to place the arrows next to or above the objects. A good way of getting children to think about placing the arrows is to cut out arrows abd have them physically stick them onto the object on which they are acting.

Selenia and the Victorian Adventure *suitable for home teaching*

Quality Assured Category: Science Publisher: University of the West of England (Bristol)

Providing a context for an investigation always excites children's imagination and gives them a reason for their investigations. It is based around the science that when an object falls to the ground it is affected by two forces: the force of gravity pulling it down and the force of air resistance, a type of friction, which slows down its fall. Parachutes work by using air resistance to oppose the force of gravity, slowing down the rate at which an object falls to Earth. This colourful comic provides a link into an air resistance investigation to find which is the best shape and size for a parachute. It also focusses on asking questions that can be investigated scientifically by devising a test.

Forces and Air Resistance

Quality Assured Category: Science Publisher: Rolls-Royce

Five activities related to the topic area of forces.

In the  Balloon Buggy  investigation children are challenged to work in teams to make their own balloon powered car. These cars may be modified by groups and then raced to see which is the fastest or used as a fair test by changing one aspect of the design in each group.

Other activities look at friction, how the force of air resistance affects moving objects, pushing and pulling and directions in which forces act.

Aircraft Forces

Quality Assured Category: Science Publisher: Innovate Educate

Challenge children to think about the types of forces that apply to an aircraft during flight using activities based on the RAF's Red Arrows display team. Includes a presentation showing the pushes and pulls acting on an aircraft in flight an investigation using plastic tubs to investigate how pushing forces and friction affect movement.

Could show a video of the Red Arrows display team to stimulate discussion at the start of the lesson.

Popular Mechanics: Becoming a Designer of Machines

Quality Assured Category: Design and technology Publisher: ENGINEER Project

This D & T project provides a practical way of looking at the means by which machines (cams, levers, gears and pulleys) transform force into movement. Children explore a range of toys and mechanical devices identifying features like gears, cams and axles and thinking about how they transmit and transform movement. They then explore gears and cams in everyday objects, looking at how they work and gathering the knowledge they need to create their own mechanical objects.

Machines and Engines

Quality Assured Category: Engineering Publisher: Longman

Pages 6-9 on the pdf show pictures of levers and pulleys with suggested questions to stimulate thinking and discussion in class. It also shows diagrams of lever and pulley systems which could be set up in class for children to investigate. This investigation would help children understand that if you want to lift a big load with a smaller effort, the load must be nearer the pivot than the effort is.

This is an older resource with some good ideas, which could be updated by using more modern images.   Though designed for lower secondary it can be adapted for use at primary level with children exploring and observing the effects of simple machines on movement.

Vertically Challenged

Quality Assured Category: Design and technology Publisher: British Science Association

The activities within this pack demonstrate key ideas and concepts used in designing and constructing buildings such as: how levers and pulleys work, the properties of materials and the forces involved in different structures.It includes a practical activity in which children make a lever to lift a grown up.

Simple machines

Trying to pick up a large heavy box is difficult, however if a lever is used it becomes much easier to move it. This is because levers make it easier to move objects as they allow for a smaller force to be applied over a longer distance. This short video demonstrates how levers, gears and pulleys work. A 'Scientist' demonstrates how different simple machines work and helps reinforce key vocabulary in context. It is interspersed with clips showing these simple machines in action in the real world and children demonstrating pulleys and levers. Children could create design and create their own simple machines and explain how they help move objects

How Do Bike Gears Work?

 This short video on YouTube  is a useful way of showing children the practical application of gears in the real world. Two cyclists demonstrate how bicycle gears help them to cycle up a hill. They look at how far the bicycle will travel for one revolution of the wheel whilst in different gears.

Investigating levers

When carrying out an investigation trying to move a large object using a lever, children often think the best place to put the fulcrum is in the centre of the lever rather than closer to the object being moved. In this activity children learn that a lever is a simple machine that can give a mechanical advantage. They set up their own lever, with fulcrum, beam and load, and investigate how far from the fulcrum different forces (weights) need to be in order to balance the load. They transfer their results to a line graph and attempt to find a relationship between the force required and the distance from the fulcrum.

Farm Machine 2040

Quality Assured Collection Category: Design and technology Publisher: NFU Education

This resource provides a series of four activities based around teaching of simple machines, including: forces, levers, gears and pulleys. Designed to help children to think about the day to day issues faced by farmers, each activity is grounded in a real world context. These activities are available in both English and Welsh.

Compasses and Magnetism

Quality Assured Category: Space Publisher: Royal Observatory Greenwich

This resource explores magnetism and how it is used in a compass. After a short introductory video there are a series of three practical activities looking at: magnetic materials, attraction and repulsion, and how to make compass.

Feel the Force

Quality Assured Category: Science Publisher: Centre for Industry Education Collaboration (CIEC)

Children explore streamlining and forces through a range of practical real-world activities.

Forces and Recycling

Aimed at supporting children with measuring forces and accurate use of forcemeters, this resource comes with a range of activities and guides.

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Ideas For Learning About Forces and Motion

May 30, 2020 By Emma Vanstone 7 Comments

Forces are all around us and affect everything we do. With that in mind, I’ve put together a collection of ideas for learning about forces and motion with fun forces and motion experiments for everyone, from preschoolers to grown-ups. There are friction experiments, gravity experiments, air resistance experiments, and lots more! Each activity is easy to set up and works well as a science project for home or school.

If you’re looking for a book full of force experiments, This IS Rocket Science might be just what you’re looking for! It contains SEVENTY experiments all about the forces involved in space travel!

Let’s start with some basics.

Forces and Motion – What is a force?

A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move or stop, speed them up or slow them down. If you push a toy car it moves, if you push it harder it moves faster. Forces can also make objects change direction or shape.

A lighter object needs less force to move than a heavier object. For example you could push an empty box easily, but a filled box would be harder, it would need more force to move.

If you give a toy car a push what happens? It speeds up and then slows down. The reason it slows down is because of two forces, air resistance and friction.

Air resistance is air pushing on a moving object which slows it down.

Friction is the force between two objects when you rub them together. Try rubbing your hands together? Do they get hot? You feel the friction between your hands as heat.

Air resistance and friction take time to slow an object down, if you want an object to stop quickly you need to apply further force, for example a brake on a bike.

Other examples of forces are magnetism, gravity and air pressure.

Over the years we’ve completed lots of forces experiments on Science Sparks, here are the best ones.

Learn about simple push and pull forces in this easy activity.

Friction Experiments for Kids

What is friction.

Friction tries to stop objects sliding past each other. Friction allows things to start and stop moving and slows them down.

Imagine sliding two strips of ribbon over each other and then think how hard it would be with two velcro strips. There is more friction between the velcro strips than the ribbon. The amount of friction between two objects depends on what the objects are made from. The rougher the surface the more friction is produced, this is why rockets are streamlined!

Friction Experiments

Find out why you slip and slide more on smooth surfaces than rougher surfaces with this slipping and sliding activity. Do be careful not to fall over though.

A toy zip line is the garden is a great way to learn about friction and fun science project too!

Discover why we salt/grit icy roads in winter.

Investigate which material would make the best ice hockey puck . We want to reduce friction for a good puck as it needs to move quickly and cleanly across the ice.

Learn about reducing friction with this easy Hovercraft

Gravity Experiments for kids

A film canister rocket is a great demonstration of lots of different forces, but it falls back to the ground thanks to gravity.

Water powered bottle rockets are another fantastic example of gravity and lots of other forces too!

Discover a cool science trick to defy gravity using magnets.

Design and build straw rockets and launch at different angles to investigate how the flight trajectory changes.

For younger children, try this fun gravity activity from Inspiration Laboratories .

Making vehicles move – science experiments

We used carbon dioxide released from a baking soda and vinegar reaction to power a bottle boat .

Store up energy in an elastic band to make a cotton reel car move.

Slightly more simple and much more powerful is our balloon powered car .

Red Ted Art made a fun elastic powered tugboat  which moves using the energy stored when you wind up an elastic band.

Magnet Experiments for Kids

Make an easy magnet maze with cardboard or even a LEGO maze .

Build some easy magnet powered cars  or a magnet powered boat.

How about a magnet sensory bottle ?

Air Resistance Experiments for Kids

Explore gravity and air resistance with these simple paper spinners .

Make a parachute , can you save an egg?

Air Pressure Experiments

Watch a boiled egg drop into a bottle with a little science magic.

Make a bottle rocket . Remember you need lots of space for this one as the rocket shoots up quickly and very high!

Watch water rise with a cool air pressure experiment .

Pop the lid off a bottle with these coin poppers .

Make these shooters and explore trajectory and aerodynamics .

How about a film canister rocket ? These are great fun, always work, and fly with a pop!

More ideas for learning about forces and motion

Make a simple stomp rocket !

Try this easy inertia experiment where an object drops straight down into a glass!

Learn about kinetic energy with a homemade slingshot or lollystick catapult .

Drop water balloons filled with paint and compare splatter patterns from different heights.

Explore energy and ‘bouncy-ness’ with some balls and different surfaces.

Try this milk jug rocket craft and experiment from Red Ted Art.

Find out how you can stand on a paper cup without it breaking .

Why do you get dizzy on a roundabout ? It’s all about the forces.

You could investigate the force needed to break an eggshell .

Finally, do you know why a balloon makes a funny noise when you let it go?

Finally, learn all about Newton’s famous Laws of Motion with even more brilliant science experiments for learning about forces.

We’ll be adding to this list constantly, so do keep popping back for more great ideas for forces and motion experiments for kids .

affiliate links

Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

January 29, 2014 at 9:40 pm

Love this collection, Emma!

March 03, 2015 at 7:19 pm

Wow! I love these ideas, they are fantastic!! I will be definitely be featuring these ideas on my latest post (www.thegrade3teacher.com). Thanks for sharing!

March 04, 2016 at 12:51 pm

Thanks for these ideas… It will help my kids learn about forces. Great input

July 27, 2016 at 2:29 am

Wow! What a great collection of activities that show various engineering concepts!

April 03, 2017 at 8:10 pm

Thank you everyone if you have a ? Email me @ [email protected]

April 05, 2018 at 10:32 pm

-such good ideas on forces.I so have to try one.I like the one with the ballon and car…

April 05, 2018 at 10:39 pm

I am so going to so try this with my kids for a science project.Im going to tell more people about this app.

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Science Fun

Force And Motion Science Experiments

Easy motion science experiments you can do at home! Click on the experiment image or the view experiment link below for each experiment on this page to see the materials needed and procedure. Have fun trying these experiments at home or use them for SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT IDEAS.

Strength Test:

Magic Ball:

Observe Centrifugal Force In Action

Can A Light Weight Lift A Heavy Weight?:

Coin In A Cup:

Observing Inertia:

Coin Flick:

Magically Remove The Bottom Coin

Hammer Head:

Seemingly Defy Gravity

Galileo’s Swinging Strings:

Use Straws To Reduce Friction:

Find A Hard Boiled Egg:

Use Spinning Science In This Experiment

Unbreakable Thread:

Magic Napkin:

Cotton Ball Catapult:

Rapid Rubber Band Launcher:

Send A Bunch Of Rubber Bands Flying

Water Balloon Physics:

Centrifugal Force: 

Stab A Potato:

Traveling Toothpicks:

Surface Tension And Toothpicks Do Mix

Balance A House On Your Finger:

Ruler Race:

Easy Film Canister Rocket:

Rocket Balloon Blast:

This Balloon Really Moves

Mini Marshmallow Launcher:

Build Your Own Balance Buddy:

24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities

Get teaching with these  force and motion  experiments, activities and videos to use in the elementary classroom. This collection of  force and motion activities and resources should help you cover the topics like  texture, gravity, incline and simple machines .

If you’re looking for helpful ideas and lesson plans – then this is the place to start!

Do you need a refresher as the teacher before planning your simple machines unit? This simple machines facts page is an excellent (and easy) way to jog your memory.

Force and Motion Experiments

Let’s plan some force and motion experiments for all elementary grades. Some of these can be adapted for different grade levels.

Set up ramps with different textures and send toy cars down. Use lots of questions to guide young students to extend their exploration.

Create catapults to explore how to make simple machines. With plastic utensils and marshmallows you’re set to build.

Take what you learned about building catapults in the above experiment to build a STEM engineering challenge. Students have to build a basketball hoop with classroom objects and recycled materials.

Skip the cars on an incline and go for liquids! Create a viscosity race with stuff from your fridge. Talk about how resistance to flowing is called viscosity and have fun.

Create a simple machines challenge . Students must create 3 ways to move a lion (or another small toy) using simple machines. Perfect to accompany the (affiliate) book How Do You Lift a Lion ?

Explore Newton’s first law together – the law of inertia – by seeing it in action. Create towers with note cards, string and a tower to feel the law as you take out each card separately, quickly or try to pull them all out at once!

Explore how to move the fulcrum on a lever to experiment how it impacts ease of use. All you need are some simple tools like rulers, a semi-heavy object and something to be the fulcrum.

A video explaining how a lever works is included.

Conduct trials with toy cars to see how you can make them go faster. Record the distance, time and speed with a free recording sheet.

Save a few water bottles and fill them with dry rice. Your students will love exploring friction in this floating rice experiment .

Aren’t those fun and clever force and motion experiments? Let’s move onto activities to help reinforce what you’ve taught.

Force and Motion Activities

After learning about how friction and force moves a roller coaster , set up your classroom to bring the concept to life.

Don’t be afraid to get messy! Combine art with science in this  force and motion marble painting activity .

Work on note taking. Use free simple machine notebooking pages and have students describe the lever, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, screw and wheel and axle. This would be a good resource for upper elementary.

Build a winch with paper towel tubes, spool and a straw. Students could make this recycled materials winch in pairs or small groups.

Attempt to lift heavier objects (by adding pennies to the object being lifted) feeling the change in force it takes to pull it up.

Make a foldable to summarize Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion . Write each law and illustrate on the flap.

Force and Motion Free Games Online

Experiment online (for kindergarten and first grade ) with this push and pull online activity. [no longer available]

Try this forces and movement interactive game for first and second grade . [no longer available]

Experiment with forces in action with this online activity for 10-11 year olds. [no longer available]

While it’s tricky to build flying contraptions in the classroom – use this how do things fly online simulator to design your own airplanes can make it happen – virtually.

Learn about drag, lift, thrust and weight in this interactive activity.

Your students will totally get into this online simple machines game . This game can be challenging – but your students will learn! Reading skills are needed.

Explore forces, loads, materials and shapes with this interactive  force and motion building big activity . This is neat for upper elementary students to see simulated (but interactive) examples of what they are learning about – with more options than you can explore in the classroom.

Force and Motion Videos for Elementary

Here is a list of more force and motion videos for 4th and 5th grade.

Ready for more force and motion activities for the classroom? Check out these 19 Fun Ideas & Resources for Force and Motion .

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Teach Junkie

Leslie {aka the original Teach Junkie} loves learning new things to make teaching easier and more effective. She enjoys featuring creative classroom fun when she's not designing teacher shirts, making kindergarten lesson plans or planning her family's next trip to Disney World.