In this balanced and unbalanced forces reading, students will learn how different forces interact to affect an object’s motion, identify examples of balanced and unbalanced forces in everyday situations, and calculate net force to determine whether motion will change.
Includes both print and digital Google Slides options to assign.
In this activity, students will:
- READ the article Balanced and Unbalanced Forces. (2 pages)
- ANSWER text-dependent questions. All answers come directly from the text, so no prior knowledge is needed. (2 pages)
Topics Covered:
- Definition of force as a push or pull
- Magnitude and direction of forces
- Units of force (newtons)
- Balanced forces and their effects on motion
- Everyday examples of balanced forces (chair, table, tug-of-war)
- Unbalanced forces and how they cause acceleration
- Real-world examples of unbalanced forces (soccer ball, bicycle, elevator)
- Net force and how to calculate it
- Relationship between net force, balance, and motion
Teacher Notes:
- Answer keys are always included!
- Please note that this balanced and unbalanced forces reading is not editable.
- Related NGSS Standards: MS-PS2-1 and MS-PS2-2
- You can also shop my TPT store!
Related Standards:
- NGSS MS-PS2-1: Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.
- NGSS MS-PS2-2: Plan an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.
