In this forces reading, students will learn about the different types of contact forces – friction, normal force, tension, applied force, and air resistance – and how they affect objects that are touching each other. Then, students answer questions on a worksheet. No prior knowledge needed! This article replaces a textbook!
Includes both print and digital Google Slides options to assign.
In this activity, students will:
- READ the article Contact Forces (2 pages).
- ANSWER text-dependent questions. All answers come directly from the text, so no prior knowledge is needed. (2 pages)
Topics Covered (middle school level):
- Friction – static, sliding, and rolling
- Factors affecting friction
- Normal force – perpendicular support
- Tension – pulling through ropes/cables
- Applied force – direct pushes and pulls
- Air resistance – drag and terminal velocity
- Contact forces working together
Teacher Notes:
- Answer keys are always included!
- Please note that this 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.
