What are forces?
A force is a push or a pull. A force is exerted on one object by another. An example of this would be when you hit a ball with a bat or when you push on your bike pedal to make the wheels move. Here is a short video that shows you an example of force in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WndJsQgUeW4`
The video that you just viewed provides an excellent description of force being a push or a pull. You have already drawn a boat and described its features. We are now going to begin the process of designing and creating a boat from materials within our classroom. To ensure that your boat floats and moves through water, we must have a clear understanding of how forces work in relation to design.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WndJsQgUeW4`
The video that you just viewed provides an excellent description of force being a push or a pull. You have already drawn a boat and described its features. We are now going to begin the process of designing and creating a boat from materials within our classroom. To ensure that your boat floats and moves through water, we must have a clear understanding of how forces work in relation to design.
Where do we see forces in everyday life?
We have watched a short video of forces and have determined that a force is basically is one object pushing or pulling another object. Work with a partner and create a list of forces that you might see in everyday life. Here is an example of a few that may help you.
- Pushing a trolley at the supermarket.
- Pulling a weed out of the ground.
- Pushing a wheelbarrow
- Pulling the starter on a lawnmower.
What else can you think of? Write your answers in your project book.
- Pushing a trolley at the supermarket.
- Pulling a weed out of the ground.
- Pushing a wheelbarrow
- Pulling the starter on a lawnmower.
What else can you think of? Write your answers in your project book.
How will we apply force to your boat?
As we discussed earlier, boats are designed in a particular way so that they move through the water with ease but also do not sink. When we have an engine on a boat or when we row the boat with our own strength, this is a force being applied to the boat. For your particular boat, we are going to use a balloon and a straw to generate the power required to make the boat move. This is an example of a force as the air within the balloon will push the boat along and make it move, similar to how an engine or a person row a boat. This is the first step in creating a boat of your own.
Below is an example of balloons being used to create force. Watch this now before you go to the next activity.
Below is an example of balloons being used to create force. Watch this now before you go to the next activity.