Department of Education

University of Manchester

Forces A Pre-Course Pack for PGCE (Primary) tudents

Contents
!ntroduction

e"f- #est Unit $ Pushes and Pu""s Unit % Forces Act in Particu"ar Directions Unit & 'a"anced Forces Unit ( Frictiona" Forces !nternet ites 'i)"io*raphy Eva"uation of this pre-course pack+

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ !ntroduction #his pack is desi*ned for primary PGCE trainees ,ho need to improve persona" )ack*round kno,"ed*e of science+ !mproved science kno,"ed*e ,i"" mean that you can )e more confident and effective ,hen teachin* science throu*hout the primary years+ -o matter ,hat a*e ran*e you intend to teach there are minimum [Link] for )ack*round kno,"ed*e ,hich are rou*h"y [Link]"ent to *ood GC E pass+ P"ease )e reassured/ primary trainees in the past have 0oined the course fee"in* very apprehensive a)out science )ut yet a"" make very si*nificant pro*ress+ #his is part"y )ecause of the carefu" structure of the course/ the .ua"ity of the support avai"a)"e and a"so the fact that there is nothin* .uite "ike teachin* a topic to he"p c"arify it in your mind1 (#his pack is in draft format and ,i"" )e added to/ your feed)ack at this sta*e ,i"" )e very usefu"+) 2hy Forces3 #his has )een se"ected as it is an area many adu"ts and chi"dren find cha""en*in* and ,here improved understandin* can )e achieved throu*h strai*htfor,ard activities+ 2i"" this Pack 4e"p 5ou3 #ry the .uestions in the pre-pack se"f test/ if you *ive ans,ers ,hich are simi"ar to those *iven and you understand these concepts/ you pro)a)"y don6t need this pack+ 4o,ever even if your science is stron* this pack ,i"" )e of interest as a e7amp"e of the sort of materia"s non-specia"ist co""ea*ues mi*ht [Link]+ 8ther,ise read throu*h the materia"s/ try the simp"e activities and take up some )ack*round readin*+ !n any case you shou"d keep this pack/ inc"udin* the se"f-test/ as the resu"ts provide evidence of your kno,"ed*e in science+ 2hi"st on the course you ,i"" need such evidence of "earnin* for your science independent "earnin* fi"e+ 2hat [Link] 2i"" ! 9e.uire3

a heavy book string an elastic band a pair of scissors 2 pairs of footwear a tray

4o, Much #ime is 9e.uired3 #his is hard to ans,er/ some peop"e may need &: minutes for each unit/ others dou)"e this/ it rather depends on your present understandin* and ho, you react to the materia"s+ 8ne thin* ,hich you ,i"" "earn on the tau*ht course is that ,e a"" have our o,n ideas and e7p"anations for ,hy thin*s happen in the ,or"d+ ometimes it can take "on*er than you ,ou"d think to adapt or chan*e such ideas+ Don6t )e upset if these concepts seem difficu"t+ 2hy have ! )een sent this pack3 As you may kno, the primary PGCE course has a",ays )een cha""en*in*+ 9ecent *overnment stipu"ations mean that to pass the course you ,i"" have to achieve certain ;standards6 of su)0ect kno,"ed*e in science/ En*"ish and mathematics+ #his pack is intended to reduce your ,ork"oad in the comin* year (see the )i)"io*raphy for su**ested te7ts ,hich ,ou"d assist you further)+ Aim of the Pack #he aim of this pack is to assist those ,ho have never or not recent"y studied this area of science+ !t shou"d *ive you e7perience e7p"orin* an area (practica""y and ,ith your .uestions) and mi*ht assist you in c"arifyin* your thou*hts+ Don6t )e suprised if you come a,ay from the pack ,ith more .uestions than ,hen you started+ !f this is the case the pack has assisted+ ome further )ack*round readin* ,i"" assist you+

Pre-Pack e"f-#est <uestion $

2hen ,e measure temperature our unit of measurement is de*rees centi*rade/ ,hen ,e measure distance the unit of measurement is meters+ 2hat is the unit of measurement of force3

<uestion %
#he dia*ram )e"o, sho,s an app"e fa""in* to,ards the *round+ Add arro,s to sho, the forces actin* on the app"e+

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Question 3
!ma*ine t,o cars drivin* side )y side+ 8ne is on a ,e"" maintained road ,ith a satisfactory surface ,hich has recent"y )een *ritted the other is drivin* on an ad0acent fro=en "ake+ #hey trave" side )y side at %: mph+ At a *iven point the drivers )oth app"y their )rakes ,ith [Link]" force+ Descri)e ,hat is then "ike"y to happen to the motion of each car+ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Question 4
Descri)e the forces actin* on this stationary )a"" as it rests on the *round+

Answers
<uestion $ - -e,tons #he unit ,e use to measure force is the -e,ton+ 8n Earth each -e,ton is rou*h"y [Link]"ent to $::*+ #herefore to "ift a mu* of coffee your hand ,ou"d have to provide a "iftin* force of & or ( -e,tons+ <uestion %
5ou shou"d have one arro, pointin* do,n to represent the force of *ravity and another arro, pointin* up,ards to represent air resistance+

<uestion & #he car on the road ou*ht to stop ,ithin a fe, yards+ #he car on the ice ,i"" continue for a much *reater distance )efore stoppin*+ #he difference in stoppin* distance is e7p"ained )y the different amount of friction e7perienced )et,een the tyres and the surface+ 2hi"st the )rakes of each car may perform [Link]""y ,e""+ #he tyres of the car on the road ,i"" e7perience considera)"e frictiona" forces thus stoppin* the car re"ative"y .uick"y+ #he tyres of the car on the ice ,i"" e7perience much "ess friction and so the car ,i"" take much "on*er to stop (for more e7p"anation *o to unit ()+ <uestion ( 5ou shou"d have dra,n t,o arro,s/ one representin* *ravity ,hich is pu""in* the )a"" to,ards the centre of the Earth and an [Link]" and opposite one representin* the surface on ,hich the )a"" is restin* pushin* in the opposite direction ,ith the same force+

Ana"ysis of your ans,ers+ !f your ans,ers )ear no re"ation to those *iven it is hi*h"y "ike"y that you ,i"" find the pack usefu"+ !f your ans,ers contained some of the facts *iven you may find parts of the pack usefu"+ !f your ans,ers rep"icate ,hat ,as *iven/ you shou"d )e a)"e to put this pack aside+ Keep your test results as evidence of your knowledge to date.

Unit $ - Pushes and Pu""s

Forces can )e thou*ht of as pushes and pu""s+

2herever a force is app"ied it appears as a push or a pu""+ #hese forces can )e "ar*e "ike the force of the )u""do=ers a)ove or very sma"" "ike the pu""in* force you ,i"" use to turn this pa*e+ 8ne pro)"em for us as science teachers is that humans are rare"y a,are of these sma"" forces+ #his can make "earnin* a)out forces a "itt"e harder+ Can you "ist thin*s that you push and pu"" around your home3 thin*s ! push thin*s ! pu""

-o, o)serve the action of a pair of scissors+ Pick them up and use them in a cuttin* action+ Can you fee" that you are pushin* and pu""in*3 Can you fee" your fin*ers and thum) pushin* the scissors c"osed3 Can you fee" that your fin*ers and thum) have to pu"" them apart3 A pair of scissors is a very simp"e machine ,hich takes your pushin* and pu""in* of the hand"es and transfers the movement to the )"ades ,here the )"ades are pushed to*ether so c"ose"y and firm"y that ,hen in contact ,ith paper or card the materia" is cut+ 2hat happens to the pushin* force ,hen you try to cut thicker card3 Summary of Unit 1 We experiences forces as pushes and pulls. Forces can vary in magnitude. any small pushes and pulls go unnoticed by humans. notes>.uestions

Unit 2 - Forces Act in Particular irections

#hrou*hout your "ife you have e7perienced forces+ #hese inc"ude the force of *ravity ,hich is present"y pu""in* you and the o)0ects around you to,ards the centre of the Earth+ 8ther fami"iar forces inc"ude the force you fee" on the seat)e"t ,hen you are in a car ,hich is s"o,in* do,n and the force on your )ody as you *et pushed in a cro,d+ Each of these forces is pushin* or pu""in* in a particu"ar direction and ,i"" resu"t in somethin* speeding up/ slowing down! c"anging direction! #aintaining a constant speed or a state of rest+ #he "ast sentence is a mouthfu"1 P"ease read it a*ain and think ,hat it means )y speedin* up/ s"o,in*/ do,n/ constant speed and state of rest+ #hou*ht E7periment !f a "ar*e ho"e appeared in the f"oor )e"o, your chair ,here ,ou"d you

and the chair *o3 !f your response inc"udes a 0ourney a"on* a strai*ht "ine to,ards the centre of the Earth/ you have *ot the idea1 #hou*ht E7periment As a tennis p"ayer hits a tennis )a"" ,ith the racket a force is app"ied ,hich sends the )a"" throu*h the air+

Can you think of thin*s ,hich the )a"" mi*ht encounter on its path ,hich ,ou"d chan*e its direction3 the net3 a ,a""3 the racket of the other p"ayer3 the air3 *ravity3 2e ,ou"d have no difficu"ty a*reein* that the first three ,ou"d affect the 0ourney of the )a""+ Each ,ou"d app"y a ne, force in a different direction affectin* the 0ourney of the )a""+ 2e cou"d discuss the "ast one ,hich ,i"" affect the f"i*ht of the )a"" )ut to a sma"" e7tent+ 5ou can ima*ine tennis p"ayers comp"ainin* a)out stron* (or even "i*ht) cross ,inds1 #hey ,ou"d )e un"ike"y to comp"ain a)out *ravity )ut ,i"" )e very ski""ed at accountin* for its effects+ Do you a*ree ,ith the idea of a *ust of ,ind app"yin* a force3 (!f this is difficu"t/ think of a sai"in* ship+ 2hat is it that pushes the sai"in* ship for,ard3) !n a *ame of tennis each p"ayer see to a"ter the direction and speed of the )a"" in such a ,ay as to make a successfu" return impossi)"e+ 4o, many other *ames are p"ayed ,here the p"ayers chan*e the direction and speed of a )a""/ or puck3 Forces a",ays act in a strai*ht "ine+ 8ur pro)"em on Earth is that )ecause of *ravity )a""s and other o)0ects ,hich start their 0ourney in a strai*ht "ine are immediate"y inf"uenced )y *ravity as the o)0ect is pu""ed to,ards the centre of the Earth+ !f/ for e7amp"e/ a foot)a""er ,ishes to make a "on* pass to a p"ayer in the *oa"mouth+ he or he must app"y a force ,hich ,i"" initia""y send the )a"" on a strai*ht "ine path ,hich ,ou"d *o far too hi*h+ As the )a"" trave"s *ravity ,i"" pu"" the )a"" a"on* a curved path+ #his means that on"y a very ,e"" 0ud*ed kick ,i"" "and at the feet of the other p"ayer1

#he dotted "ine sho,s the initia" "ine of trave"+ #his is affected )y *ravity+

As ,e said a)ove/ the force of *ravity ,i"" pu"" the )a"" do,n to,ards the centre of the Earth+ Another force ,i"" affect the )a"" in its f"i*ht+ As the )a"" has to trave" throu*h air/ the air has a s"i*ht )ut si*nificant s"o,in* affect on the )a""+ #his is the force of air resistance+ Can you think of other instances ,here air resistance interferes ,ith> assists human activities3 i+e+ s"o,in* a car/ a p"ane/ a train/ turnin* the sai"s of a ,indmi""+

Summary of Unit 2 We experience forces as pushes or pulls. Forces make things speed up! slow down! change direction! remain at a constant speed or state of rest. Forces always act in a straight line. "ravity affects the movement of ob#ects. $ir resistance slows things down.
notes>.uestions

Unit 3 $alanced and Un%alanced Forces

8ur e7perience of forces is that they act in pairs+ As your )ody is attracted to,ards the centre of the Earth this is matched )y an [Link]" and opposite force from the chair on ,hich you are sittin*+ #hus you are at rest/ the opposin* forces are )a"anced+ 2hen the forces produce a state of rest "ike this or #ove#ent at a constant speed the forces are %alanced+ ?ots of other e7amp"es e7ist as ,e are surrounded )y them in our dai"y "ives+ $) 2hen you see a *ymnast standin* on a trampo"ine you can ;see6 that the force of *ravity is pu""in* the *ymnast do,n and that the fa)ric and e"astic of the trampo"ine is reactin* ,ith an [Link]" force pushin* in the opposite direction+ %) 2hen opposin* teams in a tu*-o-,ar pu"" in opposite directions one can appreciate that for short periods the forces are in )a"ance+ (2hi"st )oth teams are pu""in* ,ith [Link]" force there is no movement re"ative to the f"oor+) &) A parachutist in free fa"" ,i"" reach termina" ve"ocity ($%:mph)+ At this point there is no acce"eration or dece"eration so ,e have movement at constant speed ,ith )a"ance )et,een the do,n,ard pu""in* force of *ravity and the up,ard pushin* force of air resistance+

Forces act in pairs and are either )a"anced (the o)0ect is at rest or movin* at a steady speed) or un)a"anced (the o)0ect is acce"eratin* or dece"eratin*)+2e often have difficu"ty dea"in* ,ith forces in primary c"assrooms )ecause every i""ustration ,e *ive ,i"" )e affected )y *ravity and frictiona" forces "ike air resistance+ Put your hands to*ether ,ithout pressin*/ can you no, press ,ith one hand and )a"ance this ,ith the other so that the hands do not move3 #ry it3 5ou ,ere successfu" even if there ,as a "itt"e movement )ecause you shou"d have ;fe"t the force6+ ?ike chi"dren ,e a"" "earn these concepts )etter if ,e can ;fee"6 the force+ #hou*ht E7periment -o, consider the different sta*es in a *ame of *o"f and the effect of forces on the *o"f )a""+ !nitia""y the *o"f )a"" is at rest on the tee+ #he forces actin* on the )a"" are +++

#he forces actin* on the stationary )a"" are those of *ravity and the opposite force of the tee+ #hese forces are )a"anced/ the )a"" is at rest+

As the c"u) hits the )a"" a ne, side,ays force is app"ied+

For the ne7t second or t,o the )a"" acce"erates (forces are un)a"anced) a,ay from the p"ayer a"on* the fair,ay+ 2ithin a fe, seconds the forces of *ravity and of air resistance retard the movement of the )a"" ,hich dece"erates (un)a"anced forces) eventua""y it comes to a stop on the *reen (the forces are )a"anced a*ain)+ E7periment -o, tie your strin* around the )ook and onto the e"astic )and as in the dia*ram )e"o,+ #his may take a moment )ut ,i"" )e very usefu"+ 'efore you pu"" on the e"astic/ make a prediction/ ho, hard ,i"" you have to pu"" )efore the )ook moves3 tart pu""in* ,ith a very *ent"e force so that the )ook does not move (forces are )a"anced)+

As you pu"" can you see the e"astic )and stretch3 As it stretches it is *ivin* you an indication of the force you are e7ertin* on the )ook+ 8nce a certain point is reached the )ook moves+ Gent"y increase the pu""in* force unti" the )ook moves+ For a sp"it second (you ,i"" not notice) the )ook acce"erates (un)a"anced forces)+ @eep the pu""in* force the same and the speed of the )ook ,i"" remain constant ()a"anced forces)+ 2hy does the )ook not move ,ith the initia" "i*ht pu""in* force3 !nitia""y the )ook remains sti"" )ecause the friction )et,een the )ook and the ta)"e top is considera)"e and so the )ook and ta)"e top app"y an [Link]" resistive force to your pu"" ()a"anced forces)+ )ook does not move *ent"e pu"" frictiona" forces 2hat is it a)out the *reater ma*nitude of force ,hich makes the )ook move3 As you s"o,"y increase the force/ a point is reached ,here the resistive force caused )y the friction )et,een the )ook and ta)"e top is overcome+ As you pu"" the )ook across the ta)"e at a constant speed no further increase in pu""in* force is [Link]+ !f you maintained this pu""in* force on a very "on* ta)"e the )ook ,ou"d *o on and on1 #hus ,e ,ou"d have an o)0ect movin* at a steady speed ,ith )a"anced forces+ )ook moves )i**er pu"" frictiona" forces !f you app"y a further increase to the pu""in* force/ the speed of the )ook ,i"" increase (un)a"anced forces - acce"eration)+ #hus ,e ,ou"d have un)a"anced forces producin* acce"eration+ #ry repeatin* the e7periment and considerin* the forces at each sta*e+ #ry pu""in* other o)0ects or the same )ook on a different surface+ Predict ,hat ,i"" happen+ !t may assist you to repeat this ,ith a friend (not pu""in* them ,ith an e"astic )and1)+ Make the o)servations to*ether and ta"k it over+ Summary of Unit % Forces act in pairs. &hey usually oppose one another and when balanced are considered e'ual and opposite.

Forces are balanced when an ob#ect is stationary (at rest) or when the ob#ect is moving at a constant speed. $cceleration and deceleration only occur when the forces are out of balance. notes>.uestions

Unit ( Frictiona" Forces

2e have a"ready considered e7amp"es of friction+ Friction )et,een a )ook and a ta)"e top and )et,een a )a"" and the air (air resistance)+ Friction is a"" around us/ it can )e )oth our enemy and our friend+ Friction costs you money as the en*ine of your vehic"e ,orks hard to overcome friction+ Friction saves your "ife ,hen the )rakes of a vehic"e )rin* it safe"y to rest1 #hink a)out the different foot,ear ,hich you use+ Are some pieces of foot,ear )etter suited for use in ,et or icy conditions3 !n ,et or icy conditions you ,ant shoes ,ith a *ood *rip+ 'y this ,e mi*ht mean a pattern cut into the so"e to *ive )etter *rip (increased friction)/ or ,e mi*ht mean the materia" from ,hich the so"e is made/ as some materia"s *ive )etter *rip (produce more friction)+ A simp"e e7periment ,ou"d see you p"acin* different items of foot,ear on a tray or other f"at surface and carefu""y tippin* the tray+ #he shoes ,ith more *rip (*reater frictiona" forces) ,i"" )e the "ast to move (take care not to cause any dama*e1)+ #ry this ,ith different shoes+ #ry to predict ,hich ,i"" )e the )est+ At the end of this e7periment can you descri)e the characteristics of materia"s ,hich provide *ood *rip3 !s it ru))ery3 soft3 *rippy3 )endy3 smooth3 rou*h3 ++++++++++++++++3 -e7t time you *o to )uy a pair of shoes you mi*ht refer to your need for increased frictiona" forces rather than *rip1

!n unit t,o ,e considered the force of air resistance+ hips/ )oats/ su)marines and fish a"" have to contend ,ith the simi"ar effects of ,ater resistance+ 4o, do fish reduce the frictiona" forces on their )odies as they move throu*h ,ater3

stream"ined shape s"ippery surface fe, protrusions 4o, does a su)marine copy these characteristics3 2e humans do the )est ,e can ,ith our su)marines/ ships and )oats choosin* shapes that ,i"" *"ide throu*h the ,ater and materia"s ,hich are as smooth as ,e can economica""y make them+ Friction he"ps us to ,a"k+ 4ave you ever tried to ,a"k on ice3 #ry ,a"kin* around the room you are in+ !f you ,a"k s"o,"y and concentrate hard you may )e a)"e to fee" each foot as it pushes do,n and s"i*ht"y )ack,ards ,ith each step+ 2ithout this friction a""o,in* you to push )ack a*ainst the f"oor you ,ou"d *et no,here+

4o, do 8"ympic s,immers reduce the frictiona" forces of ,ater resistance3 smooth s,imsuits )a"d heads s,immin* caps remova" for )ody hair1 4o, do aerop"ane manufacturers reduce the frictiona" forces of air resistance in their p"anes3 smooth materia"s aerodynamic shape fe, protrusions

#hou*ht E7periment As a driver attempts to drive a,ay from a muddy fie"d the ,hee"s of the car spin on the mud+ 2hat ,i"" the affect of this )e on her a)i"ity to make pro*ress3 'ecause there is insufficient friction )et,een the tyres and the *round+ #he mud is actin* as a "u)ricant (rather "ike oi") and is reducin* the friction+ 8n"y if the frictiona" forces can )e increased ,i"" the car move+ More frictiona" forces mi*ht )e achieved if the driver ,ere to put sand or stones )eneath the ,hee" to reduce the "u)ricatin* effect of the mud+ #hus the ,hee" cou"d ;*et a *rip6 (e7perience sufficient friction)+

Summary of Unit * Frictional forces are all around us. Frictional forces both assist us and hinder us. +umankind often adapts products to either increase or decrease frictional forces. +umankind often copies the natural world in order to decrease frictional forces+
notes>.uestions

!nternet ites for cience

&ry these ,nternet sites if you have access! what do they tell you about science and about primary sciencecomments http.//[Link] http.//think'uestorg/20121/ http.//[Link]/primary/pscience/t1%*.htm http.//[Link]/enforcemot/[Link] http.//[Link]

http.//[Link] http.//[Link]/education/revisewise/science/physical/[Link] try our 3"45 3rimary site and go to science and science links http.//[Link]/pgce/primary other sites you find Further 7eading 8ethell! ". (1990) :xford 7evision "uides. Science &hrough ;iagrams! :xford. :xford University 3ress. ,S8< =>19>91*0=?>@ Farrow! S. (199?) &he 7eally Useful Science 8ook! Falmer 3ress. Aondon. ,S8< = 01=0 =%0? 2 Bent! $. and Ward! $. (192*) &he Usbourne 8ook of 3hysics! Aondon. Usborne 3ublishing. ,S8< = 0*?= =2%= 9 3eacock! ". (1992) C&S Science for 3rimary &eachers. $n $udit and Self>Study "uide! Aondon. Aetts 5ducational. ,S8< 1>212=1>%1=>1

Eva"uation - Forces - Precourse tudy Pack

the presentation of units the content the or*anisation the advice a)out time [Link] the pack assisted me ,ith my persona" science the pack made me fee" more confident a)out science *ood $ *ood $ *ood $ *ood $ $

Primary PGCE
satisfactory % satisfactory % satisfactory % satisfactory % satisfactory % satisfactory % poor & poor & poor & poor & poor & poor &

P"ease score the fo""o,in* on the $ - & sca"e and ,here you ,ish add a comment+

*ood

*ood $

P"ease add any other comments a)out this pack ,hich ,ou"d assist trainees in the future+

P"ease note any usefu" ,e)sites you have discovered+

P"ease post this to A"an Cross/ Department of Education/ University of Manchester/ 87ford 9oad/ Manchester/ M$& AP?+ or *ive it to him in the first ,eek of the course+ Comments can a"so )e *iven on a"an+crossBman+ac+uk