Types of Forces | Open Textbooks

What is a Force?

A Force is a Push or a Pull!

Every time you move something, you use a force. Forces can make objects start moving, stop moving, speed up, slow down, or change direction.

Remember: You cannot see forces, but you can see what they DO! When a ball rolls, bounces, or stops - that's forces at work!

👐

Push

Moving something AWAY from you

🤲

Pull

Moving something TOWARD you

🌍

Gravity

Pulls everything DOWN toward Earth

✋

Friction

Slows things down when they rub together

🧲

Magnetism

Attracts or repels certain metals

Push and Pull Forces

👐 Push Forces

A push moves an object away from you or in the direction you're pushing. The harder you push, the faster and farther the object moves!

🚪 Pushing open a door

🛒 Pushing a shopping cart

⚽ Kicking a soccer ball

🎹 Pressing piano keys

🤲 Pull Forces

A pull moves an object toward you or in the direction you're pulling. Pulling is the opposite of pushing!

🚪 Pulling a door closed

🛷 Pulling a wagon or sled

🎣 Reeling in a fishing line

🐕 A dog pulling on a leash

Try It! Push and Pull Demo

Click the buttons to push or pull the box!

📦

Gravity - The Force That Pulls Us Down

🌍 What is Gravity?

Gravity is an invisible force that pulls everything toward the center of Earth. It's why things fall when you drop them, and why we stay on the ground instead of floating away!

Fun Fact: Gravity pulls on everything equally - but heavier objects feel more pull because they have more "stuff" (mass) for gravity to pull on!

🍎 An apple falling from a tree

🌧️ Rain falling from clouds

⛷️ Sliding down a slide

🏀 A ball coming back down after being thrown up

Try It! Gravity Demo

Click the button to drop the ball and watch gravity pull it down!

🔴

Think About It: What would happen if there was no gravity? Everything would float away - including you! Astronauts in space experience very little gravity, which is why they float inside their spacecraft.

Friction - The Force That Slows Things Down

✋ What is Friction?

Friction is a force that happens when two surfaces rub against each other. It slows things down and can even make them stop. Rough surfaces create MORE friction, while smooth surfaces create LESS friction.

🧊

Low Friction

Ice is very smooth - things slide easily!

🌿

Medium Friction

Grass slows things down a bit

📜

High Friction

Sandpaper is rough - things stop quickly!

Try It! Friction Demo

Watch how the same push moves a block differently on different surfaces!

Ice (Low Friction - slides far!)

Grass (Medium Friction - slides some)

Sandpaper (High Friction - barely slides!)

Real Life Example: This is why we put rubber soles on shoes - the friction helps us grip the ground so we don't slip! And why car tires have treads - for better grip on the road.

Magnetism - The Invisible Force

🧲 What is Magnetism?

Magnetism is a special force that can push or pull certain metals (like iron, nickel, and cobalt) without even touching them! Magnets have two ends called poles - a North pole and a South pole.

Magnet Rules:

Opposite poles ATTRACT (North + South pull together)
Same poles REPEL (North + North push apart)

Try It! Magnet Demo

See how magnets attract metal objects and interact with each other!

N

S

Fe

🧲 Refrigerator magnets

🧭 Compass needles (Earth is a giant magnet!)

🚄 Maglev trains float using magnets

🔊 Speakers use magnets to make sound

How Forces Affect Motion

Forces Change Motion!

Forces can make objects: START moving, STOP moving, SPEED UP, SLOW DOWN, or CHANGE DIRECTION

⚖️ Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces

Balanced Forces: When forces are equal and opposite, they cancel out. The object stays still or keeps moving the same way.

➡ 📦 ➡
Equal pushes from both sides = no movement

Unbalanced Forces: When one force is stronger, the object moves in that direction!

➡ 📦 ➡
Stronger push on left = moves right!

Forces Acting on a Falling Apple

🍎

⬇️ Gravity

⬆️ Air Resistance

Gravity is stronger, so the apple falls down!

Practice Problems

Test your knowledge about forces! Read each question and click the correct answer.

Question 1

You kick a soccer ball across the field. What type of force did you use?

Question 2

A leaf falls from a tree to the ground. Which force caused this?

Question 3

Why does a ball rolling on carpet stop faster than a ball rolling on a smooth floor?

Question 4

A magnet picks up a paper clip without touching it. This happens because of:

Question 5

You pull a wagon behind you. What type of force are you using?

Force Sorting Game

Click an example, then click the correct force category to sort it!

Sort These Examples by Force Type!

Apple falling

Brakes on a bike

Closing a drawer

Compass needle

Tug of war

Rain falling

Shoes gripping floor

Fridge magnets

Push / Pull

Gravity

Friction

Magnetism

Correct: 0 / 8

Check Your Understanding

What happens when forces are unbalanced?

Which force keeps you from floating into space?

What do opposite poles of a magnet do?

What We Learned

💪

Forces

Pushes and pulls that make things move or change motion

🌍

Gravity

Pulls everything toward Earth's center

✋

Friction

Slows objects when surfaces rub together

🧲

Magnetism

Attracts or repels certain metals

Remember: Forces are everywhere! Every time something moves, speeds up, slows down, or changes direction, forces are at work. Now you know how to identify them!

Next Steps

Look for examples of forces in your daily life
Try pushing and pulling objects to see how they move
Experiment with magnets and different materials
Notice how friction helps you walk without slipping
When ready, move on to learn about Motion and Speed!