Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Lab Brief #2

🎯 Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

⚡ The twist

Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.

What you'll learn

Balanced forces are equal in size and opposite in direction, so an object stays still or moves at constant speed. Unbalanced forces cause an object to accelerate or change direction.

Key words

speed
How fast something moves over a certain amount of time.
direction
The way something moves or points, like up, down, or left.
balanced
When forces or amounts on both sides are equal and steady.

Make a hypothesis first

Guess: where does the energy go?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

paper clips

⚠️ Safety first

Use a low-voltage battery or supply only — never mains electricity.
Keep strong magnets away from phones, bank cards and anyone with a pacemaker.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Build a simple motor using a battery, magnet, wire, and paper clip supports. Observe how electromagnetic forces create rotation.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Question 1 of 3

What causes an object to accelerate?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What do balanced forces result in?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What type of energy does a moving object have?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: Forces: Push or Pull All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”

🏋️Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Next Smart Experiment

Share this experiment

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Done with science? Try something else

Your Cart (0)