49

Lesson 49 of 84 ยท Forces

Experiment

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces (Part 2)

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

  • simple machine
  • lever
  • pulley

Materials Needed

  • blocks
  • spring scale
  • stopwatch
  • pencils
  • toy cars
  • ramps

Safety First

  • Adult supervision recommended.
  • Do not taste any materials.
  • Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Read and 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.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Follow the procedure carefully, step by step.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What do balanced forces result in?