How big is that force?

A bigger push makes a bigger difference.

A hard kick sends the ball much further than a gentle tap.

Big and small forces

Forces can be big or small. A gentle tap moves a football a little. A hard kick sends it far. The bigger the force, the bigger the change.

Measuring the effect

You can see the size of a force by what it does. Push a toy car gently, then harder. Measure the distance it travels each time. A bigger push makes the car go further.

Balanced and unbalanced

Balanced forces are the same size and push or pull in opposite directions. Nothing changes. Unbalanced forces are different sizes. Things start, stop, speed up or slow down.

Heavy things need bigger forces

It takes a bigger force to move a heavy object. Pushing an empty box is easy. Pushing a box full of books is hard. Machines like tractors and cranes make big forces.

What I learnt

I know that a bigger force has a bigger effect.
I can explain balanced and unbalanced forces.