V9 Fabulous Forces

This unit is designed to cover the year 4 Physical Sciences material for the Australian National Curriculum. This physics unit stands apart from many of the other units in the science curriculum (with the possible exception of Year 2 Physics). It includes many novel items like Newton’s laws of motion and magnetism. Students will learn this exciting new material through presentations, demonstrations and hands-on lab work. We also provide worksheets and an assessment task to help you make sure that your students understand these essential science concepts.

7 x 1 hour lessons

Cross curriculum

17x resources/worksheets

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Curriculum content descriptions

Australian Curriculum - (QLD/SA/WA/NT/TAS/ACT)

AC9S4U03

Identify how forces can be exerted by one object on another and investigate the effect of frictional, gravitational and magnetic forces on the motion of objects

AC9S4H01

Examine how people use data to develop scientific explanations

AC9S4H02

Consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem

AC9S4I01

Pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations

AC9S4I02

Use provided scaffolds to plan and conduct investigations to answer questions or test predictions, including identifying the elements of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment

AC9S4I03

Follow procedures to make and record observations, including making formal measurements using familiar scaled instruments and using digital tools as appropriate

AC9S4I04

Construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns

AC9S4I05

Compare findings with those of others, consider if investigations were fair, identify questions for further investigation and draw conclusions

AC9S4I06

Write and create texts to communicate findings and ideas for identified purposes and audiences, using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate

AC9S1I03

Make and record observations, including informal measurements, using digital tools as appropriate

ACSSU076

Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance

ACSHE061

Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships

ACSHE062

Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions

ACSIS064

With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on prior knowledge

ACSIS065

With guidance, plan and conduct scientific investigations to find answers to questions, considering the safe use of appropriate materials and equipment

ACSIS066

Consider the elements of fair tests and use formal measurements and digital technologies as appropriate, to make and record observations accurately

ACSIS068

Use a range of methods including tables and simple column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends

ACSIS216

Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings

ACSIS069

Reflect on investigations, including whether a test was fair or not

ACSIS071

Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations

NSW

ST2-1WS-S

Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations

ST2-2DP-T

Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity

ST2-8PW-ST

Describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat

ST2-9PW-ST

Describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an object’s motion

ST2-10ES-S

Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth’s surface

ST2-4LW-S

Compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things

ST2-5LW-T

Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter

ST2-6MW-S

Describes how adding or removing heat causes a change of state

ST2-7MW-T

Investigates the suitability of natural and processed materials for a range of purposes

ST2-3DP-T

Defines problems, describes and follows algorithms to develop solutions

ST2-11DI-T

Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data

VIC

VCSSU064

Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance

VCSSU056

Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions

VCSIS065

With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge

VCSIS067

Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies

VCSIS068

Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations

VCSIS069

Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends

VCSIS070

Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings

VCSIS071

Reflect on an investigation, including whether a test was fair or not

VCSIS072

Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language

Overview

The key concepts in this unit include:

Physics is the study of how matter behaves when acted on by forces or energy.
This behaviour is governed by the force's size (or magnitude) and direction. The larger the force, the bigger the effect.
Objects always have forces at work on them, even when they are not moving, and objects will keep doing what they are doing (moving or staying still) until a force unbalances their equilibrium.
Some forces work against other forces, resisting forces. This can be like the drag against an aeroplane or the friction which stops a ball rolling.
Some forces act on objects directly by contacting them. Other forces, like magnetism or gravity, do not need to be in contact with an object to exert a force on them.

Learning Intention

We are learning to identify how forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance.
We are learning to identify how forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance.