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Grade 3 · Science · Unit 4 of 15

Pushes, Pulls & Forces

Gravity, magnets, friction and changing motion

What your child practises

Forces as pushes and pulls, contact and non-contact forces (gravity, magnetism, static electricity), friction, how bigger forces change motion more, and helmets and seat belts as safety devices.

Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: 3E1.1 · how pushes and pulls change the way objects move

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Does the force need touching? Tap an item, then tap its basket.

    Sort into: 🤝 contact force · 🧲 non-contact force

    • 🧲a magnet pulling a paper clip
    • 🧲two magnets pushing apart
    • 🚪pushing a door open
    • 🎈a balloon sticking to a wall (static)
    • ⚽kicking a ball
    • 🛒pulling a wagon
    Show answer

    🤝 contact force: pushing a door open, kicking a ball, pulling a wagon · 🧲 non-contact force: a magnet pulling a paper clip, two magnets pushing apart, a balloon sticking to a wall (static)

    Hint: A contact force happens when things touch. Gravity, magnetism and static electricity can act from a distance.

  2. Question 2

    A ball rolls across the grass and slowly stops. What force slows it down?

    ⚽
    • magnetism
    • static electricity
    • friction
    • a push from the Moon
    Show answer

    friction

    Hint: Friction between the ball and the grass slows it.

  3. Question 3

    Which force can act without touching?

    🧲
    • pushing a swing
    • friction
    • magnetism
    • kicking a ball
    Show answer

    magnetism

    Hint: Magnets can push or pull things from a distance, so magnetism is a non-contact force.

  4. Question 4

    Which surface had the most friction?

    How far the toy car rolled (cm)
    020406080100120140carpettilewood floor
    • wood floor
    • tile
    • carpet
    Show answer

    carpet

    Hint: The car rolled the shortest distance on carpet, so carpet had the most friction.

  5. Question 5

    To reduce damage from flooding along a river, people can…

    🌊
    • cut down trees on the bank
    • pour more water on the banks
    • remove all dams
    • build barriers and keep homes away from the riverbank
    Show answer

    build barriers and keep homes away from the riverbank

    Hint: Flood forces from fast water are hard to stop; planning where to build helps keep people safe.

  6. Question 6

    When you squeeze a sponge, the force changes its…

    🧽
    • smell
    • shape
    • name
    • colour
    Show answer

    shape

    Hint: Forces can change the shape of an object.

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