Push and Pull Forces
Grade 1 · Science · Study Guide
Learn how pushing and pulling make things move — it's science in action!
A force is a push or a pull that makes something move, stop, or change direction. You use forces every single day! When you kick a soccer ball, that is a push. When you open a drawer, that is a pull. Forces are everywhere!
The strength of a force matters. A gentle push moves something slowly. A strong push makes something go fast. You can change how fast or where something moves by changing the strength or direction of your push or pull. If you push a toy car gently, it rolls slowly. Push it hard, and it zooms away!
Friction is a special force that slows things down. When you slide in socks on a carpet, friction slows you down. On a smooth floor, there is less friction so you can slide much farther. Gravity is another important force — it pulls everything down toward the ground, which is why dropped things fall.
| Action | Type of Force |
|---|---|
| Kicking a soccer ball | Push |
| Opening a door | Pull |
| Throwing a ball | Push |
| Pulling a wagon | Pull |
| Pushing a shopping cart | Push |
Key terms
- force
- A push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or change direction.
- push
- A force that moves an object away from you.
- pull
- A force that moves an object toward you.
- friction
- A force that slows down moving objects when two surfaces rub together.
- gravity
- A force that pulls objects down toward the ground.
Flashcards
- force
- A push or pull that makes something move or stop.
- push
- Moving something away from you.
- pull
- Moving something toward you.
- gravity
- The force that pulls everything down toward Earth.
- friction
- A force that slows things down when surfaces rub.
- direction
- The way something moves, such as left, right, up, or down.
Practice questions
What is a force?
- A type of food
- A push or pull
- A kind of animal
- A color
Show answer
Answer: A push or pull
A force is any push or pull that causes a change in motion — making things start, stop, speed up, or change direction.
Kicking a soccer ball is an example of a push.
Show answer
Answer: True
Kicking pushes the ball away from your foot, making it move across the field.
What force pulls things down toward the ground?
- Friction
- Magnetism
- Gravity
- Wind
Show answer
Answer: Gravity
Gravity is Earth's invisible pulling force that keeps us on the ground and makes dropped objects fall.
A strong push makes an object move faster than a gentle push.
Show answer
Answer: True
The greater the force applied, the faster and farther an object will move.
A force that slows things down when surfaces rub together is called ___.
Show answer
Answer: friction
Friction occurs when two surfaces rub together, creating resistance that slows objects down.
Fun facts
- Astronauts float in space because there is almost no gravity pulling them down!
- A bowling ball and a feather dropped at the same time on the moon would land together — because there is no air friction on the moon!
- Magnets use a special kind of force that you cannot see but can definitely feel!
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