Examining Balanced & Unbalanced Forces
Based on our last lab we learned that objects at rest will stay at rest unless you give them a push or pull. We also learned that difference forces make objects move different distances depending on how hard or gently you push/pull on them. This got students thinking about whether the forces on the cars during our experiment were balanced or unbalanced.
We soon discovered that unbalanced forces will cause an object to move and balanced forces will cause an object to remain still. Students had an opportunity to take this principle one step farther and sort a series of diagrams into categories and then find examples in our real life where that situation applied.
Students began drawing their own diagrams of balance and unbalanced forces, looking to the real world for inspiration. We even took a look at how stronger forces from opposing directions can change the direction an object is traveling. Take a look at some of their work below:
