LO 2: Some things "stick" to magnets i.e. they are attracted.

BBC Science Clips - Magnets and Springs Place different objects on the table to see if they are attracted to the magnet or not. Rotate the magnet and try to pick up the other magnet. Quiz. Printable worksheet available (Click on Worksheet)

Magnazone Short activity to classify different objects by dragging them into the 'magnetic' or 'non-magnetic' boxes.

CTB > Forces > Magnets.ppt Starter PowerPoint document - add a title page. Add 'Yes' and 'No' headings to slide 2 ("Is it magnetic?") and then use the pixbank on slide 5 to copy and paste pictures of objects under the correct heading.
(Note: New version of CTB rolled out to SBC schools from Autumn 2005)

Clicker 4 > (none) > Clicker Grids for Learning > Science > Physical Processes > Magnetism Use the pictures and text to write about whether objects are magnetic or not.
(Note: New version of Clicker 4 activities rolled out to SBC schools in 2004)

LO 4-5: The ends of magnets are known as north and south poles. Unlike poles of magnets attract, like poles repel.

Magnetic Forces Excellent interactive 'module' that covers magnetic and non-magnetic materials as well as poles that attract and repel

CTB > Forces > Magnets.ppt Starter PowerPoint document. Use the rectangle drawing tool from the Drawing menu to create red and blue 'bar magnets' for slide 3 ("Attract or Repel "). TIP: Copy and paste the first rectangle to make all the others exactly the same size. Add arrows and text boxes from the Drawing toolbar to show 'attract' or 'repel'.
(Note: New version of CTB rolled out to SBC schools in Autumn 2005)

LO 6: Different magnets have different strengths

BBC Science Clips - Magnets and Springs Change the size of the magnets and watch the effect.

LO 1: Friction is a force that opposes movement when one surface rubs on another.

Friction Explorer Click the picture to begin. Adjust the force of the push and the amount of friction. Can you change the levels until the book just slides off the table? Press Reset each time.

LO 3: The less the friction, the further and faster an object can move.

BBC Science Clips - Friction Drag different surfaces onto the track and see how far the sleigh moves. Printable worksheet available (Click on Worksheet)

Forces - Car down a ramp Alter the angle of the ramp and this time measure the speed at which the toy car travels down the smooth or rough slope.

Idea Use the datalogger light sensor to create a 'light gate'. Set up a fair test with a toy car, ramp and different surfaces to predict and then test which surface provides most friction and slows the car down the most. [Datalogging folder, P4-7 Friction section] or use this link: P4-7 Friction Datalogging Teachers' Notes

LO 6: Sometimes friction is needed for "grip" eg trainers, shoes, tyres, brakes

CTB > Forces > Mr Zippy's Trainers Answer the questions and design some new trainers for Mr Zippy. Also available from the SYCD website.

Friction Excellent interactive 'module' that explains friction. Also mentions air resistance (see next Learning Outcome)

LO 9-10: The bigger the surface of an object, the more the air resistance. Objects which are air resistant eg feathers and parachutes, fall more slowly than objects that are not.

Parachute Game Choose when Daffy should jump and when to open his parachute to help him land. Watch out for the wind direction! Illustrates very clearly the effect of the parachute on speed of fall.

Idea Use the Digital Blue video camera to take a short movie of moving objects, eg parachutes with different sized canopies, and insert into a PowerPoint slideshow.

LO 11: Air resistance can be reduced through streamlining.

Air Resistance Click on activity 2 (Air Resistance) and then choose a car with less air resistance to see the test run.

Idea Take a toy car and devise two different superstructures for it, one as streamlined as possible, one with a large surface area. Use exactly one sheet of paper/card for each superstructure so that it is a fair test. Then use the datalogger to measure the speed of each modification down a ramp - a long ramp will give best results.

LO 15: The bigger the object, the bigger the pull

Gravity Click on activity 2 (Large and Small) to test the speed of the car with different drivers. Which goes fastest - the mouse driver or the elephant driver?

BBC Science Clips - Forces in Action Add weights and parachutes to see the effect on the toy car as it goes down the slope. Printable worksheet available (Click on Worksheet)

Idea Devise a fair test and use the datalogger to measure a toy truck's speed down a ramp with/without a heavy load.

LO 16: Gravity makes objects fall at the same speed

Galileo Drops the Ball Give Galileo the large and small ball to drop from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa! What happens? What about the feather? Now switch to 'vacuum mode' and see what happens when there is no air. Why?

Revision on friction, air resistance and gravity

BBC Revisewise - Forces Interactive revision activity about friction and gravity. Answer questions to test your knowledge and understanding.