7th Grade Science

Physics

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Teacher Page
Objectives
Students will
identify net force.
identify balanced and unbalanced forces.
describe how forces affect motion.
Materials
desk or object that can be pushed by two students
Procedure
Have students demonstrate the concepts of
unbalanced forces in the same direction.
unbalanced forces in opposite directions.
balanced forces in opposite directions.
1. Two students push the desk at the same time and in the same direction. Ask: What is the net
force acting on the desk? Students should write their responses in a journal. (The force of the
first students push added to the force of the second students push.)

2. One student pushes with one hand while the other pushes with two hands. Ask: How would
you calculate net force? (Find the difference between the force of the first students push and
the force of the second students push.) Ask: What happens to the desk when the forces
acting on it are unequal? (The desk moves in the direction of the greater force.)

3. Two students push with equal forces acting in opposite directions. Ask: What is the net force
acting on the desk? (zero) Ask: What happened to the desk when two equal forces push it
from opposite directions. (The desk did not move.)

SBISD

Fall 2008

7th Grade Science

Physics

4. Have students identify other objects acted upon by equal and unequal forces and sketch the
objects with arrows that represent the direction and strength of forces.

SBISD

Fall 2008

7th Grade Science

Physics

Name: ________________________________________ Date: _________________ Period: _____

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Student Page
Objectives
identify net force.
identify balanced and unbalanced forces.
describe how forces affect motion.
Materials
desk or object that can be pushed by two students
Procedure
Demonstrate the concepts of
unbalanced forces in the same direction.
unbalanced forces in opposite directions.
balanced forces in opposite directions.
1. Two students push the desk at the same time and in the same direction.
a. What happened to the table?
b. How would you calculate net force for this example?
c. Is the force acting on the table balanced or unbalanced?

2. One student pushes with one hand while the other pushes with two hands.
a. What happened to the table
b. How would you calculate net force for this example?
c. Is the force acting on the table balanced or unbalanced?

SBISD

Fall 2008

7th Grade Science

Physics

3. Two students push with equal forces acting in opposite directions.

a. What happened to the table
b. How would you calculate net force for this example?
c. Is the force acting on the table balanced or unbalanced?

4. Have students identify other objects acted upon by equal and unequal forces and sketch the
objects with arrows that represent the direction and strength of forces.

SBISD

Fall 2008

7th Grade Science

Physics

5. Calculate the net force in newtons exerted on the objects.

a.

5N

2N

Net force =___________________

Is the force balanced or unbalanced?
_____________________________

Net Force =
3N
b.

_________________
3N
Is the force balanced or unbalanced?
_____________________________

6. In order for you to do work on an object, the object must move some distance as a result
of your force. The amount of work done on an object can be calculated by multiplying
force times distance. Work is measured in joules.

Work = Force x Distance

Example: How much work has been done if a refrigerator is moved 2 meters with a force of 15N?
Work = force x distance
Work = 15N x 2 meters
Work = 30 joules

a. Jack pushes a lawn mower with a force of 8N over a distance of 25 meters. How much work
does Jack do?

b. You exert a force of 1.5N to lift your backpack off the floor. How much work do you do if you
lift the backpack 2 meters?
SBISD

Fall 2008