GRADE 6 SCIENCE
FEBRUARY 15, 2022
FORCES
Friction and Gravity
What is a Force?
A push or a pull on an object in a particular
direction.
CONTACT FORCES
Force through CONTACT:
*Virtually all actions require a…
NON-CONTACT FORCES
Does not require contact: Magnetic:
Static:
Gravity:
Forces are measured in
NEWTONS
GRAVITY
The theory of gravity was proposed by Sir
Isaac Newton in 1687 in his book
Principia Mathematica. He saw an
apple falling from a tree, and it got him
thinking about the mysterious force that
pulls objects to the ground. Newton
named this mysterious force “gravity”.
GRAVITY
Gravity is a force that always attracts or pulls objects toward
each other without direct contact or impact . Gravitational
attraction depends on the mass of the two objects and the
distance they are apart. Objects on Earth are pulled
toward the center of Earth.
The force of gravity, like all other forces, can
cause changes in the speed of objects. As an
object falls, its speed will continually increase
as Earth’s gravity continually pulls it downward.
When air resistance is ignored, all objects will
speed up at the same rate as they fall.
THE FALL
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OBJECT
WHEN IT WAS RELEASED?
A. It fell to the ground.
B. It floated in the air.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OBJECT
AFTER IT WAS THROWN UPWARD?
A. It flew up and eventually falls after some
time.
B. It flew all the way into the air and never
fell back.
BASED ON THE TWO ACTIVITIES, WHAT WAS
COMMON IN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OBJECTS?
A. The objects fell to the ground.
B. The objects stayed in the air.
WHY DID THE OBJECTS BEHAVE THE WAY THEY
DID IN THE TWO ACTIVITIES?
A. Gravity pulls the object downward.
B. Air pulls the object downward.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE GRAVITY?
A. Gravity is a force that pulls objects
towards each other.
B. Gravity is a force that keeps objects float
in the air.
GRAVITY
An attractive force that exists between all
objects that have mass.
This force is dependent on mass and
distance from the object.
WEIGHT VS MASS
Mass:
Amount of matter in an object.
What is the difference?
Weight: Is the gravitational force exerted on an
object.
Your weight is actually a force measured in Newton’s.
GRAVITY AND AIR RESISTANCE
Most objects falling through air experience a type
of fluid friction called air resistance.
Air resistance is not the same for all objects.
The greater the surface area of the object the
greater the air resistance. (paper drop)
However, since the elephant has more mass, it
has more downward force of gravity and falls
faster.
GRAVITY AND FREE FALL Take away ALL
air, so that only
the force of
An object is in free fall when the only
Gravity is being
force acting on the object is gravity. used.
Free-falling objects do not encounter
air resistance.
In free fall, the force of gravity is an
unbalanced force.
FRICTION
Friction is a force that occurs when one object rubs
against another object. Friction is the force that acts
to resist sliding between two surfaces that are
touching. The slowing force of friction always acts in
the direction opposite to the force causing the
motion.
WHAT IS FRICTION?
Friction is a force that resists the motion of two surfaces
that are touching.
When a moving object comes in contact with another object, friction is the opposing
force that slows or stops the moving object.
*Static… prevents objects sliding
*Sliding... resists objects while they are moving
Without friction, an object would continue to move at
constant speed forever.
The strength of the force of friction depends on the type of
surfaces and how hard the surfaces push together.
Rough surfaces produce greater friction than smooth
surfaces.
