Forces and Motion

In this unit, students explore how forces cause an object’s motion to change. In this lesson, students plan and conduct an experiment to observe how the distance a cup moves across the floor changes when it is pushed with a large force compared to a small force.

• How strongly one pushes or pulls something (how much force they apply) will affect how far that object will go.
• More massive objects (those that are heavier) produce more force (give a stronger push) than less massive objects.

• How do you get an object to move?
• How could you get the object to go a different direction?
• How could you get that same object to move farther? How could you get the object to move just a short distance?
• Does a cup move farther when pushed on with a large force or a small force?
• If you wanted someone in a swing to move high into the air, what type of push would you give them: a push with a small force or a push with a large force? Why?

Misconception: Constant motion requires a constant force.

Fact: Once a force causes an object to move, that object will continue to move until another force acts on it, causing it to change its motion.

Misconception: Moving objects stop when the force moving them “runs out.”

Fact: Objects only change their motion by force. For example, objects slow down because of the force of friction. Without a force to change its motion, a moving object would continue moving forever.

Force : a push or a pull that changes an object’s speed, direction, or shape

Motion : the movement of an object or living thing from one place to another

Pull : to move an object toward you

Push : to move an object away from you

In this lesson, students observe the butterfly life cycle and create a diagram of the painted lady butterfly at each state in its life cycle to gather data on how it changes as it moves from birth to death. Students use their magnifying glasses to observe the painted lady caterpillars as they progress through each stage of their life cycle. Students use information from the student reader and their own observations to evaluate what butterflies need to survive—such as air, water, and food—and how butterflies are different from plants.