Forces make things change
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Energy of moving particles, where they explored how energy is transferred in different systems. It deepens their understanding by focusing on how forces cause changes in motion, including acceleration, deceleration, and impacts. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Gravity in space, where they will apply their knowledge to explore how gravitational forces affect the motion of planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, reinforcing the concept of forces in large-scale systems.
Prior knowledge requirements
- The bigger the resultant force, the bigger the change on an object.
- The moment of a force causes turning.
- Levers are force multipliers or distance multipliers.
- Objects that are harder to stop have a bigger momentum.
- Work done is the total amount of energy transferred.
- Work done is measured in joules (J).
- Doubling the mass of a moving object doubles the energy it has because it is moving.
- Doubling the speed of an object increases the energy it has because it is moving by four times.
- The gravitational force acting on an object does work to speed the object up when it is falling.
- Gravitational force (weight) = mass × gravitational field strength, W = mg.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Energy of moving particles, where they explored how energy is transferred in different systems. It deepens their understanding by focusing on how forces cause changes in motion, including acceleration, deceleration, and impacts. This prepares pupils for the next unit, Gravity in space, where they will apply their knowledge to explore how gravitational forces affect the motion of planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, reinforcing the concept of forces in large-scale systems.
Prior knowledge requirements
- The bigger the resultant force, the bigger the change on an object.
- The moment of a force causes turning.
- Levers are force multipliers or distance multipliers.
- Objects that are harder to stop have a bigger momentum.
- Work done is the total amount of energy transferred.
- Work done is measured in joules (J).
- Doubling the mass of a moving object doubles the energy it has because it is moving.
- Doubling the speed of an object increases the energy it has because it is moving by four times.
- The gravitational force acting on an object does work to speed the object up when it is falling.
- Gravitational force (weight) = mass × gravitational field strength, W = mg.
Physics
Forces make things change
This unit explores forces, interactions, and Newton’s laws, including motion, rotation, and momentum. It covers reaction times, stopping distances, and deceleration dangers. Emphasis is on force diagrams, calculations, experiments, and evaluating methods for accuracy and safety.
12 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Forces make things change unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our AQA secondary physics curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for AQA secondary physics programmes.