Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 7

The different kinds of force

I can identify and describe different kinds of force and their effects.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
New
New
Year 7

The different kinds of force

I can identify and describe different kinds of force and their effects.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Contact forces only act when objects are touching.
  2. Non-contact forces can act with or without the objects touching.
  3. Friction is a contact force that slows or prevents movement.
  4. Drag is a contact force that pushes against objects moving through liquids or gases.

Keywords

  • Contact force - Contact forces only act when objects are touching.

  • Friction - Friction is the force of one surface gripping or rubbing on another.

  • Drag - Objects moving through liquids and gases experience drag, a force that acts against the object’s motion.

  • Non-contact force - Non-contact forces can act with or without objects touching.

Common misconception

An object 'has' force that provides it some kind of agency, which is independent of other objects.

Describe forces as interactions between two objects using the structure 'the force of object A on object B'.

When introducing drag forces, get students to hold out their hand and 'swish' it through the air in front of them so they can feel/experience air resistance for themselves. They could then also swish their hands through water or stir a thick mixture.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which kind of force pulls objects down towards Earth's surface?
friction force
magnetic force
Correct answer: gravitational force
lift force
Q2.
The force that acts when surfaces grip or rub against each other is called .
Correct Answer: friction, frictional force, frictional, sliding friction
Q3.
Which is the correct name for the force that makes things float in water?
gravity
thrust
Correct answer: upthrust
water resistance
Q4.
What do forces do? Forces cause objects to their speed, direction of motion or shape.
Correct Answer: change, alter
Q5.
Which of these forces only acts when the two objects are touching?
The force of one magnet attracting an iron nail.
The force of one magnet repelling another magnet.
The gravitational force of planet Earth on a ball thrown in the air.
Correct answer: The force exerted by a foot kicking a football.
Q6.
What is the best way of describing this force?
An image in a quiz
The force of the foot.
The force of the ball.
Correct answer: The force of the foot on the ball.
The force between the foot and the ball.
Q6 UYSEG

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the correct definitions to the keywords.
Correct Answer:Contact force,A force that only acts when objects are touching.

A force that only acts when objects are touching.

Correct Answer:Non-contact force,A force that can act whether objects are touching or not.

A force that can act whether objects are touching or not.

Q2.
Find the non-contact forces.
Correct answer: magnetic force
tension
Correct answer: weight
Correct answer: electrostatic force
friction
Q3.
Match up each kind of force with its definition.
Correct Answer:Weight,The gravitational force from a star, planet or moon.

The gravitational force from a star, planet or moon.

Correct Answer:Upthrust,The upwards force from a liquid or gas.

The upwards force from a liquid or gas.

Correct Answer:Friction,The force of one surface rubbing/gripping another surface.

The force of one surface rubbing/gripping another surface.

Correct Answer:Tension,The force from a stretched rope.

The force from a stretched rope.

Q4.
Which is the best explanation for why gravitational forces are non-contact forces?
Gravitational forces are the attraction of Earth.
Gravitational forces work by magnetism.
Gravitational forces only act when objects are touching Earth’s surface.
Gravitational forces only act when objects are not touching Earth’s surface.
Correct answer: Gravitational forces act whether objects are touching Earth’s surface or not.
Q5.
Which force does not act on this boat? The boat is not moving.
An image in a quiz
gravitational force
upthrust
Correct answer: air resistance
Q6.
Look at the picture. Which of the following forces does not act on the moving sled?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: The pull force of the person on the rope.
The friction force of the ground on the sled.
The tension force of the rope on the sled.
The gravitational force of Earth on the sled.
Q6 UYSEG