Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - Basic 3

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Define what a force is.
• Explain what energy is and its different forms.
• Describe how forces change how objects move.
• Understand how energy changes from one form to another.
• See how forces and energy work in our community.

Lesson summary

Hello Class 3! Today, we're going to explore the world of *Forces and Energy*. Have you ever wondered why things move or why some things are easier to move than others? Forces and energy are all around us, making things happen! Understanding them will help us understand how the world works, from pushing a swing to making kenkey.

Lesson notes

What is a Force? A force is a push or a pull that can make an object move, stop moving, or change direction. Think about pushing a wheelbarrow, pulling a door open, or kicking a football. These are all examples of forces! Types of Forces: Pushing Force: When you push something away from you, you are using a pushing force. Examples: Pushing a car, pushing a table. Pulling Force: When you pull something towards you, you are using a pulling force. Examples: Pulling a rope, pulling a chair. Gravity: This is the force that pulls everything down to the ground. It's why you don't float away! When you drop a stone, gravity pulls it down. Friction: This is a force that acts against motion when two surfaces rub together. Friction makes it harder to move things. For example, it's harder to push a box across a rough floor than a smooth one. What is Energy? Energy is what makes things happen. It is the ability to do work. Things that have energy can make things move, light up, or get warmer. Forms of Energy: Light Energy: This is the energy we get from the sun or a lamp. It helps us see. Heat Energy: This is the energy that makes things hot. We get heat energy from fire, the sun, or a stove. Sound Energy: This is the energy we hear. It comes from things that vibrate, like a drum or a talking person. Motion Energy: This is the energy an object has when it is moving. A running person or a rolling ball has motion energy. Forces and Motion: A force can cause an object to start moving if it's still, stop moving if it's already in motion, speed up, slow down, or change direction. The bigger the force, the bigger the change in motion. Example 1: Imagine you are playing football. If you kick the ball (apply a force), the ball will move. If you kick it harder (apply a bigger force), the ball will move faster and further. Example 2: If your friend is pushing you on a swing and stops pushing (removes the force), you will eventually stop swinging due to air resistance and friction. Example 3: If someone is pushing a heavy load of firewood, it requires a large force to move it. A smaller force might not be enough. Guided Practice (With Solutions) Question: Ama is pushing a toy car across the floor. What kind of force is she using? Solution: Ama is using a *pushing force*. She is applying a force away from herself. Question: Kofi drops a mango from a tree. What force makes the mango fall to the ground? Solution: *Gravity* makes the mango fall to the ground. Gravity is a pulling force that pulls everything towards the Earth. Question: Explain why it's harder to ride your bicycle on a sandy road compared to a tarred road. Solution: It's harder to ride on sand because there's more *friction* between the bicycle tyres and the sand. Friction resists the motion of the bicycle. Question: Name one form of energy that helps you see. Solution: *Light energy* helps us see. We get it from the sun or lamps. Question: You see a blacksmith hammering a piece of metal. What forces are involved, and what form of energy is present? Solution: The blacksmith is using a *pushing force* (hammering down). Motion energy from his arm is transferred to the hammer, and when the hammer hits the metal, *sound energy* is produced. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Give three examples of *pushing forces* you use every day. Give three examples of *pulling forces* you use every day. Why is it easier to slide down a slide than to walk up it? Which force helps you slide down? Imagine you are playing tug-of-war with your friends. What forces are at play? What happens if one team pulls with a greater force than the other team? How does friction help you walk without slipping? What form of energy is used to cook food with firewood? You see a car moving down the street. What kind of energy does it have? Explain how applying a bigger force can change the speed of a rolling ball. Design a simple experiment to show how friction affects the distance a toy car travels on different surfaces. Name three things that use light energy to work.