Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
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3rd Grade Science › Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
The groups of people in this photo are both pulling on a rope. Which group will win the tug-of-war game?
The group on the left side will win.
The group on the right side will win.
Neither group will win.
Explanation
This photo represents a balanced force because each side has an equal number of participants, and they are of similar size. It appears that they are both pulling equally, and they have the same strength. If both sides pull with an equal amount of force, then neither team will move, and it will be a tie. In this graphic, neither team will win.
Which direction would this object move with balanced forces working on it?
It would not move.
It would move left.
It would move right.
It would move up.
Explanation
This object would not move because it has balanced forces working in it. When balanced forces are applied to opposite sides of an object, the object remains motionless. A stronger force needs to be applied to one side for the object to move. Balanced forces mean the power or strength applies to each side is equal.
How will the motion of the individual change due to the unbalanced forces?
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move towards them and eventually lose the game.
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move away from them and eventually win the game.
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move towards them and eventually win the game.
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move away from them and eventually lose the game.
Explanation
This graphic represents an unbalanced force. One individual player versus three players on the opposite team is not an equivalent amount of force or strength. The single-player will move towards the group of three when the pulling starts because they have more power than one player alone. The lone player will eventually lose the game when crossing over the center point due to an equal amount of force.
How can this graphic be edited to represent an unbalanced force?
Add an extra person to the left side of the box.
Add an extra person to the right side of the box.
Remove one of the people from either side of the box.
All of the answer choices are correct.
None of the answer choices are correct.
Explanation
This graphic currently represents an object with balanced forces working on it. Each side has the same amount of force, so the object will not move. If one of the people was removed or an extra person was added to either side, there will be an unequal distribution of force so that the object will move. Creating an unbalanced amount of strength on one side will change the object's motion.
How can this graphic be edited to represent an unbalanced force?
Add an extra person to the left side of the box.
Add an extra person to the right side of the box.
Remove one of the people from either side of the box.
All of the answer choices are correct.
None of the answer choices are correct.
Explanation
This graphic currently represents an object with balanced forces working on it. Each side has the same amount of force, so the object will not move. If one of the people was removed or an extra person was added to either side, there will be an unequal distribution of force so that the object will move. Creating an unbalanced amount of strength on one side will change the object's motion.
The groups of people in this photo are both pulling on a rope. Which group will win the tug-of-war game?
The group on the left side will win.
The group on the right side will win.
Neither group will win.
Explanation
This photo represents a balanced force because each side has an equal number of participants, and they are of similar size. It appears that they are both pulling equally, and they have the same strength. If both sides pull with an equal amount of force, then neither team will move, and it will be a tie. In this graphic, neither team will win.
How will the motion of the individual change due to the unbalanced forces?
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move towards them and eventually lose the game.
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move away from them and eventually win the game.
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move towards them and eventually win the game.
When the three players start to tug against the individual, he will move away from them and eventually lose the game.
Explanation
This graphic represents an unbalanced force. One individual player versus three players on the opposite team is not an equivalent amount of force or strength. The single-player will move towards the group of three when the pulling starts because they have more power than one player alone. The lone player will eventually lose the game when crossing over the center point due to an equal amount of force.
Which direction would this object move with balanced forces working on it?
It would not move.
It would move left.
It would move right.
It would move up.
Explanation
This object would not move because it has balanced forces working in it. When balanced forces are applied to opposite sides of an object, the object remains motionless. A stronger force needs to be applied to one side for the object to move. Balanced forces mean the power or strength applies to each side is equal.
If a toy car is rolling on a smooth surface and I push a heavier, faster toy car into it, how will its motion be affected?
The small toy car will change speed, direction, or may stop.
The small toy car will not be affected, and there will be no changes.
The small toy car will move the heavier, faster car and then keep rolling.
The heavier toy car will go flying off the surface when it makes contact with the small car.
Explanation
In this scenario, there is an example of unbalanced forces. When an unbalanced force is applied to an object, there can be a change in motion. When a heavier, faster toy car moves into the path or side of the small car, it will cause the little vehicle to change speeds, directions, or even stop. This change in motion is due to a stronger force acting upon the small toy car.
Mrs. Gartrell's class is playing Tug-of-War to demonstrate how an unbalanced force will affect an object's motion. The class has twenty students, and they have to split into teams to represent an unbalanced force. J'Michael says they should divide evenly, ten on each side. Nate disagrees and says there should not be even teams; it should be the eight students against twelve students.
Who is correct, and why?
Neither student is correct. Their suggestions would not demonstrate an unbalanced force. They would need to change their set-up to have unbalanced forces.
J'Michael is correct. If the teams are split ten and ten, there will be equal strength on each side, which represents an unbalanced force.
They are both correct. Both of their ideas would work to show an example of an unbalanced force.
Nate is correct. Dividing the team into uneven numbers and uneven sizes will give one side more strength, which represents an unbalanced force.
Explanation
In this situation, the students are trying to demonstrate an example of unbalanced forces. Unbalanced forces mean they are not even or the same. One side should have more energy than another when there are unbalanced forces. Nate is correct in this scenario; there should be uneven teams with different strengths on each side. To get the rope to move and one team to win, there has to be more strength on one side. When creating the teams, the side with the highest number of students would have more energy and strength, leading to an unbalanced force.