Unit 3: Forces and Electricity

3.1 Mass and Weight

Learning Outcomes:
● Describe the difference between mass measured in kilograms (kg) and
weight measured in newtons (N)
● Explain how gravity affects weight.
● States that when gravity changes, weight changes but mass does not.
● Use a weighing scale and forcemeter to measure the mass and weight of
objects and practise pattern seeking
● Repeat measurements when results do not fit the pattern.
● Describe a pattern in results and identify any results that do not fit the
pattern.
● Make a conclusion from results using scientific understanding.
● Present and interpret results using tables

Key vocabulary

astronaut mass weight forcemeter

newton weightlessness rehabilitation satellite

The picture shows an astronaut standing on the Moon.

Discuss these questions with a partner.
1. What is a satellite?

2. Why is the Moon a natural satellite rather than an

artificial satellite?

3. How does the Moon stay in orbit around the Earth?

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Let’s Learn

● Sir Isaac Newton, a scientist, was the first person to explain what forces are.
● All objects on Earth are attracted towards the centre of the Earth by gravity.
● Scientifically, mass and weight are not the same.

Mass Weight
❖ It is the amount of ________ in an ❖ It is the force of attraction on an
object. object caused by ________.
❖ An object’s mass remains the ______ ❖ An object’s weight _________
wherever it is. depends on the force of __________.
❖ Measure in ___________ ( ) using ❖ The _________ the force of gravity,
______________ the ________ the object’s weight will
be.
❖ Measure in ___________ ( ) using
___________

● The force of gravity depends on the ______ of the object.

For example, the Moon's gravitational force is _______ than the Earth's because
the Moon has a ________ mass than the Earth.
● Therefore,
Mass ( ) Gravity ( ) Weight ( )

● The gravity of Earth is _________. This means a mass of 1 kilogram has a weight
of 9.8N on Earth.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Let’s Ponder
If a car has a mass of 1000kg. What does it weigh on Earth?

Think like a scientist

Measure the Mass and Weight of Objects

1. Draw a table to record your measurements. You will
need a column for the name of the objects, a column
for the mass of the objects in grams and a column
for the weight of the objects in newtons.

2. Place each of the objects on the scale, one at a

time. Record your measurements in your table.

3. Hold the forcemeter by the top ring. Put each of the

objects in the plastic bag, one at a time. Hang the
bag on the bottom hook of the forcemeter. Record
your measurements in your table.

Table of Result

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Questions

1. Compare the readings on the measuring scale with the readings on the
forcemeter. What pattern do you see?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Did any of your measurements not fit this pattern? If so, repeat these
measurements.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Complete this sentence to make a conclusion about the mass and weight of an
object measured on Earth.

One kilogram of ………………. has a weight of ……………….. on Earth.

4. Imagine you had done this activity on the Moon.

a. Would the mass of the objects be the same or different to those measured
on Earth? Explain why.

………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………..

b. Would the weight of the objects be the same or different to those measured
on Earth? Explain why.

………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Exercise

1.

2.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 3.

4.

5.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 6.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Self-evaluation

Needs Almost Confident

I can
more work there to move on
Describe the difference between mass
measured in kilograms (kg) and weight
measured in newtons (N)
Explain how gravity affects weight.

States that when gravity changes,

weight changes but mass does not.
Use a weighing scale and forcemeter
to measure the mass and weight of
objects and practise pattern seeking
Repeat measurements when results do
not fit the pattern.
Describe a pattern in results and
identify any results that do not fit the
pattern.
Make a conclusion from the results
using scientific understanding.
Present and interpret results using
tables

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 3.2 The Effect of Forces

Learning Outcomes:
● Use force diagrams to show the name, size and direction of forces acting on
an object.
● Investigate, observe and describe the effect of different forces on an object at
rest and in motion.

Key vocabulary

astronaut mass weight forcemeter

newton weightlessness rehabilitation satellite

1. The bicycle is moving forward at a constant speed. What forces are acting on it?
Draw arrows on the picture to represent the forces.

2. Under what conditions will the bicycle speed up?

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Let’s Learn

Type of forces

Make objects move away

Make objects come closer
Occurs in the opposite direction to movement
The forward force produced when something is moving
Air particles push an object against the direction of falling
Water particles push an object against the direction of moving
forward
A force of attraction on an object towards the centre of the Earth
Attract or repels an object depending on the poles of magnets
Force that any surface exerts on any other object

Let’s Ponder
Can you draw examples of different forces?

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Force diagram
● A model to represent the _______ acting on an object.
● Each arrow shows the ___________ of a force.
● The ________ of the arrow shows the _______ of the force.
● The _________ the arrow, the ________ the size of the force.
● Each arrow should be labelled with the ______ of the force.

When there are ________ forces acting When forces are_______ , an object will
on an object, it will stay at _____. ____________.

Effects of forces
A force acting on an object can cause the object to ___________ its _________or
____________, to start _______________, to ______________moving, or to go
faster or slower.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Exercise

1.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 2. Write down alongside each picture how the soccer ball is affected by forces
applied to it.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 3. Draw a force diagram in the space to show the two forces that affect the soccer
ball when it is resting on the ground.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity
 Self-evaluation

Needs Almost Confident

I can
more work there to move on
Use force diagrams to show the name,
size and direction of forces acting on
an object.
Investigate, observe and describe the
effect of different forces on an object at
rest and in motion.

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Year 6_Science_ Unit 3 Forces and Electricity