Forces - Knowledge Organisers

The 'Forces' Knowledge Organiser for Year 5 students is a comprehensive guide that builds upon the concepts learned in Year 3 about Sound and Electricity, and prepares students for future learning about Earth and Space. This physics topic introduces key vocabulary and concepts related to forces, including streamlined shapes, surface, grip, drag, and centre. Students will learn through diagrams and symbols how forces are represented and are encouraged to conduct a minimum of two experiments to explore the effects of air resistance, water resistance, and the impact of mechanisms such as pulleys, levers, and gears.

Key knowledge areas covered in this unit include the definition of a force as a push or pull, and the understanding that forces can cause objects to speed up, slow down, change shape, and change direction. Different types of forces are explained, such as magnetism, which involves attraction and repulsion; air resistance, which slows down moving objects; water resistance, which acts similarly in water; friction, which provides grip and can produce heat; and gravity, the force that pulls objects towards the Earth's centre. The organiser also includes pre-test questions to assess students' initial understanding of forces and their effects, and post-unit questions to measure the progress made in comprehending these fundamental physics concepts.