Assessment for learning - knowledge and understanding check - worksheet

This assessment for learning worksheet provides a practical check on students' understanding of forces and levers. The worksheet presents two diagrams, each illustrating a different position of a plank acting as a lever with a load and a fulcrum. Students are tasked with determining whether it would require less effort to lift the load if the plank were moved in the direction of A or B. This question not only tests their grasp of the principles of levers but also their ability to apply this knowledge to a real-world scenario. They have the opportunity to earn 2 points for each correct answer, with a total time allowance of 10 minutes to complete this part of the worksheet.

The worksheet also prompts students to define what a force is and to explain its effects on the movement of objects, specifically within the context of levers. This open-ended question is designed to assess the depth of students' knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concept of forces in physics. By relating the concept to levers, students can demonstrate their ability to connect abstract scientific principles with tangible examples. This section of the worksheet is part of a broader topic on "Forces - Levers," encouraging students to think critically about the mechanics of simple machines and the forces that operate on them.