Physical Sciences
Force & Motion
Students measure forces with a spring balance, test friction across surfaces, feel inertia first-hand, launch reaction rockets, and explore magnetism and static electricity.
Year 3–4
90 min
up to 30 students
$490 + GST
What students will do
Students use a spring balance and Newton's apple to measure gravitational force in Newtons, then test friction across five different surface materials on a tray slide. A hover ball demonstrates near-frictionless motion. Working as a group, students use an inertia apparatus to experience Newton's First Law before launching reaction rockets in pairs. Bar magnets with visualisers reveal field lines for magnetic forces, and students investigate static electricity using charged rods and polystyrene balls. Teacher demonstrations include book separation and a Newton's cradle.
Curriculum outcomes
Victorian Curriculum v2.0 content descriptions addressed in this session.
- VC2S4U10
Measure forces using a spring balance and investigate how contact forces including friction and inertia affect the motion of objects
- VC2S4U10
Investigate non-contact forces including magnetism and static electricity, and describe how they attract or repel objects from a distance
Connect Newton's First and Third Laws to real-world motion using reaction rockets, inertia apparatus and Newton's cradle demonstrations
Often booked alongside
Physical Sciences
Electricity
Students build working circuits, classify conductors and insulators, compare series and parallel configurations, and investigate how different energy sources (including hand-powered generators) produce electricity.
Physical Sciences
Heat & Energy
Students investigate how heat moves by observing convection currents, comparing conduction through plastic and metal using an infrared thermometer, and testing how insulators slow heat transfer.
Physical Sciences
How Objects Move
Students roll differently shaped objects, race a balloon-powered car, drop parachutes, launch foam pump rockets, and test what sinks or floats, exploring how pushes and pulls drive every outcome.
Bring Force & Motion to your school
Tell us your year levels and preferred dates. We'll confirm availability and bring everything with us.
Limited dates each term — one facilitator, one school per day.