Science·Forces & Motion·language
Force & Motion Vocabulary
Use technical vocabulary for force and motion — balanced forces, unbalanced forces, resultant force, acceleration, deceleration, speed, moment, lever, fulcrum, mechanical advantage — and apply these when explaining and predicting how forces affect the motion and position of objects
Suggested ages 9–11
Learning journey
Your child is learning about gravity and forces that resist motion like friction and air resistance, while discovering how simple machines like levers and pulleys can make tasks easier.
Evidence of understanding
- Distinguish between balanced and unbalanced forces and describe the effect of each on an object's motion
- Use 'resultant force' correctly when describing the net effect of two or more forces acting on an object
- Apply 'moment', 'lever', and 'fulcrum' correctly when describing how simple machines work
Assessment prompt
Can Force & Motion Vocabulary explain why a seesaw stays level when two people of different weights sit at different distances — using words like 'balanced forces' or 'moment'?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.