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⚡
What is a Force? A force is a push or a pull applied to an object. It cannot be seen directly, but we can see and feel its effects. Forces are measured in standard scientific units called Newtons (N). Force can cause objects to change their shape, size, movement, speed, and direction!
CONCEPT MATRIX
Master these four fundamental effects of force on everyday physical objects before starting your worksheets!
🔷 1. Effect on SHAPE
Form Change
Force can deform, distort, or reshape materials through various physical actions:
- Bending: Curving a straight material (e.g., plastic ruler, wire).
- Stretching: Lengthening elastic objects (e.g., rubber band, spring).
- Twisting: Turning ends in opposite directions (e.g., wringing wet towel).
- Squeezing / Compressing: Pressing inward (e.g., clay, sponge, can).
✂️ 2. Effect on SIZE
Dimension Change
Force can reduce the dimensions of an object or divide it into smaller parts:
- Cutting: Using sharp blades to divide (e.g., scissors on paper/cloth).
- Tearing: Pulling apart fibrous materials (e.g., ripping cardboard).
- Pounding / Crushing: Striking to pulverize (e.g., garlic, chalk).
- Chopping / Grinding: Splitting wood or milling coffee beans.
⚽ 3. Effect on MOVEMENT
Rest & Motion
Force is the cause of all changes in an object's state of rest or motion:
- Starts Motion: A stationary object stays at rest until an unbalanced force acts on it (e.g., kicking a parked soccer ball).
- Stops Motion: An opposing force must be applied to bring a moving object to a halt (e.g., a goalkeeper catching a ball).
🎯 4. SPEED & DIRECTION
Velocity Dynamics
Force modifies how fast and where an object moves:
- Speeds Up: Applying force in the same direction of motion (e.g., pushing someone on a swing forward).
- Slows Down: Applying an opposing force (e.g., pressing bicycle brakes).
- Changes Direction: Applying force at an angle (e.g., hitting a volleyball spike or tennis volley).
🧲 Contact vs. Non-Contact Forces
• Contact Forces: Require physical touch (Applied push/pull, Friction, Tension in ropes, Air resistance).
• Non-Contact Forces: Act across empty space without touching (Gravity pulling everything down toward Earth's center; Magnetic Force attracting or repelling iron/magnets).
🛑 Friction & Daily Life Safety
• Friction: An invisible opposing force that resists motion when two surfaces slide against each other. Rough surfaces produce high friction; smooth surfaces produce low friction.
• Safety Applications: Rubber shoe treads provide grip; bicycle brake pads use friction; seatbelts protect passengers from sudden stops!
PART A: SHAPE SHIFTERS
Identify the specific action applied to change the shape of each object. Choose from the Word Bank below.
WORD BANK:
Bending
Stretching
Twisting
Squeezing / Compressing
Crumpling
1
A panadero (baker) vigorously presses and pushes down on fresh bread dough with their knuckles and palms.
Action on Shape:
2
An archer pulls the bowstring backward with great force before aiming and releasing the wooden arrow.
Action on Shape:
3
Kuya Mark grabs both ends of a soaked towel and turns his hands in opposite directions to wring out excess water.
Action on Shape:
4
A student gently curves a long steel paperclip with their fingers to hold a stack of Science worksheets together.
Action on Shape:
5
Crushing an empty aluminum soda can with your foot into a flat puck before tossing it into the school recycling bin.
Action on Shape:
PART B: SIZE TRANSFORMERS
Identify the method of applying force that reduces or divides the size of each object.
WORD BANK:
Cutting
Pounding
Tearing
Chopping
Grinding
6
Nanay uses a heavy stone pestle to strike garlic cloves repeatedly in a mortar to prepare fragrant garlic rice (sinangag).
Method of Force:
7
A tailor uses a pair of sharp stainless steel shears to divide a 3-meter roll of blue cotton fabric into smaller handkerchiefs.
Method of Force:
8
Mang Juan swings a heavy steel ax downwards to split thick mahogany logs into small pieces of firewood.
Method of Force:
9
A Grade 4 pupil pulls apart a sheet of corrugated cardboard using both hands to make mosaic strips for an art project.
Method of Force:
10
A coffee barista places roasted Benguet coffee beans inside an electric mill that crushes them into ultra-fine powder.
Method of Force:
PART C: INQUIRY THINKER
Answer the clinical question carefully based on your observations of physical changes.
When a large solid block of ice is pushed against the rotating blades of an ice shaver, it turns into fluffy shaved ice for a delicious bowl of halo-halo.
Did the force change the ice's: (Circle your answer)
A. Shape only
B. Size only
C. Both Shape and Size
Explain your scientific reasoning:
PART D: MOVEMENT IN ACTION
Write the letter that best matches the effect of force on the object's movement.
[A] Sets a resting object in motion
[B] Stops a moving object
[C] Increases speed (Speeds up)
[D] Decreases speed (Slows down)
[E] Changes the direction of motion
1
A football goalkeeper leaps forward and securely traps an incoming high-speed soccer ball into his chest.
Effect of Force:
2
A child pushes hard from behind on a swing that is already swinging forward to send her sister soaring higher.
Effect of Force:
3
A volleyball player spikes a floating set ball sharply downward across the net onto the other team's court.
Effect of Force:
4
A boy sitting on a stationary bicycle steps forcefully on the pedals to begin riding down the barangay street.
Effect of Force:
5
A roller skater gently rubs the rubber stopper at the toe of his skate against the pavement as he approaches a corner.
Effect of Force:
6
A tennis player swings their racket at a flying tennis ball, returning it diagonally to the opposite corner of the court.
Effect of Force:
PART E: PUSH OR PULL DETECTIVE
Classify whether each everyday action is primarily a PUSH, a PULL, or BOTH.
7
Opening a wooden study desk drawer toward yourself to take out an eraser and ruler.
Type of Force:
8
Shooting a heavy basketball upwards toward the hoop from the free-throw line.
Type of Force:
9
Participating in a school sports intramurals game of Tug-of-War with a thick Manila hemp rope.
Type of Force:
10
Pressing number keys on a desktop computer keyboard or handheld scientific calculator.
Type of Force:
11
Closing and opening the zipper on a heavy winter jacket by sliding the metal tab up and down.
Type of Force:
12
Turning the handle of a fishing reel to wind the nylon line and draw a caught tilapia back to the riverbank.
Type of Force:
PART F: FRICTION & SURFACES
Analyze each scientific real-life scenario and provide a concise, accurate explanation.
1
Lito rolls a toy truck with equal force across a smooth ceramic tiled floor and across a thick wool carpet. On which surface will the toy truck travel a longer distance, and why?
2
Why are basketball and badminton court shoes made with patterned rubber soles instead of smooth hard plastic bottoms? How does friction help players during quick direction changes?
3
Why is it dangerous for cars and tricycles to drive at high speeds on wet roads during heavy rain? How does the layer of water affect the friction between the tires and the road?
PART G: FACT OR MYTH
Circle TRUE if the statement is scientifically accurate, or FALSE if it is a misconception.
4
A heavy wooden crate filled with books requires more force to start moving than an identical empty box.
TRUE
FALSE
5
When you stretch a rubber band, its shape changes permanently and it can never return to its original form.
TRUE
FALSE
6
A single force applied to a moving ball can change both its speed and its direction at the exact same moment.
TRUE
FALSE
PART H: MATATAG SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
Apply the scientific method to evaluate the controlled experiment setup below.
Teacher Elena's Grade 4 Science class placed three identical 30-cm ramps at equal angles. They lined Ramp 1 with smooth glass, Ramp 2 with plain cardboard, and Ramp 3 with coarse sandpaper. They released the exact same glass marble from the top of each ramp without pushing it.
Item 7: Predict which ramp will allow the marble to roll the greatest distance across the floor, and rank the ramps from longest to shortest distance.
Item 8: Name the specific force acting between the marble and the ramp surface that eventually causes the marble to slow down and stop.
Learner Name:
Date Evaluated:
Total Score: / 31 pts
Part A: Shape Shifters (Page 2)
5 Points
- 1. Squeezing / Compressing (Pressing kneads dough)
- 2. Stretching (Lengthening elastic bowstring)
- 3. Twisting (Turning towel in opposite directions)
- 4. Bending (Curving a straight metal paperclip)
- 5. Squeezing / Compressing / Crumpling (Flattening aluminum can)
Part B: Size Transformers (Page 2)
5 Points
- 6. Pounding (Crushing garlic cloves with pestle)
- 7. Cutting (Using sharp scissors to divide fabric)
- 8. Chopping (Splitting logs with an ax)
- 9. Tearing (Pulling cardboard sheets apart by hand)
- 10. Grinding (Milling coffee beans into powder)
Part C: Inquiry Thinker (Page 2)
1 Point
- 11. C. Both Shape and Size (The solid block is reduced into tiny shaved flakes [size change] and changes from a solid cube to fluffy ice [shape change]).
Part D: Movement in Action (Page 3)
6 Points
- 1. [B] Stops a moving object (Goalkeeper traps ball)
- 2. [C] Increases speed (Speeds up) (Pushing swing forward)
- 3. [E] Changes direction of motion (Spiking set ball down)
- 4. [A] Sets a resting object in motion (Pedaling still bike)
- 5. [D] Decreases speed (Slows down) (Skate rubber brake friction)
- 6. [E] Changes direction of motion (Returning tennis shot)
Part E: Push or Pull Detective (Page 3)
6 Points
- 7. PULL (Drawing drawer closer to user)
- 8. PUSH (Shooting ball away toward hoop)
- 9. PULL (Tugging rope toward own side)
- 10. PUSH (Pressing keys down away from finger)
- 11. BOTH (Pulling up to close, pulling/pushing down)
- 12. PULL / BOTH (Reeling pulls line; handle rotates)
Parts F, G & H: Friction & Inquiry (Page 4)
8 Points
- F1. Smooth ceramic tiles. Smooth surfaces have far less friction, allowing the truck to roll further before stopping.
- F2. High traction & grip. Patterned rubber increases friction, preventing slipping during rapid sprints and stops.
- F3. Water acts as a lubricant. Reduces friction between tire and road, causing hydroplaning or longer braking distances.
- G4. TRUE | G5. FALSE (Elastic returns) | G6. TRUE
- H7. Ramp 1 (Glass) > Ramp 2 (Cardboard) > Ramp 3 (Sandpaper).
- H8. Friction (Surface friction & rolling resistance).
📊 Diagnostic Performance Benchmarking (Total Score: 31 Points)
★ Master Level
28 – 31 pts
Exemplary grasp of force concepts, kinematic effects, friction dynamics, and experimental inquiry. Ready for advanced mechanics.
✓ Proficient Level
23 – 27 pts
Solid conceptual understanding. Review the subtle differences between force on speed vs. direction, and non-contact forces.
▲ Needs Reinforcement
Below 23 pts
Difficulty differentiating force actions or predicting friction outcomes. Recommended for PERSONALIZED Tutoring.
🔬 Clinical Teacher Insight for Grade 4 Science:
Grade 4 learners frequently confuse a change in size with a change in weight/mass. Emphasize that cutting, tearing, or grinding an object divides it into smaller pieces (size change), but the total amount of matter stays the same! In addition, remind students that friction is not "bad"—without friction, humans could not walk, cars could not stop, and nails would slip out of walls.
