Force & Motion — Answer Key
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
1. Sort each simple machine by the kind of force it helps reduce when we use it.
Reduces lifting force
ramp that lifts a box to a trucklever like a seesawslide in a playgroundbottle opener on a capwheelbarrow used in a gardendoor handle that turns Reduces pushing/pulling force
wheels on a suitcasewagon with round wheels Simple machines change how much force we need. Ramps and levers help us lift heavy things with less force. Wheels reduce friction so we can push or pull loads more easily.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A ramp is a sloped surface that helps lift things without using as much force.
A ramp lets us push a heavy object up instead of lifting it straight, so the lifting force needed is smaller.
2. Round wheels help a wagon roll and reduce the push needed to move it.
Wheels roll instead of slide, which lowers friction and makes pushing much easier.
3. A seesaw is a kind of lever that lifts a person on the other side.
A lever uses a pivot to trade a long push for a stronger lift, reducing the force needed.
4. Simple machines do not give us more energy, but they change the force we need.
Simple machines redirect or spread out force so tasks feel easier, but total work stays the same.
5. A slide at the playground works like a ramp because it is sloped.
A slide is a sloped surface, just like a ramp, so gravity does the work of pulling you down.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. A ramp makes lifting a heavy box easier than lifting it straight up.
True False
A ramp spreads the lifting over a longer distance, so the force at any moment is smaller.
2. Wheels make it harder to move a wagon across the floor.
True False
Wheels reduce friction, so less force is needed to pull or push a load.
3. A lever needs a pivot point to work properly.
True False
Levers balance on a fixed point called a fulcrum that lets force move the load.
4. Simple machines give us extra energy to do work.
True False
Simple machines do not add energy; they just help us use our force more efficiently.