Pushes and Pulls — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Ben rolls a marble across the floor. To make it stop, he should:
A) Push his hand against the marble to slow it
B) Watch it without doing anything
C) Yell at the marble loudly
D) Pull on a string above it
Pushing his hand against the marble adds a force that slows it down.
2. Maya pulls a string to lift a balloon. The balloon will move:
A) Sideways across the room
B) Up toward Maya's hand
C) Down to the ground
D) In a circle by itself
A pull on the string moves the balloon up toward Maya's hand.
3. Two kids push a big box together. Compared to one kid alone, the box will move:
A) Slower than before
B) The same speed
C) Faster and easier
D) Backwards on its own
Two pushes together give more force, so the box moves faster and easier.
4. Jay gives a toy truck a small push. To make it travel farther next time, Jay should:
A) Whisper to the truck softly
B) Pull it gently backward
C) Watch it without moving
D) Push it with a bigger force
A bigger push gives the truck more energy, so it travels farther next time.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. If you push a ball straight ahead, it will move away from you.
A push moves the ball away from you in the direction of your force.
2. If you pull a rope tied to a box, the box moves toward you.
A pull moves the box toward you, in the same direction as the pull.
3. A really big push on a wagon makes it go farther than a tiny push.
A bigger push gives more energy, so the wagon goes farther than before.
4. To stop a swing that is moving toward you, you can give it a small push.
A small push back works against the swing and helps it slow down.
5. Pushes and pulls are both kinds of forces that change motion.
Pushes and pulls are both forces that start, stop, or change motion.