Pushes and Pulls — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The wind pushes leaves across the yard.
Wind is a push because it moves leaves away across the ground.
2. Gravity pulls a dropped apple toward the ground.
Gravity is a pull because it brings objects down toward Earth.
3. A magnet can pull a small paperclip across a desk.
A magnet pulls metal objects like paperclips closer to itself.
4. Strong wind can push a beach ball down the sand.
Wind pushes the ball away from itself across the sand.
5. When you let go of a balloon full of air it falls because of gravity.
Gravity is the pull from Earth that brings dropped things down.
6. Rain drops fall down because gravity pulls them toward Earth.
Gravity pulls every raindrop down toward the ground we stand on.
7. Flowing water can push a leaf down a stream.
Moving water pushes the leaf along in the same direction.
8. A swing slows and stops because air pushes against it.
Air pushes against the swing and slowly takes its speed away.
9. Bubbles float up because air below pushes them up.
Air below the bubble pushes it up and out of the cup.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Wind on a leaf
→ Pushes leaf away
Pushes leaf away
Gravity on a ball
→ Pulls ball down
Pulls ball down
Magnet on a pin
→ Pulls pin closer
Pulls pin closer
River on a twig
→ Pushes twig downstream
Pushes twig downstream
Wind and rivers push things, while gravity and magnets pull things closer.