Hey there 6th grader! Today we're going to learn about balanced and unbalanced forces. Have you ever played tug-of-war? That game is all about balanced and unbalanced forces. When two teams are pulling with equal strength, the rope stays in the middle, meaning the forces are balanced. But if one team pulls harder than the other, the rope moves in the direction of the stronger team, creating an unbalanced force.
Let's look at some everyday examples. If you're pushing a book across a table, the force you apply to the book needs to be greater than the force of friction keeping the book in place. This is an unbalanced force, and it causes the book to move. However, if you want to keep the book in place, you need to apply a force equal and opposite to the force of friction acting on the book. This is a balanced force, and it keeps the book still.
Another example of an unbalanced force is when you kick a soccer ball. The force you apply to the ball is greater than the force of air resistance, and this unbalanced force causes the ball to move.
So, balanced forces keep objects still, and unbalanced forces cause objects to move. Remember, tug-of-war is a great way to remember this concept! Now go ahead and look for examples of balanced and unbalanced forces in your everyday life!