Push & Pull, Fast & Slow
KindergartenEverything that moves needs a push or a pull
Look around you. A ball doesn't roll by itself — someone gives it a push. A wagon doesn't come to you — someone gives it a pull. A push or a pull is called a force. Big pushes make things go fast. Small pushes make things go slow, or barely move at all.
Things can move fast, like a race car or a cheetah, or slow, like a snail or a turtle. The same toy car can be fast or slow — it depends on how hard you push it!
Push or pull?
Opening a door: is that a push or a pull? Swinging on a swing: someone pushes you from behind. Kicking a ball: that's a push from your foot. Pulling a wagon behind you: that's a pull.
Why things stop moving
If you roll a ball on the grass, it slows down and stops. Roll the same ball on smooth ice, and it goes much farther before stopping. That's because the ground rubs against the ball and slows it down — that rubbing is called friction. Rough ground (grass, carpet) has more friction. Smooth ground (ice, a polished floor) has less.
A bigger push doesn't just make something go faster — it can also make it go farther before it stops, because it has more "go" stored up in its motion.
Try it — race a toy car
- Find a toy car or a ball and two different surfaces — like a carpet and a smooth floor.
- Give the toy the exact same push on the carpet. Watch how far it goes.
- Give it the exact same push on the smooth floor. Watch how far it goes now.
- Which surface let it travel farther? That's the one with less rubbing (friction)!
- Now try a gentle push and then a big push on the same floor. Which one goes faster?
Grown-up tip: a ramp made from a book works too — let a toy car roll down and see how a steeper ramp makes it go faster at the bottom.
Is kicking a ball a push or a pull?
It's a push! Your foot pushes the ball away from you.
Why does a ball stop rolling on grass?
The grass rubs against the ball and slows it down. That rubbing is called friction.
What makes a toy car go faster — a big push or a small push?
A big push! The harder you push, the faster it goes.
Name one fast animal and one slow animal.
A cheetah is fast. A snail or a turtle is slow — any sensible animal answer works!
How the ideas connect
Every key idea in this chapter, branching from the core concept — use it to see the whole picture at a glance.
The key facts, visualised
Worked problems, step by step
Follow each solution line by line, then try to reproduce it on paper before moving on.
Example 1Your toy car is sitting still. How do you make it go?
- It will not move by itself
- Give it a push with your hand
Example 2A ball rolls across the floor and stops. Why did it stop?
- Nothing kept pushing it
- The rough floor rubs and slows it
Now you try
Work each one out first, then tap to reveal the worked answer.