Balanced and Unbalanced Forces #1

Use a seesaw to see what happens when opposing forces become balanced or unbalanced! In this worksheet, students will first read about how a seesaw tilts or levels out depending on the weight on each side. Then, learners will look at a few scenarios, determine whether the forces on the sides of the seesaw are balanced, then decide what will happen. On the second page, students will cut out the objects and arrange them on the two sides of the seesaw to balance the forces. 

This worksheet is a great choice for third graders beginning to learn about physical forces and interactions. Learners will be introduced to the idea that balanced and unbalanced forces affect the motion of an object differently, setting them up to learn about more complex topics such as the laws of physics.