Topic

Physics & forces

Gravity, motion, friction, floating, levers, magnets.

← All explainers

ages 8–11 Why does a heavy hammer and a tiny feather hit the ground at the same time? gravitymotionair Discover ages 8–11 Why is it so much harder to push a couch than to push a chair? motionforceinertia Discover ages 8–11 How does a glass screen know exactly where your finger is? electricitysensestech Discover ages 8–11 Why does sliding a box get easier the instant it starts moving? frictionforcemotion Discover ages 8–11 Why do your shoes grip the floor but slip on ice? frictionmotionforce Discover ages 8–11 Why can a tiny kid lift a giant grown-up on a seesaw? leversbalanceforce Discover ages 8–11 Why do tightrope walkers carry a long pole? balancemotionforce Discover ages 8–11 Why can a giant steel ship float but a tiny nail sinks? floatingdensitypressurewater Discover ages 8–11 Why does a balloon get squished when you dive deep in a pool? pressurefloatingforce Discover ages 8–11 Why do two magnets sometimes snap together and sometimes shove apart? magnetsforcefields Discover ages 8–11 Why does a ball on a string fly off the second you let go? motionforceinertia Discover ages 8–11 Why does a bike stay up when it rolls but fall over when it stops? balancemotionspin Discover ages 8–11 Why does blowing between two soda cans pull them together instead of apart? pressureairforce Discover ages 8–11 Why does a hot air balloon rise when nothing is pushing it up? floatingpressureheat Discover ages 8–11 Why does a bulb only light up when the wire makes a full loop? electricitycircuitsforce Discover ages 8–11 Why do holiday lights all go dark when one bulb dies, but house lights don't? electricitycircuitsphysics Discover ages 8–11 Why does rubbing a balloon on your hair make it stick to the wall? electricityforcecharge Discover ages 8–11 Why does a magnet make a nearby coil of wire light a bulb — but only when it's moving? magnetselectricitymotion Discover