This document outlines a lab experiment called "Forces Circus" that investigates different forces through a series of activities. Students will explore balanced and unbalanced forces through tug-of-war matches between different groups, spinning plates on their fingers, walking a balance beam under various conditions, and hula hooping. They will identify the forces involved in each activity and observe how balance is achieved or lost. The conclusion asks students to explain their understanding of forces and the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces based on their experimental results.

1. FORCES CIRCUS
“Roll up roll up”……..
• You are going to carry out a
lab to investigate the
forces in a circus. You will
carry out a number of
activities and investigate
which forces are involved
and what happens if they
are not balanced.

2. In your notebook….
• Activity 1 title e.g. tug of war
• A sentence explaining the forces involved
in the activity.
• 2 stick diagrams using arrows to show the
direction of the force:
Forces balanced Forces unbalanced

3. 1) Tug of war
• Boys vs. girls
• Tallest half of class vs. shortest half class
• Equal random distribution of students
• What did you see with each set? Who had
the advantage? Why? How do you make it
balanced?

4. Plate spinning
• Spin the ball or a paper plate on the point
of your finger or a pencil. How long can
you do this for?
• What is it necessary for you to find in
order to do this?
• What is this force called?

5. Tight rope walking
• Walk over the beam or along a
straight line on the floor without falling
off. Time how long this takes.
• Repeat with a) your arms by your side, b)
arms held out for balance and c) carrying
a bag on one side.
• What do you notice? What effects the
balance most?

6. Hula hooping
• How many times can you spin
the hoop? What do you have to do to
make it spin well? What’s the most
number you can spin at one go? For how
long?
• What force is involved in the hoop
spinning? How do you balance it?

7. Conclusion
• In this lab you were
looking at balanced and
unbalanced forces.
• Write a paragraph
explaining what you
found out about ‘what a
force is’ and what
happens when they are
balanced and
unbalanced.

8. Tug of War
Types of forces
involved:
Stick diagrams: (with
labels)
1. Boys vs. girls
2. Tallest half vs.
shortest half
3. Equal random
distribution
Title: Lab: Forces Circus Date:
Summary: What did you observe with each set? Who had the advantage?
How do you make it balanced?

9. Plate Spinning
Type/s of force/s
involved:
Diagram: (with labels)
1. How long can you
do the spinning?
2. What is necessary
for you to find in
order to do this
(spinning)?
Title: Lab: Forces Circus Date:
Summary: Explain how the different forces affect “spinning”? What
happens when the forces are balanced?
Spin the ball or a paper plate on the point of
your finger or a pencil. How long can you do
this for?

10. “Tight rope”
walking
Type/s of force/s
involved:
Diagram: (with labels)
Title: Lab: Forces Circus Date:
Summary: What did you observe? What affects the balance most? What
happens when the forces are balance?
Walk over the beam or along a straight line
on the floor without falling off. Time how
long this takes.
Repeat with a) your arms by your side, b)
arms held out for balance and c) carrying a
bag on the side.

11. “Hula hoop”
Type/s of force/s
involved:
Diagram: (with labels)
Title: Lab: Forces Circus Date:
Summary: Explain how the different forces affect “spinning”? What
happens when the forces are balance?
How many times can you spin the hoop?
What do you have to do to make it spin well?
What’s the most number you can spin at one
go? For how long?