Tackling Common 'Forces' Questions and Answers [Reinforced with Concepts]

AGrader Learning Centre
Jun 8
6 min read

Updated: Jun 9

Tackling Common 'Forces' Questions and Answers [Reinforced with Concepts]

Understanding the topic of ‘Forces’ is essential for success in Primary Science. A force is essentially a push or pull that can cause an object to move, stop, or change its shape or direction. With the right conceptual foundation, tackling force questions and answers becomes less intimidating and even enjoyable!

In this article, we’ll go beyond memorisation. We’ll explore the common types of forces, delve into typical test questions, and reinforce learning with important concepts. Whether you're a student preparing for your next Science test or a parent looking to help your child, this guide is here to clarify and empower.

Table of Content:

What Is a Force?

4 Main Types of Forces in Science

Question Type 1: Effects of Forces

Question Type 2: Identifying the Types of Forces

Question Type 3: Does Height Affect Gravitational Force?

Question Type 4: Understanding Friction in Everyday Life

Question Type 5: Factors Affecting Elastic Spring Force

Common Misconceptions About Forces

What Is a Force?

In Science, force is a push or pull that changes the state of motion or shape of an object. It can start, stop, speed up, slow down, or change the direction of an object. Forces can be contact (like friction and tension) or non-contact (like gravity and magnetism).

4 Main Types of Forces in Science

When preparing for forces test questions, it’s crucial to remember the 4 types of forces commonly tested at the Primary level:

Frictional Force – the force opposing motion between two surfaces.
Magnetic Force – the attractive or repulsive force between magnets and magnetic objects.
Gravitational Force – the downwards pulling force exerted by the Earth on all objects on Earth.
Elastic Spring Force – the force exerted by a compressed or stretched spring.

These are part of the broader set of different types of forces which may also include reaction force, air resistance, electromagnetic forces, and forces caused by electric charge.

Question Type 1: Effects of Forces

Common Question Focus: What can forces do to objects?

Students must know the five effects of forces, which include:

Changing the shape of an object
Making stationary objects move
Causing moving objects to stop
Changing the direction of a moving object
Altering the speed of an object

Example: If you kick a football, you apply force to move a stationary object and possibly change its speed and direction.

These effects are often tested in forces test questions through familiar scenarios involving everyday objects like balls, bicycles, or elastic bands. Always think: What happens to the object when a force is applied?

Students should be highly familiar with these 5 effects and how they can be applied to daily activities and scenarios, such as kicking or throwing a ball!

Question Type 2: Identifying the Types of Forces

Common Question Focus: What are the forces acting on this object?

You’ll often be shown an object in a scenario and asked to identify which forces are at play. A good understanding of the different types of forces is key.

In the example above, you can observe a magnet exerting a magnetic force of attraction on a magnetic steel toy car. As the car moves along the ground towards the magnet, a frictional force is exerted in the opposite direction of the car’s movement. Additionally, the toy car is also experiencing gravitational force exerted by the Earth.

In this scenario, there’s no elastic spring force because no spring is stretched or compressed.

Question Type 3: Does Height Affect Gravitational Force?

Common Question Focus: How does height influence the gravitational force on an object?

Students should remember that the height of an object does not affect the amount of gravitational force it experiences. The only factor that affects the amount of gravitational force the Earth exerts is the mass of the object.

Therefore, in the question above, the amount of gravitational force acting on the soccer ball at all points (A, B, C, and D) would be the same, as the mass of the soccer ball does not change along its path.

Concept Tip: Gravitational fields surround Earth, and every object within this field experiences a pull—known as the force of gravity—based on its mass, not its elevation.

Question Type 4: Understanding Friction in Everyday Life

Common Question Focus: How does friction help or hinder?

Friction is a double-edged sword. While it is often known for its disadvantages—such as reducing speed, producing excessive heat, and causing wear and tear—students should also understand its useful applications in daily life, particularly in preventing slipping and falling.

In this question, students need to infer that the strips of rougher (clue) material are used to prevent slipping when going up or down the stairs, as rougher surfaces increase the amount of frictional force between a person’s feet and the stairs.

The final part of the question requires students to recall that friction causes wear and tear, which eventually reduces the roughness of the strips over time.

Question Type 5: Factors Affecting Elastic Spring Force

Common Question Focus: What affects the strength of spring force?

Students are required to understand the factor that affects the amount of elastic spring force, which is the extent of stretch or compression of the spring. The greater the stretch or compression of a spring, the greater the amount of elastic spring force exerted on the object that is stretching or compressing it.

In this question, the toy is operated by a spring mechanism; therefore, elastic spring force allows it to jump out of the box.

Placing the toy in a shorter box results in greater compression of the spring to fit the figurine inside. As a result, more elastic spring force is exerted on the toy, allowing it to jump higher when the cover of the box is opened.

Another way to make the toy jump higher is to use a stiffer spring. A stiffer spring requires more elastic spring force to be compressed and, in turn, exerts more force on the toy when released, causing it to jump higher.

Students are required to understand the factor that affects the amount of elastic spring force

Common Misconceptions About Forces

Let’s debunk a few persistent myths:

Height changes gravity: False. Only mass affects gravitational pull.
More force means faster movement always: Not necessarily. Friction and mass also play roles.
Friction is bad: Not true. While it can be unhelpful in some cases, friction can also prevent accidents.

Mastering force questions and answers is not just about memorising facts but truly understanding the concepts behind them. Knowing the types of forces, their effects, and how they operate in real-life scenarios will give students an edge in any test.

At AGrader Learning Centre, we help Primary students build that solid foundation by reinforcing key Science concepts with visuals, examples, and hands-on practice. We don’t just teach facts—we teach understanding.

Need more help in Science?

If you're a parent of a Primary 6 student, you know how high the stakes are with the PSLE around the corner. At this stage, it's not enough for your child to just memorise facts—they need to understand Science concepts deeply and know how to apply them to tricky exam questions. That’s exactly what AGrader’s Primary Science Tuition Programme is built for. Every lesson is thoughtfully designed to stay ahead of the MOE syllabus, with experienced teachers guiding students through structured, high-quality content and in-house worksheets that focus on both conceptual mastery and exam techniques.

What truly sets AGrader apart is our EverLoop Improvement System—a powerful learning platform that all students can access for free. With LessonTube for easy rewatching of past lessons, Past Year Paper Practice Packs, Topical and Termly Revision Packs, and Basic Build-Up exercises, your child gets constant reinforcement, not just weekly classes. It’s a system that helps plug gaps, build confidence, and push students towards their best performance in Science. If you're serious about helping your child excel in the PSLE, enrol with AGrader today—and turn Science into their strongest subject.