Push, Pull, and Spin

A push moves something away from you, a pull brings something toward you, and a spin turns something around in a circle.

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Definition

Forces are pushes and pulls that make objects move, stop, or change direction. A push sends an object away from the force. A pull brings an object closer to the force. A spin is a special movement where an object turns around a center point, and it is usually caused by a push or a pull on one side of the object.

Remember the rule

Push = away, Pull = toward, Spin = around. More force = more movement!

Key words

Force: A push or pull that makes something move, stop, or change direction.
Push: A force that moves an object away from you or away from where the force starts.
Pull: A force that moves an object toward you or toward where the force starts.
Spin: When an object turns around and around a center point, like a top or a wheel.
Motion: When an object is moving or changing its position.
Direction: The way something is moving, like up, down, left, or right.
Strength: How hard or soft a force is. A stronger push moves something farther.
Center point: The middle spot that an object spins around, like the middle of a wheel.

Worked examples

You kick a soccer ball across the grass. Is that a push or a pull?

→ That is a push. Your foot pushes the ball away from you, and the ball rolls forward. · Kicking, throwing, and hitting are all pushes because they send the object away.

You open a desk drawer by grabbing the handle and moving it toward you. Is that a push or a pull?

→ That is a pull. You grabbed the drawer and brought it closer to your body. · Any time you bring something toward you, that is a pull.

You push one side of a merry-go-round and it starts turning. What kind of motion is that?

→ That is a spin. Pushing on the edge of the merry-go-round makes it rotate around its center point. · A push or pull on the edge of a round object usually causes it to spin.

A magnet pulls a paper clip across the table. What force is at work and which direction does the paper clip move?

→ A pulling force is at work. The paper clip moves toward the magnet because the magnet pulls it closer.

You wind up a toy top and set it down. It spins on the floor. What made it spin?

→ The twisting force you used to wind it up created the spin. That twist is a kind of push-and-pull on the sides of the top that makes it rotate around its center.

A teacher asks: does a stronger push make a ball roll farther or shorter? What is the answer?

→ A stronger push makes the ball roll farther. More force means more movement. · This shows that the strength of a force changes how much an object moves.

Common mistakes

Thinking a spin is totally different from a push or pull. A spin is actually caused by a push or pull acting on the side or edge of an object.
Confusing the direction of the force with the direction of the object. The object moves away on a push and toward on a pull, not the other way around.
Thinking something must be touching to pull it. Magnets and gravity can pull objects without touching them.
Forgetting that forces can slow things down or stop them, not just start them moving. Catching a ball is a pull that stops it.
Thinking a bigger object always needs the same force as a smaller one. Heavier objects need more force to move the same distance.

FAQs

Can something be pushed and pulled at the same time?

Yes! When you use a jump rope, one person pulls one end while the other person also pulls the other end. Two forces can act on one object at once.

Is gravity a push or a pull?

Gravity is a pull. It pulls everything toward the center of the Earth, which is why things fall down when you drop them.

Why does a spinning top not fall over right away?

When a top spins fast, the spinning motion helps it balance on its point. As it slows down and loses its spin, it wobbles and falls.

Does a force always make something move?

Not always. If two equal forces push against each other from opposite sides, the object stays still. For example, if you and a friend push a box from opposite sides with equal strength, it does not move.

How is opening a door like a spin?

A door is attached at one edge by hinges. When you push or pull the handle on the other edge, the door swings around those hinges. That swinging is a kind of spin around the hinge as the center point.

What is the difference between a hard push and a soft push?

A hard push uses more force and makes the object move faster and farther. A soft push uses less force and makes the object move slower and a shorter distance.

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