Science · Physical Science

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces — Reading Comprehension Lesson

Reading comprehension passage and printable worksheet about balanced and unbalanced forces and how they change motion for grades 3–6.

Reading Passage

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

A force is a push or a pull that can make an object move, stop, or change direction. Forces are happening all around us, all the time. Whenever you kick a ball, lift a backpack, or even just stand still, forces are at work. Scientists describe forces by their size and the direction in which they act.

When two or more forces act on an object at the same time, the result depends on whether they are balanced or unbalanced. Balanced forces are equal in size but opposite in direction. When forces are balanced, they cancel each other out and the object’s motion does not change. A book sitting on a table is a good example — gravity pulls down on the book while the table pushes up on it with the same amount of force.

Unbalanced forces, on the other hand, are not equal. When forces are unbalanced, the object will move in the direction of the stronger force. Pushing a shopping cart, kicking a soccer ball, and a leaf falling from a tree are all examples of unbalanced forces in action.

Friction is another force that affects motion. Friction acts between two surfaces that are touching, and it usually slows things down. Without friction, you would not be able to walk or stop a moving bicycle. Different surfaces produce different amounts of friction — a smooth ice rink has very little, while a rough sidewalk has a lot.

Gravity is a force that pulls every object toward the center of the Earth. It is the reason objects fall when you drop them and the reason a ball you throw eventually comes back down. Together, balanced and unbalanced forces help explain why objects in the world around us behave the way they do.

Printable Worksheet

More Science Worksheets

Explore our full library of science reading comprehension worksheets and lesson resources.