What students learn in AC9S7U04
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force.... The goal is not to memorise one answer pattern. Students should be able to explain the idea, recognise it in a new example and apply it in a short practice or worksheet task.
- Start with the main idea: investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force, acting on objects, and relate changes in an object’s motion to its mass and the magnitude and direction of forces acting on it.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- investigating the effects of applying different forces to familiar objects of the same and different mass analysing the effect of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object’s motion, such as starting, stopping and changing direction
- Finish with mixed questions so students must choose the correct strategy rather than copy the last example.
Curriculum coverage and elaborations
The content description and elaborations below show the curriculum ideas taught in this unit. Items marked as teaching context support lesson planning but may not appear in the initial eight-question activity.
- Content description: investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force, acting on objects, and relate changes in an object’s motion to its mass and the magnitude and direction of forces acting on it
- E1: investigating the effects of applying different forces to familiar objects of the same and different mass
- E2: analysing the effect of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object’s motion, such as starting, stopping and changing direction
- E3: measuring the magnitude of a force using a force meter and representing the magnitude and direction of forces acting on an object using force arrow diagrams
- E4: investigating how Earth's gravitational force is the attractive force which pulls objects to the centre of Earth and its magnitude is related to the mass of an object
- E5: investigating how simple machines such as levers and pulleys are used to change the magnitude of force needed to perform a task
- E6: examining how gravity affects objects in space, including moons, planets, stars, galaxies and black holes
- E7: analysing the forces acting on boomerangs and how early First Peoples of Australia designed an air foil profile which allowed for multiple variations and applications
- E8: investigating the effect of forces through the application of simple machines, such as the bow and arrows used by Torres Strait Islander Peoples or the spearthrowers used by First Peoples of Australia (teaching context)
How to use this unit
Read the topic guide, use the teacher slide for instruction, then complete the Worksheet, Practice and Test. These three activities use the same eight-question unit bank.
Teacher resource
AC9S7U04 teacher slide
Use this one-page PDF to introduce the key idea, vocabulary and teaching sequence before students begin the activities.
Open teacher slide (PDF)Common mistakes to watch for
- Describing what is seen without connecting it to a question, pattern or prediction.
- Using everyday words only and missing simple scientific vocabulary.
- Changing more than one thing in an investigation, which makes the comparison unfair.
International curriculum mapping
This table gives closest-topic mapping for search and planning. The Australian Curriculum code is exact; overseas entries are broad equivalents because each jurisdiction structures outcomes differently.
| Region | Curriculum | Closest mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Curriculum v9.0 | AC9S7U04 — investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force, acting on objects, and relate changes in an object’s motion to its mass and the magnitude and direction of forces acting on it |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Year 7 Science: closest match in Physical sciences. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Stage 4 Science: closest content focus for Investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force... and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Grade 7 NGSS science closest topic match for Investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force.... |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 3 / Year 7: closest programme-of-study match for Investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force.... |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Grade 7 closest topic match. Canada varies by province, so use this as a broad Ontario/BC-style learning outcome reference. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Curriculum | Level 4 Science: closest achievement-objective topic for Investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force.... |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Class 7 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Investigate and represent balanced and unbalanced forces, including gravitational force.... |