What is a force?

A force is a push or pull. Forces make objects start or stop moving – like when you kick or stop a football, you need to put a force on the ball with your foot. Forces can also change an object's shape – like when you crush an empty drinks can.

You know that to make an object go faster (whether a football, a toy car, or a bicycle), the object needs a bigger push. You may not realise that you do this, but you push something harder if you want it to move faster and that is giving it more force!