How can you tell they’ve got it: Investigating Forces?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Uses a newton meter correctly to measure forces in newtons; Sets up and conducts a Hooke's Law investigation, recording force and extension and plotting a graph; Identifies and controls variables in a force investigation; Calculates acceleration from force and mass data and compares with experimental results. Or just try it together: If your child set up an experiment hanging weights on a spring and measuring how much it stretched, could they describe how they would make it a fair test, record the results, and show what Hooke's Law looks like on a graph?

Science Forces & Motion Ages 12–13

Investigating Forces

Your child can plan a fair force experiment. They hang weights on a spring, measure the stretch, and plot a graph to show how force and stretch are linked.

In curriculum terms

Plan and carry out investigations into forces, including measuring force with a newton meter, investigating Hooke's Law, and collecting and interpreting motion data to test Newton's laws

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Uses a newton meter correctly to measure forces in newtons
Sets up and conducts a Hooke's Law investigation, recording force and extension and plotting a graph
Identifies and controls variables in a force investigation
Calculates acceleration from force and mass data and compares with experimental results

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Try this together

If your child set up an experiment hanging weights on a spring and measuring how much it stretched, could they describe how they would make it a fair test, record the results, and show what Hooke's Law looks like on a graph?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Moments, Pressure & Hooke's Lawages 12–14The Hooke's Law investigation requires knowing the law before planning the experiment

Newton's First & Second Lawsages 12–13Testing F = ma experimentally requires knowing the relationship between force, mass and acceleration

Investigating Forcesthis skill · ages 12–13

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits beyond Year 6 in the Australian Curriculum, so no F–6 code is matched. It also sits beyond the NSW K–6 syllabuses. It also sits beyond Level 6 in the Victorian Curriculum.

Nearby on the map

Deformation & Fluid Pressureages 12–13 Electromagnetsages 12–13 Moments, Pressure & Hooke's Lawages 12–14 Newton's First & Second Lawsages 12–13

All Forces & Motion skills →