This worksheet is designed to help Grade 2 students understand how
forces affect motion. The task is to
draw arrows showing the direction each object will move when a force is applied.
Let’s go through each image and determine the correct direction of motion, explaining why.
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1. Girl pulling a wagon
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What's happening? A girl is pulling a red wagon with a rope.
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Force applied: She pulls the wagon forward.
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Direction of motion: The wagon moves
forward, in the same direction as the pull.
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✔ Arrow should point forward (to the right).
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2. Children playing tug-of-war
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What's happening? Four children are pulling on a rope. Three on one side, one on the other.
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Force applied: The three children together exert more force than the single child.
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Direction of motion: The rope (and the children) will move toward the side with more force —
toward the three children.
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✔ Arrow should point left (toward the group of three).
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3. Girl walking a dog
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What's happening? A girl is walking her dog on a leash.
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Force applied: The girl pulls the dog forward.
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Direction of motion: The dog moves
forward, following the girl.
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✔ Arrow should point forward (to the right), along the leash.
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4. Boy kicking a soccer ball
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What's happening? A boy kicks a soccer ball.
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Force applied: His foot applies force to the ball.
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Direction of motion: The ball moves
away from his foot, in the direction of the kick.
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✔ Arrow should point to the right, away from the boy.
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5. Boy pushing a cabinet
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What's happening? A boy is pushing a wooden cabinet.
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Force applied: He pushes it forward.
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Direction of motion: The cabinet moves
forward, in the direction of the push.
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✔ Arrow should point forward (to the right).
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6. Boy swinging a bat
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What's happening? A boy swings a baseball bat.
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Force applied: He swings the bat forward, hitting something (implied).
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Direction of motion: The bat moves
forward, in the arc of the swing.
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✔ Arrow should point forward (to the right), showing the direction of the swing.
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7. Child pushing a swing
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What's happening? A child is pushing another child on a swing.
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Force applied: The push is
forward at the bottom of the swing.
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Direction of motion: The swing moves
forward and upward (in an arc), but the immediate direction is
forward.
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✔ Arrow should point forward, indicating the direction of the push.
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✔ Summary of Arrows:
| Image | Object | Direction of Arrow |
|-------|--------|--------------------|
| 1 | Wagon | → (Right) |
| 2 | Rope | ← (Left) |
| 3 | Dog | → (Right) |
| 4 | Soccer Ball | → (Right) |
| 5 | Cabinet | → (Right) |
| 6 | Bat | → (Right) |
| 7 | Swing | → (Forward/Right) |
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📝 Explanation for Students:
> When a force is applied to an object, it moves in the
same direction as the force. For example, if you push a box to the right, it goes right. If you pull a wagon, it goes in the direction you pull. In tug-of-war, the stronger team pulls the rope their way.
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🔧 How to Draw the Arrows:
- Use a pencil or marker to draw a
straight arrow pointing in the direction the object will move.
- Make sure the arrow starts near the object and points clearly in the direction of motion.
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This worksheet teaches the basic concept that
force causes motion and that
motion happens in the direction of the applied force. Great for building foundational physics understanding!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of forces and motion activity sheet.