Pushes and pulls
A FORCE is simply a PUSH or a PULL, and this word search gathers how they make things move. You'll be finding the everyday forces — GRAVITY pulling things down, FRICTION and DRAG slowing them, and the THRUST that speeds them up — all changing an object's MOTION and SPEED.
Each puzzle pulls a fresh selection from the list, so the forces change every time you play — gentle on Easy, and a Hard-mode challenge once the diagonals and backwards words appear.
Balanced or unbalanced
Forces can work together or against each other, and the words are here. When they're BALANCED, nothing changes; when they're UNBALANCED, an object will ACCELERATE or change DIRECTION. Forces can STRETCH, SQUASH or TWIST a SPRING, make something roll down a SLOPE, decide whether it will FLOAT or SINK, and even act at a distance through MAGNETISM — all affected by an object's WEIGHT.
Why nothing moves on its own
Here's the rule that surprises everyone: a moving object doesn't need a FORCE to keep going — it needs one to stop or turn. In empty space a spacecraft would coast forever, because there's no FRICTION or DRAG to slow it down. On Earth those hidden forces are everywhere, which is why a rolling ball always comes to rest and why a car needs constant THRUST just to hold its SPEED. FRICTION can be a nuisance, but it's also the grip that lets you walk, brake and pick things up.
GRAVITY is the force we feel most. It pulls everything toward the centre of the Earth, and the strength of that pull on an object is its WEIGHT — which is why you'd weigh less on the Moon even though you're made of exactly the same stuff. Whether something will FLOAT or SINK is a tug-of-war between gravity pulling it down and the water pushing it up. And MAGNETISM is the oddest force of all, reaching across a gap to pull or push without ever touching — the same invisible force that swings a compass needle to point north.
Great for a forces topic
It pairs perfectly with a science lesson on forces and motion — Easy mode keeps the grid small with no diagonals or reverse words. Play online, print a PDF pack, or use our Make Your Own tool to build a grid from your own physics words.
Frequently asked questions
What's in the forces & motion word search?
How things move — pushes and pulls, gravity, friction and thrust, plus balanced and unbalanced forces and whether things float or sink. Each puzzle uses a fresh mix.
Does it cover pushes, pulls and gravity?
It does — every FORCE is a PUSH or PULL, alongside GRAVITY, FRICTION, DRAG and THRUST, and whether forces are BALANCED or UNBALANCED.
Is it good for a forces topic?
Great fit — pair it with a science lesson on forces and motion. Easy mode keeps the grid small with no diagonals or reverse words.