Forces and simple machines

Junior High 6 questions

What forces and simple machines means

You learn how pushes and pulls move things and how simple machines make work easier. This helps you choose the right tool and explain how force acts in everyday tasks.

What you will practise

Identify a force as a push or pull
Match levers, pulleys and inclined planes to their uses
Choose the simple machine shown in a daily-life example
Explain how a force can change motion or shape

Before you start

You should already know common objects like ropes, ramps, wheels and bars. It also helps to understand basic ideas about movement and heaviness.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

A force is best described as a…

push or pull
form of light
type of sound
kind of matter

Answer: push or pull

Working: A force is a push or pull that can change motion or shape.

Common mistakes to avoid

Calling any tool a lever when it does not pivot on a fulcrum
Thinking a pulley lifts by itself instead of changing the direction of pull
Confusing an inclined plane with a ramp used for moving loads more easily
Forgetting that a force can change shape as well as motion

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES Basic 7 to 9 syllabusBECE

This topic normally appears in the Forces and Energy area of Junior High School science, where learners meet simple machines and force effects in practical ways. It supports BECE preparation by building the exact ideas often tested in everyday science questions.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.