Science at key stage 3    (Year 9)

• how the effect of a force depends on the area to which it is applied
• how to use the quantitative relationship between force, area and pressure
• about practical applications of this relationship

• to present and listen to arguments based on scientific understanding

• that gases can be put under external pressure, and some uses of this

• to explain the transmission of pressure in terms of the particle model
• that liquids can be put under external pressure, and some uses of this

• that gases and liquids have internal pressure which depends on the weight of fluid above the point being considered

• to use ideas about force and pressure to interpret secondary sources

• that a lever is a simple machine which uses a pivot
• about uses of levers
• that the turning effect of a lever depends on the force and its distance from the pivot

• about examples of levers in the body
• how pairs of antagonistic muscles produce turning effects at skeleton joints

• that a force can make an object topple over (turn about a pivot)

• that the turning effect of a force is called its moment

• to plan and carry out an investigation
• to devise a table to show results effectively and draw conclusions
• to identify and explain anomalous results
• to use the principle of moments to explain balance
• to calculate moments about a single pivot

• to use the ideas of this unit