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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

7–10Science 7–10 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2026
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Stage 4

Forces

Working scientifically

In this focus area, students develop skills in identifying and developing questions for investigation, as well as processing and representing data, and identifying trends, patterns and relationships in data. Additional Working scientifically outcomes and skills may be integrated with this content.

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Forces in action
  • Explain forces as either direct (contact) or indirect (non-contact)

  • Conduct a practical investigation on the effects of a range of direct and indirect forces

  • Use force diagrams to model balanced and unbalanced forces

  • Analyse force diagrams to make predictions

  • Examine the relationship between force and energy

  • Describe the electrostatic and gravitational forces exerted between objects

  • Use the concept of forces to describe the motion of objects in orbit

Magnets in everyday life
  • Describe how magnets attract or repel each other based on their polarity

  • Conduct a practical investigation to test the effect of distance on the action of a magnet

  • Observe and map the magnetic fields of magnets

  • Conduct a practical investigation to construct electromagnets and compare their strength

Simple machines in everyday life
  • Explore the role of simple machines, from now and in the past, as used in everyday life

  • Conduct a series of practical investigations using simple machines to investigate the action of forces

  • Investigate how simple machines, such as levers and pulleys, are used to change the magnitude of force needed when performing a task

  • Identify examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ application of Knowledge about forces

  • Investigate how simple machines can solve everyday issues

Forces in context
  • Investigate examples of forces and magnetism in familiar contexts

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