MYP Science: Forces & Motion (MYP 1-3) FAQ

The unit typically covers speed, distance-time graphs, contact and non-contact forces, gravity, friction, balanced and unbalanced forces, and an introduction to Newton's first and second laws. Some schools fold in simple machines or pressure. Exact content varies by school because the MYP is a framework, not a fixed syllabus.

Forces and motion is assessed against the MYP Sciences criteria, most often Criterion B (Inquiring and Designing) through a practical investigation into force, motion or friction, and Criterion C (Processing and Evaluating) using the data collected. Criteria A and D can apply too, depending on the task.

Speed is how fast something moves, distance divided by time, with no direction attached. Velocity is the same calculation but with a direction stated. At MYP 1-3, most schools only expect you to calculate speed confidently and simply know that velocity adds direction — the vector maths comes later, in DP Physics.

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms, and doesn't change wherever you are. Weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass, measured in newtons, and it does change — your weight on the Moon is about a sixth of your weight on Earth, even though your mass is identical.

Most students find the concepts themselves manageable — the sticking point is usually applying Newton's laws to a real scenario rather than just reciting them, and reading distance-time graphs accurately. In fifteen years of marking this unit, the students who struggle are almost always the ones who skip the practical write-up and just learn definitions.

Level 7-8 work goes beyond correct calculations — it explains scientific reasoning clearly, evaluates the reliability and validity of your own investigation, and links results back to scientific theory using precise terminology like 'resultant force' rather than just 'the force'. Depth of explanation, not just accuracy, separates a 5-6 from a 7-8.

Almost always it comes down to Criterion B or C — a weak hypothesis with no reasoning attached, missing controlled variables, or a conclusion that just restates the results without evaluating them. It's rarely a lack of physics understanding; it's usually a missing structural piece in how the investigation is written up.

Start by making sure you can define force, mass, weight, speed, and friction in your own words, then practise sketching and reading distance-time graphs, and finally work through a few Newton's-law scenario questions where you explain the reasoning, not just state the law.

Expect 'state', 'describe', 'explain', 'calculate', and 'evaluate' — each demands a different depth of answer. 'State' wants a short fact, 'describe' wants detail without reasoning, 'explain' wants the 'why' with reasoning, and 'calculate' expects full working shown, not just a final number.

A typical MYP-level question: 'A trolley of mass 2 kg is pushed with a force of 10 N. Calculate its acceleration, then explain what would happen if a second, equal but opposite force were also applied.' It tests both the calculation and your conceptual grasp of balanced forces.

MYP forces & motion lays the groundwork for DP Physics topics on kinematics and dynamics, where the same ideas return with vectors, equations of motion, and momentum calculations. According to the IB, first assessments for the current DP Physics guide were 2025, and it builds directly on the qualitative force concepts introduced at MYP level.

A basic scientific calculator is enough — MYP 1-3 forces and motion calculations rarely go beyond simple division, multiplication, and rearranging Force = mass × acceleration. Schools generally allow calculators for tests once formulae involve more than one step, but check your school's specific assessment policy.

RevisionPrep's MYP Sciences hub carries Revision Notes, Topical Worksheets, and a growing question bank covering forces, motion, and the other MYP 1-3 physics topics, organised by criterion so you can practise the specific skill (calculation, investigation design, or evaluation) that needs work.