Newtons Laws of Motion - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Newtons Laws of Motion. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Newtons Laws of Motion
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Newtons Laws of Motion
Let's go through each question one by one and provide clear, accurate answers with explanations based on physics principles (especially Newton’s Laws of Motion).
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1. If you increase the force on an object what happens to the acceleration?
Answer: The acceleration increases.
Explanation: According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion:
$$ F = ma $$
If mass (m) stays constant and force (F) increases, then acceleration (a) must also increase proportionally.
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2. What measurement unit is used to measure force?
Answer: Newton (N)
Explanation: The SI unit for force is the newton (N), named after Sir Isaac Newton. One newton is the force required to accelerate a 1 kg mass at 1 m/s².
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3. Jenna baked a cake for her co-workers. She set it on the back seat of her car. While driving, she had to stop the car suddenly. The cake fell to the floor. Explain why this happened using physics.
Answer: The cake fell because of inertia. When the car stopped suddenly, the cake tended to stay in motion due to Newton’s First Law of Motion (the law of inertia). Since the cake was not secured, it continued moving forward while the car slowed down, causing it to fall to the floor.
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4. Charlie and Nina want to jump in the pool and make a big splash to get their mother wet. Charlie says, "I will jump in. I'm bigger." Using physics, explain why his splash will be bigger than Nina's.
Answer: Charlie’s splash will be bigger because he has more mass. When jumping into water, the amount of displacement and energy transferred depends on mass and velocity. With greater mass, Charlie exerts more force upon impact (from $ F = ma $), creating a larger splash, assuming they jump from the same height.
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5. If forces are balanced what is the resulting acceleration?
Answer: Zero
Explanation: Balanced forces mean net force is zero. From Newton’s Second Law ($ a = F_{\text{net}} / m $), if $ F_{\text{net}} = 0 $, then $ a = 0 $. So the object either remains at rest or moves at constant velocity.
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6. What is required to cause acceleration?
Answer: A net unbalanced force
Explanation: Acceleration occurs only when there is a net force acting on an object. This is stated in Newton’s Second Law: $ a = F_{\text{net}} / m $. Without a net force, there is no change in motion.
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7. Why doesn’t a ball roll forever when it is kicked into the air?
Answer: Because of gravity and air resistance. Gravity pulls the ball downward, changing its vertical motion, and air resistance opposes its motion. These forces act as unbalanced forces, slowing the ball until it stops and falls back down.
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8. Forces come in pairs. What are the pairs called?
Answer: Action-reaction pairs
Explanation: According to Newton’s Third Law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. These paired forces are called action-reaction forces.
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9. Circle the example of how friction can be helpful: a skateboard ramp a seatbelt in a car the brakes on a car the wheels on a bicycle
Answer: The brakes on a car, the wheels on a bicycle
Explanation: Friction is helpful in:
- Brakes: Friction between brake pads and wheels slows the car.
- Wheels: Friction between tires and road allows traction and movement.
*Note:* A skateboard ramp uses friction minimally; seatbelts use tension, not friction directly. But both brakes and wheels rely on friction to function properly.
✔ Correct answers: the brakes on a car and the wheels on a bicycle
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10. Which law states that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction?
Answer: Newton’s Third Law of Motion
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11. Which law states: An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force?
Answer: Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)
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12. True or False: An object in motion will slow down when moving down a hill.
Answer: False
Explanation: Moving down a hill usually causes an object to speed up due to gravity pulling it downward. It would only slow down if there were significant opposing forces like friction or air resistance — but generally, downhill motion increases speed.
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13. True or False: If you kick a bowling ball and a tennis ball with the same amount of force, the tennis ball will travel farther than the bowling ball.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both balls experience the same force, but the tennis ball has much less mass. From $ a = F/m $, the tennis ball accelerates more. Also, it has less inertia, so it changes motion more easily. Therefore, it will travel farther (assuming similar conditions like surface and air resistance).
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14. For question 13, the example is according to which Newton’s Law of Motion?
Answer: Newton’s Second Law of Motion
Explanation: This law relates force, mass, and acceleration: $ F = ma $. The same force produces different accelerations depending on mass.
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15. Using one of his laws, explain why Newton might be in favor of a seatbelt law for all vehicles:
Answer: Newton’s First Law of Motion explains this. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. During a sudden stop, the car stops, but passengers continue moving forward due to inertia. Seatbelts provide the external force needed to stop the passenger safely, preventing injury.
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1. Acceleration increases
2. Newton (N)
3. Inertia – the cake continues moving forward when the car stops
4. Charlie has more mass → more force on impact → bigger splash
5. Zero
6. A net unbalanced force
7. Gravity and air resistance act on it
8. Action-reaction pairs
9. The brakes on a car, the wheels on a bicycle
10. Newton’s Third Law
11. Newton’s First Law
12. False
13. True
14. Newton’s Second Law
15. Newton’s First Law – seatbelts prevent injury by stopping passengers during sudden stops
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer sheet!
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1. If you increase the force on an object what happens to the acceleration?
Answer: The acceleration increases.
Explanation: According to Newton’s Second Law of Motion:
$$ F = ma $$
If mass (m) stays constant and force (F) increases, then acceleration (a) must also increase proportionally.
---
2. What measurement unit is used to measure force?
Answer: Newton (N)
Explanation: The SI unit for force is the newton (N), named after Sir Isaac Newton. One newton is the force required to accelerate a 1 kg mass at 1 m/s².
---
3. Jenna baked a cake for her co-workers. She set it on the back seat of her car. While driving, she had to stop the car suddenly. The cake fell to the floor. Explain why this happened using physics.
Answer: The cake fell because of inertia. When the car stopped suddenly, the cake tended to stay in motion due to Newton’s First Law of Motion (the law of inertia). Since the cake was not secured, it continued moving forward while the car slowed down, causing it to fall to the floor.
---
4. Charlie and Nina want to jump in the pool and make a big splash to get their mother wet. Charlie says, "I will jump in. I'm bigger." Using physics, explain why his splash will be bigger than Nina's.
Answer: Charlie’s splash will be bigger because he has more mass. When jumping into water, the amount of displacement and energy transferred depends on mass and velocity. With greater mass, Charlie exerts more force upon impact (from $ F = ma $), creating a larger splash, assuming they jump from the same height.
---
5. If forces are balanced what is the resulting acceleration?
Answer: Zero
Explanation: Balanced forces mean net force is zero. From Newton’s Second Law ($ a = F_{\text{net}} / m $), if $ F_{\text{net}} = 0 $, then $ a = 0 $. So the object either remains at rest or moves at constant velocity.
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6. What is required to cause acceleration?
Answer: A net unbalanced force
Explanation: Acceleration occurs only when there is a net force acting on an object. This is stated in Newton’s Second Law: $ a = F_{\text{net}} / m $. Without a net force, there is no change in motion.
---
7. Why doesn’t a ball roll forever when it is kicked into the air?
Answer: Because of gravity and air resistance. Gravity pulls the ball downward, changing its vertical motion, and air resistance opposes its motion. These forces act as unbalanced forces, slowing the ball until it stops and falls back down.
---
8. Forces come in pairs. What are the pairs called?
Answer: Action-reaction pairs
Explanation: According to Newton’s Third Law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. These paired forces are called action-reaction forces.
---
9. Circle the example of how friction can be helpful: a skateboard ramp a seatbelt in a car the brakes on a car the wheels on a bicycle
Answer: The brakes on a car, the wheels on a bicycle
Explanation: Friction is helpful in:
- Brakes: Friction between brake pads and wheels slows the car.
- Wheels: Friction between tires and road allows traction and movement.
*Note:* A skateboard ramp uses friction minimally; seatbelts use tension, not friction directly. But both brakes and wheels rely on friction to function properly.
✔ Correct answers: the brakes on a car and the wheels on a bicycle
---
10. Which law states that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction?
Answer: Newton’s Third Law of Motion
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11. Which law states: An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force?
Answer: Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)
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12. True or False: An object in motion will slow down when moving down a hill.
Answer: False
Explanation: Moving down a hill usually causes an object to speed up due to gravity pulling it downward. It would only slow down if there were significant opposing forces like friction or air resistance — but generally, downhill motion increases speed.
---
13. True or False: If you kick a bowling ball and a tennis ball with the same amount of force, the tennis ball will travel farther than the bowling ball.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both balls experience the same force, but the tennis ball has much less mass. From $ a = F/m $, the tennis ball accelerates more. Also, it has less inertia, so it changes motion more easily. Therefore, it will travel farther (assuming similar conditions like surface and air resistance).
---
14. For question 13, the example is according to which Newton’s Law of Motion?
Answer: Newton’s Second Law of Motion
Explanation: This law relates force, mass, and acceleration: $ F = ma $. The same force produces different accelerations depending on mass.
---
15. Using one of his laws, explain why Newton might be in favor of a seatbelt law for all vehicles:
Answer: Newton’s First Law of Motion explains this. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. During a sudden stop, the car stops, but passengers continue moving forward due to inertia. Seatbelts provide the external force needed to stop the passenger safely, preventing injury.
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✔ Final Answers Summary:
1. Acceleration increases
2. Newton (N)
3. Inertia – the cake continues moving forward when the car stops
4. Charlie has more mass → more force on impact → bigger splash
5. Zero
6. A net unbalanced force
7. Gravity and air resistance act on it
8. Action-reaction pairs
9. The brakes on a car, the wheels on a bicycle
10. Newton’s Third Law
11. Newton’s First Law
12. False
13. True
14. Newton’s Second Law
15. Newton’s First Law – seatbelts prevent injury by stopping passengers during sudden stops
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer sheet!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of laws of motion worksheet.
