Here is the step-by-step breakdown to determine which of Newton's Laws applies to each scenario.
Newton's 1st Law (Inertia): Objects keep doing what they are doing (staying still or moving) unless a force acts on them. Think: "Lazy objects" or "Crashing/Stopping."
Newton's 2nd Law (F=ma): Force equals mass times acceleration. Heavier things need more force to move. More force makes things go faster. Think: "Pushing heavy stuff" or "Speeding up."
Newton's 3rd Law (Action/Reaction): For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Think: "Push/Pull pairs" or "Recoil."
Scenario Analysis:
1.
Coin on paper: The coin stays still because it wants to stay at rest (inertia). ->
1
2.
Farmer adding a horse: One horse wasn't enough force for the mass; he needed more force to accelerate the cart. ->
2
3.
Truck with less mass/big acceleration: Relates mass and acceleration directly. ->
2
4.
Daddy hitting golf ball harder: More force applied results in the ball going farther (acceleration/distance). ->
2
5.
Basketball arc (gravity/friction): The ball would go straight forever, but outside forces (gravity/friction) change its path. ->
1
6.
Pedaling bicycle harder: More force leads to faster speed (acceleration). ->
2
7.
Book on table (downward/upward force): Action (book pushes down) and Reaction (table pushes up). ->
3
8.
Large snowball harder to move: More mass requires more force to overcome inertia/start moving. ->
2
9.
Ball rolls until friction stops it: It keeps moving until an outside force (friction) stops it. ->
1
10.
Push small vs. big table: Same force on different masses causes different accelerations. ->
2
11.
Car slams brakes/passengers thrown forward: Passengers keep moving forward due to inertia while the car stops. ->
1
12.
Walker hits ball with more force: More force creates more acceleration/distance. ->
2
13.
Runner stopping after finish line: Runner keeps moving due to inertia until friction/stopping force acts. ->
1
14.
Balloon air rushes out/balloon moves forward: Action (air back) causes Reaction (balloon forward). ->
3
15.
Walking on sand (push sand backward): Action (foot pushes sand back) causes Reaction (sand pushes foot/body forward). ->
3
16.
Bowling pins fall when hit: Pins were at rest; an outside force (the ball) made them move. ->
1
17.
Rider thrown forward when horse stops: Rider keeps moving due to inertia. ->
1
18.
Extra force to move big bag: More mass needs more force to accelerate. ->
2
19.
50 lb rock harder to move than 5 lb rock: Mass affects how hard it is to accelerate an object. ->
2
20.
Biker thrown over handlebars: Biker keeps moving forward due to inertia when the bike stops suddenly. ->
1
Final Answer:
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
1
3
3
1
1
2
2
1
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of newton laws worksheet with answers.
