Grade 6 Newton's Laws worksheet
from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
How to explain it
- First law (inertia): an object keeps doing what it's doing unless a force acts on it.
- Second law: net force = mass × acceleration. Force is measured in newtons (N).
- Third law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
- Friction is a force that slows things, so a puck slides farther on smooth ice.
Example: A 30 kg cart speeds up at 2 m/s². What net force acts on it? Force = mass × acceleration. 30 × 2 = 60. Answer: 60 N
Question 1
A 30 kg wagon speeds up at 3 m/s². What net force is acting on it?
F = m × a
answer boxN
90 N
Hint: Newton's second law: force = mass × acceleration. Multiply the mass in kilograms by the acceleration.
Question 2
A soccer ball sits still on the grass. What will make it start moving?
⚽- its own inertia
- an unbalanced force, like a kick
- balanced forces
- waiting long enough
an unbalanced force, like a kick
Hint: Newton's first law: an object at rest stays at rest unless an unbalanced force acts on it.
Question 3
Which has the most inertia?
- a skateboard
- a tennis ball
- a bicycle
- a loaded truck
a loaded truck
Hint: The more mass something has, the more inertia it has, and the harder it is to start or stop.
Question 4
Newton's third law says that for every action force there is…
- a bigger reaction force
- an equal and opposite reaction force
- no reaction at all
- a reaction force in the same direction
an equal and opposite reaction force
Hint: Forces come in pairs. If you push on a wall, the wall pushes back on you just as hard.
Question 5
How does a rocket lift off?
🚀- Gravity pulls it upward
- Its wings lift it like a plane
- It pushes against the air above it
- It pushes hot gases down, and the gases push the rocket up
It pushes hot gases down, and the gases push the rocket up
Hint: That's Newton's third law: action (gas pushed down) and reaction (rocket pushed up). It even works in space, where there's no air.
Question 6
Which of Newton's laws does each example show? Tap an item, then tap its basket.
Sort into: 1️⃣ 1st law: inertia · 2️⃣ 2nd law: F = m × a · 3️⃣ 3rd law: action and reaction
- ⚾A harder throw makes a ball go faster
- 🚀A rocket pushes gas down and the gas pushes it up
- 🛒An empty cart is easier to speed up than a full one
- 🏒A puck keeps gliding on smooth ice
- ⚽A ball sits still until someone kicks it
- 🏊A swimmer pushes water back to move forward
1️⃣ 1st law: inertia: A puck keeps gliding on smooth ice, A ball sits still until someone kicks it · 2️⃣ 2nd law: F = m × a: A harder throw makes a ball go faster, An empty cart is easier to speed up than a full one · 3️⃣ 3rd law: action and reaction: A rocket pushes gas down and the gas pushes it up, A swimmer pushes water back to move forward
Hint: 1st law: things keep doing what they're doing (inertia). 2nd law: more force or less mass means more acceleration. 3rd law: every push has an equal push back.
Question 7
A swimmer pushes off the pool wall. Which force moves the swimmer forward?
🏊- the wall pushing back on the swimmer
- the swimmer pushing on the wall
- the water's friction
- gravity
the wall pushing back on the swimmer
Hint: The swimmer pushes the wall (action), and the wall pushes the swimmer (reaction). Only the force on the swimmer moves the swimmer.
Question 8
An astronaut floating outside the space station throws a tool forward. What happens to the astronaut?
👩🚀- The astronaut drifts backward
- Nothing happens to the astronaut
- The astronaut falls to Earth
- The astronaut drifts forward
The astronaut drifts backward
Hint: The astronaut pushes the tool forward, so the tool pushes the astronaut backward.
Question 9
When you jump, you push down on the ground. What does the ground do?
- It pulls you down harder
- Nothing at all
- It moves away from you
- It pushes up on you with an equal force
It pushes up on you with an equal force
Hint: Newton's third law: your push on the ground is matched by the ground's push on you.
Question 10
A bus stops suddenly and the riders lurch forward. Why?
🚌- Gravity pulls them forward
- The bus pushes them forward
- The bus floor pulls them forward
- Their bodies keep moving forward because of inertia
Their bodies keep moving forward because of inertia
Hint: The bus stopped, but nothing stopped the riders yet. They keep going the way they were moving.
Answer key
- 1. 90 N
- 2. an unbalanced force, like a kick
- 3. a loaded truck
- 4. an equal and opposite reaction force
- 5. It pushes hot gases down, and the gases push the rocket up
- 6. 1️⃣ 1st law: inertia: A puck keeps gliding on smooth ice, A ball sits still until someone kicks it · 2️⃣ 2nd law: F = m × a: A harder throw makes a ball go faster, An empty cart is easier to speed up than a full one · 3️⃣ 3rd law: action and reaction: A rocket pushes gas down and the gas pushes it up, A swimmer pushes water back to move forward
- 7. the wall pushing back on the swimmer
- 8. The astronaut drifts backward
- 9. It pushes up on you with an equal force
- 10. Their bodies keep moving forward because of inertia
Want more than 10 questions?
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