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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Science

Newton's Laws of Motion Practice Quiz

Sharpen your understanding with Newton's Third Law

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 9
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting Action equals Reaction physics trivia quiz for high school students.

What does Newton's third law of motion state?
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Force is the rate of change of momentum.
An object at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an external force.
The net force on an object is equal to its mass times acceleration.
Newton's third law tells us that forces always come in pairs; every force has an equal and opposite corresponding force. This means that if one object exerts a force on another, the second object exerts a force of equal magnitude in the opposite direction.
When you jump off a small boat onto a dock, which of the following happens due to Newton's third law?
The boat moves in the opposite direction as you jump.
The boat and you move together in the same direction.
The boat remains stationary because it is heavier than you.
Your jump causes the boat to sink.
When you jump off the boat, you exert a force on it and, according to Newton's third law, the boat exerts an equal and opposite force on you. This reaction force pushes the boat in the opposite direction, even though the boat may appear to move slowly due to its larger mass.
Which of these best illustrates the concept of action and reaction forces?
A ball sitting on a table due to gravity.
A light bulb emitting light.
A car accelerating on a highway using engine power.
A swimmer pushing water backwards to move forward.
The example of a swimmer pushing water clearly shows an action-reaction pair: the force exerted on the water produces a reaction force that propels the swimmer forward. This straightforward example is a classic demonstration of Newton's third law.
During a handshake, what are the action-reaction forces?
The handshake involves no forces since it is static contact.
Each person exerts a force on the other, and both experience an equal and opposite force.
Both forces cancel out, so no force is experienced.
Only one person applies force while the other receives it.
In a handshake, both individuals apply a force to one another, demonstrating an action and its equal and opposite reaction. This pair of forces does not cancel out on either person because each force acts on a different body.
How does Newton's third law apply to a rocket launching?
The rocket burns its fuel to generate heat.
The rocket's engines create a vacuum that lifts it off the ground.
The force of gravity propels the rocket upward.
The rocket expels exhaust gases downward and experiences an upward thrust.
Newton's third law is at the heart of rocket propulsion. When the rocket expels exhaust gases downward, these gases exert an equal and opposite force that pushes the rocket upward, allowing it to lift off.
When you push against a wall and it doesn't move, which explanation is correct based on Newton's third law?
Newton's third law does not apply to stationary objects.
The force you apply is too weak to move the wall.
The wall exerts an equal and opposite force, but because the forces act on different objects, the wall does not move.
The wall has no force acting on it because it is immovable.
Even though the wall does not appear to move, it is still involved in an action-reaction pair with you. The force you apply is met with an equal and opposite force from the wall, but since they act on different objects, they do not cancel each other on a single body.
How does Newton's third law help a swimmer move forward in the water?
The swimmer's movement is due solely to buoyancy.
The swimmer pushes water backward, and in return, the water pushes the swimmer forward.
The swimmer pulls water from the front to move forward.
The swimmer creates a vacuum behind them that pulls them forward.
By pushing water backward, the swimmer generates a reaction force in the opposite direction that propels them forward. This clear demonstration of action and reaction is a fundamental application of Newton's third law in fluid dynamics.
When two ice skaters push against each other, which statement is true according to Newton's third law?
There is no force interaction if both are moving on ice.
Both skaters experience forces of equal magnitude in opposite directions, causing them to move away from each other.
The heavier skater remains still while the lighter one moves.
The skater applying the force moves while the other does not.
Newton's third law ensures that when the skaters push off, they each experience forces that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. This is why both skaters move away from each other, regardless of their individual masses.
A rocket in space expels exhaust gases at high speed. What best describes this action?
The rocket's motion is unrelated to the gases it expels.
The expulsion of gases creates a suction that pulls the rocket upward.
The rocket exerts a force on the gases and experiences an equal and opposite force that propels it forward.
The rocket moves forward because gases push it from behind due to air resistance.
In the vacuum of space, a rocket relies on the reaction force generated by expelling high-speed gases. This equal and opposite force is what propels the rocket forward, perfectly illustrating Newton's third law.
Which of the following is an incorrect interpretation of Newton's third law?
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction acting on the same object.
The forces always come in pairs of equal magnitude and opposite direction.
Action and reaction occur simultaneously and do not cancel because they act on different objects.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction acting on a different object.
Newton's third law clearly states that the forces act on two different objects. Claiming that the forces act on the same object is an incorrect interpretation because it misrepresents how action-reaction pairs function.
In a game of billiards, when two balls collide, how do Newton's third law pairs manifest?
Each ball exerts a force on the other, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
The forces average out, making the collision energy-neutral.
The ball that strikes first absorbs the impact, while the second ball only feels a minor force.
External forces like friction determine the collision outcome entirely.
When two billiard balls collide, each ball applies a force to the other. These forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, a direct demonstration of Newton's third law.
Which statement best explains why action-reaction forces do not cancel each other when analyzing an object's acceleration?
They are applied at different times.
Because action and reaction forces act on different objects.
They cancel, but only in a closed system.
Because the forces are not always equal in magnitude.
The key point is that action-reaction pairs act on different objects, so they cannot cancel out when considering the net force on a single object. Only the forces applied directly to the object contribute to its acceleration.
If a person steps off a stationary boat, why does the boat move?
Because of water current pushing the boat.
Because the boat is lighter than the person.
Because the foot exerts a force on the boat, and the boat exerts an equal and opposite force, causing it to recoil.
Because stepping off breaks the friction between boat and water.
When a person steps off a boat, they push against it, creating an action-reaction pair. The boat recoils due to the equal and opposite force applied by the person, causing it to move slowly in the opposite direction.
In the recoil effect observed when a gun fires a bullet, what are the action and reaction forces involved?
The bullet pushes the gun forward as it exits.
The gun's motion is due to the explosion energy, not reaction forces.
The force exerted on the bullet propels it forward while an equal force pushes the gun backward.
There is no action-reaction force because the bullet leaves the gun.
When the gun fires a bullet, the force applied to eject the bullet forward produces an equal and opposite force on the gun. This reaction force results in the noticeable recoil, clearly illustrating Newton's third law.
How do action-reaction forces influence the dynamics of a collision between two moving objects?
They only affect the more massive object during collision.
They are not a factor because collisions are determined by momentum transfer alone.
They cancel each other out, so no net force is observed during the collision.
They act on different objects simultaneously and do not cancel, thus affecting the motion of each object individually.
In any collision, the action-reaction forces are applied on the two colliding objects and do not cancel because they act on separate bodies. Each object undergoes its own acceleration determined by the net force acting on it.
In a complex system where multiple forces are present, how can you determine the net force acting on a single object despite the existence of equal and opposite reaction forces?
By summing all forces including those acting on connected objects.
By ignoring forces that seem to cancel each other out.
By considering only the forces acting directly on that object, as reaction forces act on other objects.
By averaging the magnitude of all forces present in the system.
When calculating the net force on an object, only the forces directly acting on that object are considered. Reaction forces are exerted on a different object and therefore do not influence the net force calculation for the object in question.
How do differences in mass affect the acceleration of two objects when they exert equal and opposite forces on each other?
Mass does not affect acceleration in the presence of equal forces.
Both objects accelerate at the same rate due to the equal forces.
The heavier object accelerates more because it experiences a larger force.
The object with less mass accelerates more because acceleration is inversely proportional to mass.
Newton's second law (F = ma) shows that acceleration is inversely proportional to mass for a given force. Even though the forces are equal and opposite, the lighter object accelerates more because it has a smaller mass.
During a rocket launch, how does the conservation of momentum relate to Newton's third law?
The rocket gains momentum due solely to the combustion of fuel, unrelated to expelled gases.
Conservation of momentum applies only when no external forces are present, which does not include rocket launches.
Momentum is not conserved during a rocket launch because of external forces.
The momentum gained by the rocket is equal and opposite to the momentum of the expelled gases, illustrating both conservation of momentum and Newton's third law.
When a rocket launches, the momentum carried away by the expelled gases is balanced by the momentum gained by the rocket. This equal and opposite momentum exchange is a direct consequence of Newton's third law and the conservation of momentum.
When a person on a skateboard pushes off against a wall and moves in the opposite direction, why does the skateboarder's motion conform to Newton's third law?
Because the skateboarder creates friction applied to the wall.
Because the wall's immobility enhances the force on the skateboarder.
Because the wall transfers its motion to the skateboarder.
Because the force applied to the wall produces an equal and opposite reaction force that propels the skateboarder.
When the skateboarder pushes against the wall, the wall exerts an equal force back on them. This reaction force causes the skateboarder to accelerate in the opposite direction, which clearly demonstrates Newton's third law in action.
Why are action and reaction forces not included when drawing a free-body diagram for a single object?
Because action and reaction forces act on different objects, so only the forces on the object in question are considered.
Because they cancel out completely on the object.
Because they are negligible compared to gravitational forces.
Because free-body diagrams are only used for static objects.
A free-body diagram focuses solely on the forces acting on one object. Since action-reaction pairs involve forces on two separate objects, only the force acting on the object of interest is drawn in its free-body diagram.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand and explain Newton's third law of motion.
  2. Apply Newton's third law to solve interactive problem scenarios.
  3. Analyze force exchanges between interacting objects in various contexts.
  4. Evaluate outcomes of action-reaction pairs in test-like simulations.

Newton's Laws of Motion Quiz: Third Law Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Newton's Third Law - Have fun pushing and feeling pushes back! Newton's Third Law states that every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force, so forces always come in perfect pairs. Physics Classroom
  2. Identify Action-Reaction Pairs - In any interaction, two forces of the same size but in opposite directions act on different objects. For example, when you push a wall, the wall shoves back just as hard, keeping both you and the wall in a friendly tug-of-war. Physics Classroom
  3. Apply to Everyday Activities - Walking might feel like you're just stepping forward, but it's actually a force exchange: you push the ground backward and the ground pushes you forward to keep you moving. This perfect push-and-pull duo happens every time you take a stride. GeeksforGeeks
  4. Explore Swimming Dynamics - Swimming is a flashy demonstration of action and reaction: your arms and legs push water backward, and the water splashes back, propelling you through the pool. This smooth propulsion is why swimmers glide so gracefully. GeeksforGeeks
  5. Examine Rocket Propulsion - Rockets blast gases downward at high speed as their action, and those same gases push the rocket upward with equal force. It's the ultimate example of action-reaction forces rocking you into space. GCFGlobal
  6. Analyze Rowing Mechanics - Rowboats move forward because oars push water backward, and the water gives an equal shove forward in return. This balanced force exchange keeps your boat slicing smoothly through the water. EduForAll
  7. Understand Force Interactions - Action and reaction forces act on different objects, so they never cancel each other within one system. Depending on mass and resistance, these paired forces can create motion, maintain equilibrium, or start a sprightly spin. Physics Classroom
  8. Recognize Misconceptions - A common mix-up is thinking action and reaction forces wipe each other out, leaving zero result. Remember, they act on different objects, so they team up to keep things moving or balanced. GeeksforGeeks
  9. Apply to Sports - When a basketball player leaps, their legs push down on the floor (action) and the floor pushes them up (reaction), launching them into the air. This explosive duo makes slam dunks and satisfying rebounds possible. GCFGlobal
  10. Explore Engineering Applications - Engineers love Newton's Third Law for designing everything from car engines to jet planes - thrust pushes air backward and the air thrusts the vehicle forward. This powerful principle drives innovation and motion across industries. GeeksforGeeks
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