S8P3B Newton's Laws/Vocabulary

Front

What is an unbalanced force?

Back

An unbalanced force is a force that causes an object to change its motion. For example, when a pencil is knocked to the ground, it is acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Front

What does Newton's 1st Law state?

Back

Newton's 1st Law states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Front

What is Newton's 2nd Law?

Back

Newton's 2nd Law states that acceleration depends on two variables: the mass of the object and the amount of force applied. It can be summarized by the formula F=ma (Force = mass x acceleration).

Front

What is Newton's 3rd Law?

Back

Newton's 3rd Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist a change in its motion. It means that an object will stay at rest or continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Front

Which law is best described by inertia?

Back

Inertia is best described by Newton's 1st Law.

Front

What is the relationship between mass and acceleration according to Newton's 2nd Law?

Back

According to Newton's 2nd Law, the greater the mass of an object, the more force is needed to accelerate it.

Front

Give an example of Newton's 3rd Law in action.

Back

When you jump off a small boat, you push the boat backward as you move forward. This is an example of action and reaction.

Front

What happens to an object in motion when no unbalanced forces act on it?

Back

An object in motion will continue to move at the same speed and in the same direction.

Front

What is the effect of balanced forces on an object?

Back

Balanced forces do not change the motion of an object. If an object is at rest, it stays at rest; if it is in motion, it continues to move at a constant speed.