A wheeled cart is moving to the right at a constant speed. Two forces of equal magnitude are acting upon the cart. Which of the following best describes the forces and motion of the cart?

Balanced Forces, Constant Speed

Unbalanced Forces, Constant Speed

Unbalanced Forces, Acceleration

Which could be an example of an unbalanced force?

A baseball that has been thrown to home plate.

A plate sitting on a dining table

A ball at the top of a hill that is not moving

Which could be an example of a balanced force?

An asteroid moving at a constant speed through space

A car accelerating from a stop sign

A box of dishes falling from a counter

Which of the following objects will experience an unbalanced force?

A ball rolling across the floor with friction acting in the opposite direction.

A bike rider on a smooth and level road, pedaling at a constant rate.

A train pulling on another train, each with the same amount of force.

A chair sitting on the floor with balanced forces acting in opposite directions.

An airplane is travelling North through the sky at a constant speed when turbulence causes it to take a different route, changing its direction. Explain the forces at work on this plane.

Unbalanced, because the speed is constant and there is a change in direction

Unbalanced, because the plane is moving forward, not backwards

Balanced, because the plane is not falling to a lower altitude

Unbalanced, because the plane is in motion

How will this object move?

It will move in both directions.

What is true about this image?

The people on the right are winning.

The people on the left are winning.

Which of the following statements is true?

Unbalanced forces cause a change in motion.

Balanced forces cause a change in motion.

Forces do not effect the change in motion.

Students are playing tug-of-war. If group B pulls the rope to the right with a force of 400 N and group A pulls the rope to the left with a force of 250 N, what will happen to the ribbon in the middle of the rope?

The ribbon will move to the right and group B will win the tug-of-war.

The ribbon will move to the left and group A will win the tug-of-war.

The ribbon will move to the left and group B will win the tug-of-war.

The ribbon will move to the right and group A will win the tug-of-war.

The objects HITTING one another

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Quiz

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Science

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6th - 8th Grade

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Practice Problem

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Medium

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NGSS

MS-PS2-2, MS-PS1-1, MS-PS2-1

+13

Standards-aligned

Thalia Nevarez

Used 88+ times

FREE Resource

About this resource

This quiz comprehensively covers balanced and unbalanced forces, a fundamental physics concept appropriate for middle school students in grades 6-8. The questions assess students' understanding of net force calculations, the distinction between balanced and unbalanced forces, and the relationship between forces and motion. Students must master several core concepts to succeed: calculating net force by adding forces in the same direction and subtracting opposing forces, recognizing that balanced forces result in no change in motion while unbalanced forces cause acceleration or deceleration, and applying these principles to real-world scenarios like tug-of-war, moving objects, and stationary items. The quiz requires students to analyze force diagrams, interpret numerical values with proper units (Newtons), and connect force concepts to motion outcomes. However, the final portion of the quiz shifts unexpectedly to chemical equations and molecular composition, covering topics like balancing equations, counting atoms, and understanding coefficients and subscripts—content that belongs in chemistry rather than physics. Created by Thalia Nevarez, a Science teacher in US who teaches grade 6 and 8. This quiz serves multiple instructional purposes in the middle school science classroom, functioning effectively as a comprehensive review tool before summative assessments or as formative assessment to gauge student understanding of force concepts. Teachers can deploy individual sections as warm-up activities to activate prior knowledge or assign the entire quiz as homework to reinforce classroom learning. The varied question formats—from basic calculations to scenario analysis—allow educators to differentiate instruction and identify specific areas where students need additional support. The quiz aligns with Next Generation Science Standards, particularly MS-PS2-2, which requires students to plan investigations of balanced and unbalanced forces and their effects on object motion. The practical examples and mathematical calculations support NGSS practices of analyzing data, using mathematical thinking, and constructing explanations based on evidence.