Forces and Newton's Laws: True or False

If Avery is walking to the right, then the forces acting upon them are NOT balanced.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because a person can move to the right while experiencing balanced forces, such as when moving at a constant speed. Unbalanced forces would cause acceleration, not constant motion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Kai noticed that his toy car, after being pushed, gradually slowed down and came to a stop. Is this an example of a balance of forces?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because a balance of forces implies that the object is in equilibrium. An object slowing to a stop indicates that an unbalanced force (like friction) is acting on it, not a balance.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Avery is pushing a shopping cart down the aisle. Would it take an unbalanced force to keep the cart in motion?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force, according to Newton's first law of motion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Henry is riding a merry-go-round at a constant speed. Are the forces acting on him balanced?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because an object moving in a circle at constant speed experiences a centripetal force directed towards the center, indicating that the forces are not balanced. This net force is necessary for circular motion.

Benjamin is riding his bicycle and starts pedaling faster, causing the bike to accelerate at a CONSTANT rate. Are the forces acting on the bicycle balanced?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because if an object is accelerating at a constant rate, it means there is a net force acting on it, causing the acceleration. Balanced forces would result in no acceleration.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Mia is observing a book resting on a table and a ball rolling on the floor. Is Newton's first law of motion applicable to both the book and the ball?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. Newton's first law states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion unless acted upon by a net external force. This applies to both moving and non-moving objects.

If a book is lying on a table at rest, then there are no forces acting on it.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because an object at rest can still have forces acting on it, such as gravitational force or friction. According to Newton's first law, an object remains at rest unless acted upon by a net external force.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

Charlotte noticed that when she pushed her toy car, it eventually stopped moving. Is it the natural tendency of all objects to eventually come to rest?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because objects do not naturally come to rest; they continue to move unless acted upon by an external force, as described by Newton's first law of motion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Elijah set a swing into its usual back-and-forth periodic motion at the playground. After some time (perhaps 10 minutes), the swing comes to rest. This is best explained by the idea of inertia - all objects eventually resist motion.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is false because the pendulum comes to rest due to energy loss from friction and air resistance, not because of inertia. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in motion, but it does not cause the pendulum to stop.

Charlotte is trying to push a stationary car. Would it take an unbalanced force for her to cause the car to accelerate from rest?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. An unbalanced force is necessary to change an object's state of motion, including causing it to accelerate from rest, according to Newton's second law of motion.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2