Newton's Laws and Football Quiz

What does Newton’s First Law of Motion state?

• Force equals mass times acceleration

• For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

• An object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force

• Gravity affects all objects equally

Answer explanation

Newton’s First Law states that an object at rest will remain at rest unless an external force acts on it. This highlights the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion.

What is another name for Newton’s First Law?

• Law of Acceleration

• Law of Inertia

• Law of Gravity

• Law of Motion

Answer explanation

Newton's First Law is also known as the Law of Inertia, which states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a net external force.

Why does a football remain on the kickoff tee until kicked?

• It has no force acting on it

• It is resisting acceleration

• It is affected by air resistance

• It is experiencing unbalanced forces

Answer explanation

The football remains on the kickoff tee because it has no net force acting on it. It is at rest, and the forces acting on it, such as gravity and the support from the tee, are balanced, preventing any movement until kicked.

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In football, what causes a running back to slow down when tackled?

• The running back’s acceleration

• The defender applying force

• The running back’s own motion

• The air resistance acting on him

Answer explanation

The defender applying force is the primary reason a running back slows down when tackled. This external force counteracts the running back's momentum, causing a reduction in speed.

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Which equation represents Newton’s Second Law?

• F = ma

• E = mc²

• P = mv

• W = mg

Answer explanation

Newton's Second Law states that the force (F) acting on an object is equal to the mass (m) of that object multiplied by its acceleration (a). Thus, the correct equation is F = ma.

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A heavier linebacker will hit with more force than a smaller player because:

• Mass and acceleration determine force

• Inertia prevents motion

• Gravity acts equally on both players

• The ball carries kinetic energy

Answer explanation

A heavier linebacker has greater mass, and according to Newton's second law, force is the product of mass and acceleration (F=ma). Thus, a heavier player will hit with more force than a smaller player.

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What happens when a quarterback throws a football?

• It moves in a curved path due to inertia

• It remains motionless due to gravity

• It continues moving until air resistance and gravity act on it

• It speeds up in the air due to external force

Answer explanation

When a quarterback throws a football, it continues moving through the air until forces like air resistance and gravity act on it, causing it to slow down and eventually fall. This makes the correct choice the one that states it continues moving.

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A player who is lighter will accelerate faster than a heavier player because:

• More mass means less acceleration

• Less force is needed for motion

• The smaller player has greater inertia

• Acceleration depends on equal forces

Answer explanation

A player who is lighter accelerates faster because more mass means less acceleration, as described by Newton's second law (F=ma). Thus, a lighter player requires less force to achieve the same acceleration.

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Newton’s Third Law states:

• Objects move due to force

• For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

• Acceleration is proportional to force

• A moving object stays in motion

Answer explanation

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that forces always occur in pairs, making the second answer choice the correct one.

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What force allows a player to jump off the ground?

• Gravity

• The ground pushing back

• Air resistance

• The player's weight

Answer explanation

The force that allows a player to jump off the ground is the ground pushing back against their feet. This reaction force, according to Newton's third law, enables the player to propel upward.