Newton’s Laws of Motion

Read the paragraph. Earth has an outer layer made up of multiple rigid tectonic plates that continuously move and interact with each other in various ways. Newton’s Laws of Motion can all be observed in Earth’s tectonic activities. Variables involved in how the plates move can be determined using the equation F = ma from Newton’s ________ Law. When one plate collides with another plate at rest, the first plate can slow down and cause the second plate to move, demonstrating Newton’s ________ Law. When two plates slide sideways past each other at a transform boundary, this action can cause an earthquake of equal force, describing Newton’s ________ Law. Which option identifies the missing terms, in order of appearance in the sentences?

• A. First; Second; Third

• B. First; Third; Second

• C. Second; First; Third

• D. Second; Third; First

Newton’s Laws of Motion can be applied to describe what happened to the passengers when the roller coaster stopped. Which statement best explains this?

• The passengers continued moving forward due to inertia until restrained by safety devices.

• The passengers immediately stopped moving with the roller coaster.

• The passengers moved backward as the roller coaster stopped.

• The passengers floated upward when the roller coaster stopped.

To start a game of football, there must be a kickoff. This occurs when the football is kicked toward the other team. They will then receive the ball and run toward their goal line with the football in an attempt to score a touchdown. Each of these five actions describes one of Newton’s three Laws of Motion: 1. The harder the player kicks the ball, the faster it will move. 2. The ball will remain in place until it is kicked. 3. The ball pushes against the foot of the player with the same force as the player's foot pushes the ball. 4. The ball stops moving when the opposing team catches it after the kickoff. 5. The player’s foot pushes against the ball with the same force as the ball pushing against the player’s foot Which option correctly pairs each action with the Law that it demonstrates?

• A. Newton’s First Law: 1, 5; Newton’s Second Law: 2; Newton’s Third Law: 3, 4

• B. Newton’s First Law: 2, 4; Newton’s Second Law: 1; Newton’s Third Law: 3, 5

• C. Newton’s First Law: 1; Newton’s Second Law: 2, 5; Newton’s Third Law: 3, 4

• D. Newton’s First Law: 3, 5; Newton’s Second Law: 2; Newton’s Third Law: 1, 4

There are many forces at play when a rocket is launched into space. To get the rocket off the ground and moving upward, all three of Newton’s Laws of Motion come into play. Which statements regarding Newton’s Laws are true based on this scenario? Select all that apply.

• The rocket stays at rest until its engine ignites and the force launches the rocket into the air.

• The smaller the rocket, the slower it will accelerate.

• The smaller the rocket, the faster it will accelerate.

• The rocket must overcome the force of gravity in order to lift off the ground, but gravity continues to act on the rocket.

A kid straps an action figure into a toy car and pushes it down a ramp. At the end of the ramp, the toy car hits a wall and comes to a stop. The restraints keep the action figure from falling out of the toy car. Which statements regarding Newton’s Laws of Motion are true based on this scenario? Select all that apply.

• A. The action figure moves with the same motion as the toy car until the restraint stops it.

• B. The action figure moves with the same motion as the toy car until the wall stops it.

• C. The greater the acceleration of the action figure, the greater the force.

• D. The force of the action figure on the restraint is equal to the force of the restraint on the action figure.

In track and field, there is an event called the shot put. In this event, players push a heavy, solid metal ball, known as a shot, as far as possible. The distance the shot travels is measured, and the furthest distance from the start wins. Which statement best demonstrates Newton’s Third Law in this scenario?

• The shot stays at rest until acted on by the force of the throw by the player.

• The greater the force applied to the shot, the greater its acceleration and the further it will travel.

• The greater the mass of the shot, the lesser the acceleration

• As the shot is thrown, it exerts an opposite force on the thrower.