Forces and Motion

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Middle School Physical Science › Forces and Motion

Questions 1 - 10
1

If you try to put two north poles of a magnet together, what happens?

they repel

they attract

they explode

a chemical reaction occurs

Explanation

The answer is "They repel."

Magnetism is the force by which objects are attracted to or repelled by other objects. Magnets have two opposite ends, called poles. The north pole of one magnet will repel, or push away, the north pole of another magnet. The same thing will happen with two south poles. North and south poles of magnets are attracted to each other.

Magnetism involves electrons and electricity. Most iron is not permanently magnetic, but it can be made into a temporary magnet. The reason this is possible has to do with the electrons that make up the iron atoms. When the electrons are lined up just right, the piece of iron becomes a temporary magnet.

We call permanent iron magnets “Ferromagnetic,” but electricity is often used to make a type of magnet, called an electromagnet. Electromagnets are made from copper wire coiled around a core. Iron placed inside the core makes the magnet stronger. When an electric current is sent through the coiled wire, the wire becomes magnetized. When the current stops, the magnetism stops too.

2

If you try to put two north poles of a magnet together, what happens?

they repel

they attract

they explode

a chemical reaction occurs

Explanation

The answer is "They repel."

Magnetism is the force by which objects are attracted to or repelled by other objects. Magnets have two opposite ends, called poles. The north pole of one magnet will repel, or push away, the north pole of another magnet. The same thing will happen with two south poles. North and south poles of magnets are attracted to each other.

Magnetism involves electrons and electricity. Most iron is not permanently magnetic, but it can be made into a temporary magnet. The reason this is possible has to do with the electrons that make up the iron atoms. When the electrons are lined up just right, the piece of iron becomes a temporary magnet.

We call permanent iron magnets “Ferromagnetic,” but electricity is often used to make a type of magnet, called an electromagnet. Electromagnets are made from copper wire coiled around a core. Iron placed inside the core makes the magnet stronger. When an electric current is sent through the coiled wire, the wire becomes magnetized. When the current stops, the magnetism stops too.

3

Screen shot 2020 05 26 at 5.16.57 pm

What is the net force acting on this object?

0 Newtons

1000 Newtons

1,400 Newtons

400 Newtons

Explanation

The answer is "0 Newtons" because all the forces are balanced.

When we make diagrams or drawings of forces, we use vectors. A vector is an arrow that represents the magnitude and the direction of a force. The magnitude is how strong the force is, usually in Newtons, and the direction can be expressed in north, south, east, west, left, right, up, or down.

In order to evaluate the sum of forces in a free body diagram you have to add the vectors of forces both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction. The sum of forces in all directions is called the “net force.” When forces are going in opposite directions, they should be subtracted or the value of one of the forces should be given a negative to account for the direction.

4

Balanced forces are:

equal and opposite

equal and going in the same direction

unequal and opposite

unequal and going in the same direction

Explanation

The answer is "equal and opposite."

Forces are acting on us and everything around us, at all times! Even when things are not moving, forces are still acting on them. These forces are said to be “balanced” meaning that they are equal and opposite, and have a net value of zero. When an object is in motion, it is being acted on by an “unbalanced” force.

The force of gravity is what holds us down on Earth. It acts in the downward direction, or perpendicular to Earth's surface regardless of the placement of the object. The normal force is the force of surfaces that pushes back up against objects in the opposite direction of gravity. Gravity and the normal force are balanced forces if an object is on a surface and not moving in the up or down direction. Forces applied in other directions are usually referred to as "applied forces."

5

Screen shot 2020 05 26 at 5.16.57 pm

What is the net force acting on this object?

0 Newtons

1000 Newtons

1,400 Newtons

400 Newtons

Explanation

The answer is "0 Newtons" because all the forces are balanced.

When we make diagrams or drawings of forces, we use vectors. A vector is an arrow that represents the magnitude and the direction of a force. The magnitude is how strong the force is, usually in Newtons, and the direction can be expressed in north, south, east, west, left, right, up, or down.

In order to evaluate the sum of forces in a free body diagram you have to add the vectors of forces both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction. The sum of forces in all directions is called the “net force.” When forces are going in opposite directions, they should be subtracted or the value of one of the forces should be given a negative to account for the direction.

6

Balanced forces are:

equal and opposite

equal and going in the same direction

unequal and opposite

unequal and going in the same direction

Explanation

The answer is "equal and opposite."

Forces are acting on us and everything around us, at all times! Even when things are not moving, forces are still acting on them. These forces are said to be “balanced” meaning that they are equal and opposite, and have a net value of zero. When an object is in motion, it is being acted on by an “unbalanced” force.

The force of gravity is what holds us down on Earth. It acts in the downward direction, or perpendicular to Earth's surface regardless of the placement of the object. The normal force is the force of surfaces that pushes back up against objects in the opposite direction of gravity. Gravity and the normal force are balanced forces if an object is on a surface and not moving in the up or down direction. Forces applied in other directions are usually referred to as "applied forces."

7

A soccer ball is kicked on the ground with 100 Newtons of force to the right. The ball never leaves the ground. What is the net force acting in the upwards and downwards direction?

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is zero.

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is 100 Newtons.

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is 50 Newtons.

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is 25 Newtons.

Explanation

The answer is "The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is zero."

When we make diagrams or drawings of forces, we use vectors. A vector is an arrow that represents the magnitude and the direction of a force. The magnitude is how strong the force is, usually in Newtons, and the direction can be expressed in north, south, east, west, left, right, up, or down.

In order to evaluate the sum of forces in a free body diagram you have to add the vectors of forces both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction. The sum of forces in all directions is called the “net force.” When forces are going in opposite directions, they should be subtracted or the value of one of the forces should be given a negative to account for the direction.

8

What do electric and magnetic forces have in common?

They are stronger when two objects are closer

They depend on the movement of electrons

Both of these

Neither of these

Explanation

The answer is both of these.

Magnetism is the force by which objects are attracted to or repelled by other objects. Magnets have two opposite ends, called poles. The north pole of one magnet will repel, or push away, the north pole of another magnet. The same thing will happen with two south poles. North and south poles of magnets are attracted to each other.

Magnetism involves electrons and electricity. Most iron is not permanently magnetic, but it can be made into a temporary magnet. The reason this is possible has to do with the electrons that make up the iron atoms. When the electrons are lined up just right, the piece of iron becomes a temporary magnet.

We call permanent iron magnets “Ferromagnetic,” but electricity is often used to make a type of magnet, called an electromagnet. Electromagnets are made from copper wire coiled around a core. Iron placed inside the core makes the magnet stronger. When an electric current is sent through the coiled wire, the wire becomes magnetized. When the current stops, the magnetism stops too.

9

Which of these statements is true?

all of these

Forces are acting on everything at all times.

Objects that are not moving are being acted upon by balanced forces.

Objects that are moving are being acted upon by unbalanced forces.

Explanation

The answer is "all of these."

Forces are acting on us and everything around us, at all times! Even when things are not moving, forces are still acting on them. These forces are said to be “balanced” meaning that they are equal and opposite, and have a net value of zero. When an object is in motion, it is being acted on by an “unbalanced” force.

The force of gravity is what holds us down on Earth. It acts in the downward direction, or perpendicular to Earth's surface regardless of the placement of the object. The normal force is the force of surfaces that pushes back up against objects in the opposite direction of gravity. Gravity and the normal force are balanced forces if an object is on a surface and not moving in the up or down direction. Forces applied in other directions are usually referred to as "applied forces."

10

A soccer ball is kicked on the ground with 100 Newtons of force to the right. The ball never leaves the ground. What is the net force acting in the upwards and downwards direction?

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is zero.

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is 100 Newtons.

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is 50 Newtons.

The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is 25 Newtons.

Explanation

The answer is "The net force in the upwards and downwards direction is zero."

When we make diagrams or drawings of forces, we use vectors. A vector is an arrow that represents the magnitude and the direction of a force. The magnitude is how strong the force is, usually in Newtons, and the direction can be expressed in north, south, east, west, left, right, up, or down.

In order to evaluate the sum of forces in a free body diagram you have to add the vectors of forces both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction. The sum of forces in all directions is called the “net force.” When forces are going in opposite directions, they should be subtracted or the value of one of the forces should be given a negative to account for the direction.

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