6th Grade Science

Investigating forces, energy, and Earth's place in the universe.

Advanced Topics

Newton's Laws of Motion

The Three Laws That Explain How Everything Moves

Sir Isaac Newton discovered three important laws that help us understand how things move.

Newton’s First Law (Inertia)

Objects stay still or keep moving at the same speed unless a force changes that.

Newton’s Second Law (Force and Acceleration)

The more force you use, the faster something moves. The formula is:

\[ F = ma \]

where \( F \) is force, \( m \) is mass, and \( a \) is acceleration.

Newton’s Third Law (Action and Reaction)

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you jump off a boat, the boat moves backward!

Why These Laws Matter

Newton’s laws explain everything from how rockets launch into space to why you feel a jolt in a car when it stops suddenly. Engineers use these laws to design vehicles, buildings, and amusement park rides!

Key Formula

\[F = ma\]

Examples

  • A skateboard keeps rolling until friction or your foot stops it.

  • When you swim, you push water backward, and your body moves forward.

In a Nutshell

Newton's laws explain why and how things move, stop, and react to forces.

Key Terms

Inertia
The resistance of an object to a change in its motion.
Acceleration
A change in the speed or direction of an object.
Action-Reaction
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Newton's Laws of Motion - 6th Grade Science Content | Practice Hub