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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Science

Newton's First Law Quiz: Quick Check

Strengthen understanding with our interactive practice quiz

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 9
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustrating a trivia quiz on Newtons Law for high school physics students.

Practice Newton's First Law with 20 quick questions and see how inertia guides motion in everyday scenes. You'll review rest vs. constant speed, balanced vs. unbalanced forces, and what changes motion. Use this to spot gaps before a test and build confidence fast.

Easy
What does Newton's first law of motion state?
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
An object always accelerates when a force is applied.
An object will continue in its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Objects in motion will eventually come to rest on their own.
Newton's first law, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues moving at constant velocity unless acted upon by a net force. This answer captures the essence of the law by emphasizing that no change in motion occurs without an external force.
Which scenario best illustrates Newton's first law of motion?
A ball thrown into the air, following a curved path.
An airplane taking off with increasing speed.
A hockey puck sliding across frictionless ice continues to move until acted on by a stick.
A car speeding up on a highway due to its engine force.
The hockey puck sliding on frictionless ice exemplifies Newton's first law because it shows an object maintaining its motion in the absence of significant external forces. This scenario clearly demonstrates the concept of inertia by having the puck continue its motion until an external force (like a stick) intervenes.
What is inertia?
The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.
An object's ability to increase its velocity.
A type of friction that opposes movement.
The result of a force acting on an object causing acceleration.
Inertia is a property of matter that makes it resist changes to its motion, whether at rest or in motion. The correct answer directly reflects this intrinsic tendency, which is a central idea in Newton's first law.
If an object is at rest and remains undisturbed, what can be said about the net force acting on it?
The net force is negative.
The net force is zero.
The net force is positive.
The net force fluctuates over time.
When an object remains at rest, the forces acting on it must be balanced, which means the net force is zero. This balance is a direct consequence of Newton's first law, affirming that no change in motion occurs without an unbalanced force.
Newton's first law is also commonly known as the ______ law.
Law of Conservation.
Law of Acceleration.
Law of Gravity.
Law of Inertia.
Newton's first law is widely known as the Law of Inertia because it focuses on an object's inherent resistance to changes in its state of motion. This answer correctly names the law by highlighting the central concept of inertia.
Medium
A satellite in space is moving at a constant velocity. Which principle of Newton's first law is demonstrated here?
The satellite changes direction because of inertia.
The satellite speeds up over time despite no forces acting on it.
The satellite remains stationary relative to its previous position.
The satellite continues its motion due to the absence of net external forces.
Newton's first law explains that an object in motion will maintain its velocity if no external forces are present. The satellite exemplifies this by moving in space at a constant speed and direction in the absence of significant net forces.
How does friction illustrate a deviation from the ideal conditions described in Newton's first law?
Friction is an external force that slows down moving objects, causing them to eventually stop.
Friction has no effect on objects in motion on a horizontal surface.
Friction acts only when an object is at rest.
Friction increases an object's velocity in the absence of other forces.
Newton's first law assumes an ideal scenario with no net external forces. However, friction is a real external force that opposes motion, leading to deceleration and eventually stopping the object.
When an object moves with a constant velocity, what does Newton's first law imply about the net force acting on it?
The net force periodically reverses direction.
The net force is always negative.
The net force is positive in the direction of motion.
The net force is zero.
According to Newton's first law, if an object is moving at a constant velocity, then there must be no net force acting on it. This means all forces are balanced, allowing the object to maintain its constant speed and direction.
A hockey puck sliding on ice gradually comes to a stop primarily because of which force?
Magnetic force between the puck and the arena.
The puck's inertia working against motion.
Friction between the puck and the ice.
Gravitational force acting sideways.
In the real world, friction is the external force that opposes motion and causes the hockey puck to slow down and eventually stop. This example demonstrates how friction interferes with an object's inertial tendency to move indefinitely.
An astronaut in space throws a tool away from the space station. What best describes the tool's subsequent motion according to Newton's first law?
It will change its course unpredictably without any external influence.
It will continue drifting at the same speed and direction unless acted upon by another force.
It will accelerate continuously after being thrown.
It will slow down and eventually return to the astronaut.
Newton's first law implies that in the vacuum of space, where external forces like friction are negligible, an object will continue in the same direction at the same speed. The tool will maintain its motion unless another force, such as gravitational pull from a nearby body, acts on it.
Which property of an object determines its resistance to changes in motion according to Newton's first law?
Temperature.
Color.
Volume.
Mass.
The concept of inertia is directly related to an object's mass; a higher mass means more inertia, making the object more resistant to changes in its state of motion. This answer correctly identifies mass as the property responsible for inertial resistance.
What does it mean when an object is said to be in equilibrium?
Net forces are acting in the same direction causing acceleration.
All forces acting on it are balanced, resulting in no acceleration.
The object has zero mass and thus no inertia.
The object is moving in a circular path at variable speeds.
Equilibrium occurs when the sum of all forces acting on an object is zero, meaning that there is no net force to cause acceleration. This state of balance is a direct application of Newton's first law for objects at rest or in uniform motion.
In an ideal frictionless environment, what would happen to a moving object?
It would change direction randomly.
It would gradually slow down and stop.
It would continue moving indefinitely at a constant speed.
It would begin oscillating around a point.
Without friction or any external forces, Newton's first law assures that a moving object will not change its velocity. As a result, the object would keep moving indefinitely in a straight line at the same speed.
Why are seat belts important according to Newton's first law when a car comes to a sudden stop?
They reduce the mass of the passengers, decreasing inertia.
They increase the net force acting on the car during braking.
They allow passengers to accelerate faster during sudden stops.
They help counteract the inertia of passengers who would otherwise continue moving forward.
When a car stops suddenly, the passengers tend to continue moving due to their inertia. Seat belts provide a restraining force that counters this motion, thereby protecting the passengers from injury by keeping them in place.
Which scenario contradicts Newton's first law?
A ball remaining at rest until kicked.
An object accelerating on its own with no net force acting on it.
A satellite orbiting with negligible resistance in space.
A car traveling at a steady speed on a highway.
Newton's first law states that an object will not accelerate unless a net external force acts on it. An object that accelerates on its own, with no force causing the change in motion, contradicts this fundamental principle.
Hard
A book on a car seat slides off when the car accelerates rapidly. How does Newton's first law explain this behavior?
The book's mass increases when the car accelerates, making it slide off.
The book actively moves independent of the car due to internal forces.
The car creates a backward force on the book directly.
The book tends to remain at rest due to inertia, while the car moves forward, causing it to slide.
According to Newton's first law, an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force. When the car accelerates, the book does not immediately accelerate due to its inertia, which results in it sliding off the seat.
Two objects with equal mass are sliding on a frictionless surface. One is pushed gently and the other with a stronger force. If both eventually slow down on a rough patch, what does this imply about the influence of external forces according to Newton's first law?
Both objects experience deceleration because friction, an external force, overcomes inertia regardless of the initial push.
The object pushed harder stops sooner due to higher inertia overcoming friction.
The gentler push causes the object to stop faster as it lacks momentum.
Inertia has no effect once friction is present, making initial forces irrelevant.
Newton's first law applies in the absence of external forces, but when friction is introduced, it acts to decelerate all objects regardless of their initial momentum. This scenario shows that even with different initial pushes, friction overrides inertia to slow the objects down.
An object in motion suddenly encounters an environment with no external forces. According to Newton's first law, what will be the object's motion?
It will reverse its direction automatically.
It will decelerate gradually due to internal friction.
It will accelerate spontaneously to higher speeds.
It will continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line.
Newton's first law predicts that in the absence of any net external forces, an object in motion will continue moving at constant velocity in a straight line. This scenario reinforces the idea that no change in motion occurs without an external influence.
Consider an elevator moving upward at constant speed. Which statement best aligns with Newton's first law regarding the net force acting on the elevator?
There is a net upward force because the elevator is moving upward.
There is a fluctuating net force because the elevator changes speed.
There is a net downward force due to gravity alone.
The net force on the elevator is zero because the upward and downward forces are balanced.
An elevator moving at constant speed means that all forces acting on it are balanced. This results in a net force of zero, which is in full agreement with Newton's first law.
How does the concept of inertia explain why spacecraft do not require continuous propulsion to maintain their trajectory in space?
Inertia causes spacecraft to accelerate continuously, requiring propulsion to manage speed.
Inertia is irrelevant in space due to the absence of gravitational forces.
Inertia allows spacecraft to continue moving at constant velocity when no external forces act, eliminating the need for constant propulsion.
Inertia forces spacecraft to decelerate slowly over time, making propulsion necessary to sustain momentum.
Newton's first law, through the concept of inertia, indicates that an object in motion will continue along its path with constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. In the vacuum of space, where such opposing forces are minimal, spacecraft maintain their trajectories without needing continuous propulsion.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the core principles of Newton's First Law and recognize its application in real-world scenarios.
  2. Analyze force interactions to determine when objects remain at rest or in uniform motion.
  3. Apply Newton's First Law to predict motion by evaluating the net forces acting on objects.
  4. Explain the balance of forces in static and dynamic situations to identify equilibrium conditions.
  5. Evaluate and correct common misconceptions related to inertia and motion.

Newton's 1st Law Quick Check Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Newton's First Law of Motion - Think of a hockey puck gliding on ice: it keeps sliding until friction or a stick interferes. This law tells us objects at rest stay put and moving objects cruise at the same speed unless a net external force acts. It's the very foundation of classical mechanics!
  2. Grasp the Concept of Inertia - Inertia is like stubbornness for objects: they resist changes to their motion. The heavier the object, the more it "objects" to being pushed or stopped. It's what makes you lurch forward when a bus suddenly brakes!
  3. Recognize Inertial Reference Frames - Imagine floating in deep space: without engines or thrusters, you drift at constant velocity. That's an inertial frame where Newton's first law always holds true, making problem‑solving much simpler.
  4. Differentiate Between Balanced and Unbalanced Forces - Balanced forces are like a perfect tug‑of‑war: nobody moves. Unbalanced forces tip the scales and cause acceleration, making objects speed up, slow down, or change direction.
  5. Apply the Concept of Equilibrium - When all acting forces cancel out, an object is in equilibrium and keeps doing whatever it was doing - resting or cruising. This is essential for designing stable structures or analyzing stationary objects.
  6. Explore Real-World Examples of Inertia - Picture passengers whiplashed forward when a car stops abruptly - that's inertia in action! Spotting inertia everywhere helps you connect theory to your daily commute or sports.
  7. Understand the Relationship Between Mass and Inertia - The more mass an object has, the harder it is to speed up or slow down - think pushing an empty cart vs. a loaded one. This principle shapes vehicle design, aerospace engineering, and even amusement‑park rides.
  8. Recognize the Role of Friction as an External Force - Friction is the silent game‑changer that slows wheels, heats brakes, or grinds gears to a halt. It's an unbalanced force that you can't ignore when calculating real‑world motion.
  9. Distinguish Between Static and Dynamic Equilibrium - In static equilibrium, objects stay perfectly still; in dynamic equilibrium, they move at unchanging speed. Spotting which equilibrium applies can make tricky physics problems a breeze.
  10. Challenge Common Misconceptions About Motion - You don't need a continuous push to keep an object moving - that's the magic of inertia. Understanding this myths-busting concept helps you avoid conceptual traps in exams and everyday reasoning.
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