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Quizzes > Science

Forces Quiz: Components of a Force Vector

Quick, free quiz to check what is true about all forces. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Matthew FowlerUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style icons of magnets rockets pulleys arrows and gears on golden yellow background for a forces physics quiz

This forces quiz helps you practice motion, friction, gravity, net force, and the components of a force vector while checking your answers as you go. Warm up with net force questions, review with a forces and motion quiz, or brush up using a Newton's first law quiz.

What is the SI unit of force?
Newton
Joule
Watt
Pascal
The SI unit of force is the Newton, symbol N, defined as the force required to accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second squared. It is the standard measure used in physics to quantify forces. Units like Pascal, Joule, and Watt measure pressure, energy, and power respectively.
Which force opposes motion between two surfaces in contact?
Friction
Gravity
Tension
Magnetic force
Friction is the contact force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces sliding against each other. It arises due to microscopic interactions between the surfaces. Gravity acts at a distance, while tension is transmitted through a string or rope.
What type of force is the gravitational pull between the Earth and an object?
Tension force
Frictional force
Non-contact force
Contact force
Gravity is a non-contact or field force because it acts at a distance without physical contact. It attracts masses toward each other based on their masses and separation. Contact forces, by definition, require physical interaction between objects.
Which force acts perpendicular to a surface and supports an object resting on it?
Normal force
Magnetic force
Gravitational force
Frictional force
The normal force is the contact force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object, acting perpendicular to that surface. It balances the component of weight perpendicular to the surface. Friction, in contrast, acts parallel to surfaces.
What force is transmitted through a rope, string, or cable when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends?
Compression
Magnetic force
Tension
Friction
Tension is the pulling force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it is stretched by forces acting from opposite ends. It is directed along the length of the rope. Compression, by contrast, squeezes or shortens objects.
What is the result when all forces acting on an object are balanced?
The object's mass changes
The object's weight doubles
The object moves at constant velocity
The object accelerates
Balanced forces mean the net force on an object is zero, so by Newton's First Law the object will maintain its state of motion, moving at constant velocity or remaining at rest. Acceleration occurs only if there is a net (unbalanced) force. Mass and weight do not change due to balanced forces.
Unbalanced forces acting on an object will cause it to do what?
Accelerate
Remain at rest
Move at constant velocity
Lose mass
According to Newton's Second Law, an unbalanced net force on an object produces an acceleration proportional to that force. Constant velocity or rest occurs only when forces are balanced. Mass is an intrinsic property and does not change due to force.
Weight is the force due to what?
Friction
Magnetism
Gravity
Tension
Weight is defined as the gravitational force acting on an object's mass, typically calculated as mg near Earth's surface. It differs from mass, which is a measure of the amount of matter. Magnetism, friction, and tension are different types of forces.
Which of these is a contact force?
Electric force
Gravitational force
Friction
Magnetic force
Friction is a contact force because it arises from the physical interaction between two surfaces in contact. Gravitational, electric, and magnetic forces act at a distance without direct contact.
Which of these is NOT a force?
Tension
Speed
Friction
Normal force
Speed is a scalar quantity representing how fast an object moves and is not a force. Tension, friction, and normal forces are all examples of forces. Speed describes motion but does not cause acceleration by itself.
If the net force on an object is zero, what can be said about its motion?
It spins faster
It accelerates
It changes mass
It moves with constant velocity
A net force of zero means forces are balanced, so by Newton's First Law the object will maintain its current state of motion, moving at constant velocity or staying at rest. Acceleration requires a non-zero net force. Mass and rotational speed are unaffected by balanced forces.
Which law states that force equals mass times acceleration?
Newton's First Law
Law of Conservation of Energy
Newton's Third Law
Newton's Second Law
Newton's Second Law quantifies the relationship between net force, mass, and acceleration as F = ma. It describes how the acceleration of an object depends on applied force and the object's mass. The First Law addresses inertia, and the Third Law addresses action-reaction pairs.
What is the approximate gravitational force (weight) on a 2 kg mass near Earth's surface?
9.8 N
2 N
29.4 N
19.6 N
Weight is calculated by W = mg. For m = 2 kg and g ? 9.8 m/s², W = 2 × 9.8 = 19.6 N. This is the force due to gravity on the mass at Earth's surface.
Which force acts as the centripetal force keeping a planet in orbit around the sun?
Gravitational force
Normal force
Frictional force
Magnetic force
The gravitational attraction between the sun and a planet provides the centripetal force necessary to keep the planet in its curved orbital path. No friction or contact force is involved in space.
What term describes the maximum static frictional force that must be overcome to start motion?
Rolling friction
Static friction
Kinetic friction
Fluid friction
Static friction is the frictional force that resists the initiation of motion between two surfaces. It adjusts up to a maximum value just before motion begins. Once the object moves, kinetic friction takes over, usually with a lower magnitude.
On an incline making an angle ? with the horizontal, what is the normal force on an object of mass m?
mg cos ?
mg sin ?
mg
mg tan ?
The normal force on an incline equals the component of weight perpendicular to the surface, which is m g cos ?. The parallel component is m g sin ? and causes sliding.
According to Newton's Third Law, forces come in pairs that are equal in magnitude and what in direction?
Opposite
Unrelated
Variable
Perpendicular
Newton's Third Law states that for every action force there is an equal and opposite reaction force. These force pairs act on different objects but have the same magnitude and opposite directions.
What term describes the frictional force acting on an object that is already in motion?
Viscous friction
Static friction
Kinetic friction
Rolling friction
Kinetic friction (also called sliding friction) acts between surfaces in relative motion. It typically has a lower coefficient than static friction. Static friction acts before motion starts.
Terminal velocity is reached when which two forces are equal in magnitude?
Drag and weight
Tension and gravity
Lift and thrust
Normal force and friction
Terminal velocity occurs when the upward drag force from fluid resistance equals the downward weight (gravitational force), resulting in zero net acceleration. Lift, thrust, tension, and normal force apply in different contexts.
Which equation represents Hooke's Law for a spring?
F = -k x
F = ½kx²
F = Gm?m?/r²
F = m a
Hooke's Law states that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to its displacement from equilibrium and acts in the opposite direction: F = -k x. Here k is the spring constant and x is the displacement. The other formulas describe Newton's Second Law, gravitation, and elastic potential energy.
What is the net force on an object moving at terminal velocity?
Equal to its weight
Zero
Equal to lift
Equal to drag force
At terminal velocity, drag equals weight, so the net force sums to zero. With no net force, the object moves at constant speed. The net force is not equal to weight or drag alone; it is their vector sum which is zero.
In uniform circular motion, the centripetal force is always directed how relative to the velocity?
Perpendicular to velocity
Opposite to velocity
Parallel to velocity
Along the tangent
Centripetal force acts perpendicular to the instantaneous velocity of an object moving in a circle, pointing toward the center of the circle. This perpendicular force changes the direction of velocity without changing its magnitude. Tangential force would affect speed.
What distinguishes mass from weight?
Mass changes with location, weight does not
Weight depends on gravity, mass does not
Weight is scalar, mass is vector
Mass is a force, weight is matter
Mass is the measure of an object's inertia and remains constant regardless of location. Weight is the gravitational force on that mass and varies with gravitational field strength. Mass is not a force and weight is not matter. Both are scalar quantities.
In a free-body diagram, friction is typically drawn in which direction relative to the surface?
Random direction
Perpendicular to surface
Toward the center of mass
Parallel and opposite to motion
Friction acts parallel to the contact surface and opposite to the direction of impending or actual motion. This representation helps resolve components of force correctly. Normal force is perpendicular to the surface.
If a 10 N force is applied to an object and friction opposes with 4 N, what is the net force?
0 N
14 N
4 N
6 N
Net force is the vector sum of all forces. Here, 10 N forward minus 4 N backward equals 6 N in the direction of the applied force. Net force drives acceleration per F = ma.
According to Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, the force between two masses is inversely proportional to the square of what?
The product of their masses
Their relative velocity
Their separation distance
The sum of their masses
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states F = G m? m? / r², where r is the separation between mass centers. The force decreases with the square of that distance. It is directly proportional to the product of masses, not inversely.
What is the numerical value of the gravitational constant G in SI units?
6.674×10?¹¹ N·m²/kg²
1.38×10?²³ J/K
9.8 m/s²
3.00×10? m/s
The gravitational constant G in Newton's law of universal gravitation is approximately 6.674×10?¹¹ N·m²/kg². It determines the strength of gravitational attraction. The other values are constants for acceleration due to gravity, Boltzmann's constant, and the speed of light.
In an ideal Atwood machine with masses m? and m? (m? > m?), the acceleration of the system is given by which expression?
m? g / m?
(m? - m?)g / (m?+m?)
m? g / m?
(m?+m?)g / (m? - m?)
For an Atwood machine, net force (m? - m?)g acts on total mass (m?+m?), giving acceleration a = (m? - m?)g/(m?+m?). This assumes a massless, frictionless pulley and string.
When a car turns on a flat, unbanked road at constant speed, which force provides the centripetal acceleration?
Static friction
Air resistance
Kinetic friction
Normal force
On a flat unbanked curve, static friction between tires and road acts toward the center of the turn, providing the necessary centripetal force. Kinetic friction would act if tires slid. Normal force and air resistance do not provide horizontal centripetal forces.
Gravitational field strength at a point in space is defined as force per unit what?
Distance
Mass
Volume
Charge
Gravitational field strength g at a point is defined by g = F/m, where F is the gravitational force on a test mass m. It describes the acceleration a small mass would experience due to gravity. Charge, distance, and volume are not used in this definition.
What is the component of an object's weight parallel to an incline of angle ??
mg tan ?
mg cos ?
mg sin ?
mg
On an incline, the weight component parallel to the slope is m g sin ?, which causes the object to slide down if unopposed. The perpendicular component is m g cos ?.
At the bottom of its swing, how does the tension in a pendulum's string compare to the bob's weight?
Less than weight
Greater than weight
Equal to weight
Zero
At the lowest point, the pendulum bob has centripetal acceleration upward, so the tension must exceed the weight (mg) to provide the net upward force. Without this extra tension, the circular motion could not be maintained.
What is the gravitational force between two 1 kg masses separated by 1 m in a vacuum?
1×10?³ N
1 N
9.8 N
6.674×10?¹¹ N
Using F = G m? m? / r² with G = 6.674×10?¹¹ N·m²/kg², m? = m? = 1 kg, and r = 1 m gives 6.674×10?¹¹ N. This force is extremely small between everyday masses.
An object of mass 2 kg slides on a horizontal surface with kinetic friction coefficient 0.3. What is the frictional force?
0.6 N
9.8 N
5.88 N
2.0 N
Kinetic friction force is f? = ?? N. Here N = mg = 2 kg × 9.8 m/s² = 19.6 N and ?? = 0.3, so f? = 0.3 × 19.6 = 5.88 N.
Which factor does NOT affect the gravitational attraction between two objects?
Masses of the objects
Time
Universal constant G
Distance between them
Newton's law F = G m? m? / r² depends only on the two masses, their separation r, and the constant G. Time has no role in the instantaneous magnitude of gravitational force.
On a frictionless banked curve, what provides the centripetal force necessary to keep a vehicle on the path?
Tension in the tires
Gravity
Static friction
Horizontal component of the normal force
For a frictionless banked curve, the normal force tilts with the surface. Its horizontal component points toward the center of the curve, providing the required centripetal force. Gravity acts vertically and cannot provide horizontal acceleration.
If an object's mass is doubled, how does its terminal velocity in the same fluid change?
Remains the same
Doubles
Increases by a factor of ?2
Halves
Terminal velocity v? in a fluid scales as ?(mg/C), so doubling mass increases v? by ?2 if drag coefficient and area remain constant. It does not double or remain unchanged.
What is the net force acting on an object moving at constant speed in a circular path?
A centrifugal force directed outward
Zero
A centripetal force directed toward the center
A tangential force
Although speed is constant, the direction of velocity changes, requiring a net inward force (centripetal) to bend the path. There is no tangential or outward (centrifugal) real force in an inertial frame.
In a rotating reference frame, which apparent force acts outward on a mass?
Centrifugal force
Euler force
Lorentz force
Coriolis force
In a non-inertial rotating frame, the centrifugal force is a fictitious force that seems to push objects outward away from the axis of rotation. It balances the real centripetal force in the rotating frame. Coriolis force acts perpendicular to motion.
Which fictitious force deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere?
Gravitational force
Magnetic force
Centrifugal force
Coriolis force
The Coriolis force is a pseudo force arising in rotating frames like Earth's rotation, causing moving objects to deflect rightward in the Northern Hemisphere. It has no effect in inertial frames.
What is the approximate escape velocity from Earth's surface ignoring air resistance?
3.3 km/s
11.2 km/s
7.9 km/s
5.0 km/s
Escape velocity from Earth is v = ?(2GM/R) ? 11.2 km/s. This is the speed needed to break free from Earth's gravity without further propulsion. 7.9 km/s is low Earth orbital velocity.
In general relativity, gravity is described as the curvature of what?
Time
Energy
Mass
Spacetime
Einstein's general relativity models gravity not as a force but as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. Objects follow geodesics in curved spacetime, appearing as if they are attracted.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Force Types -

    Distinguish gravitational, frictional, tension, normal, and applied forces in everyday situations and quiz questions.

  2. Explain Force Effects -

    Describe how different forces influence motion and balance, referencing Newton's laws and concepts like net force and equilibrium.

  3. Analyze Forces in Motion -

    Interpret scenarios to determine the direction and relative magnitude of forces acting on objects in the quiz.

  4. Apply Calculations of Net Force -

    Compute net force values and predict object acceleration using sample problems from the types of forces quiz.

  5. Evaluate Quiz Responses -

    Review forces Brainpop quiz answers to identify common misconceptions and reinforce correct reasoning for each question.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia) -

    Objects at rest or in uniform motion stay that way unless acted on by a net external force, a principle you can test in the forces brainpop quiz answers. For example, a puck glides on ice until friction or a push stops it. Remember "objects resist change" as your inertia mnemonic.

  2. Newton's Second Law and F=ma -

    Force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma), so a 3 kg object accelerating at 2 m/s² experiences a 6 N force. This formula from MIT OpenCourseWare underpins motion problems in your forces quiz questions. Use "Forces Make Acceleration" as a quick memory aid.

  3. Newton's Third Law: Action - Reaction Pairs -

    Every force has an equal and opposite counterforce, like a swimmer pushing water backward to move forward. NASA's educational resources often illustrate this with rocket thrust in space. Spotting action - reaction pairs is key to mastering physics forces trivia.

  4. Types of Forces: Contact vs. Non-Contact -

    Contact forces include friction (Ff ≤ μN), tension, and normal force, while non-contact forces cover gravity (Fg = Gm₝m₂/r²), magnetic, and electrostatic attractions. When revising your types of forces quiz, classify each question by contact or non-contact. Khan Academy provides clear diagrams to reinforce this categorization.

  5. Net Force and Equilibrium -

    Net force is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object; equilibrium occurs when ΣF = 0, leading to constant velocity or rest. Drawing free-body diagrams helps you visualize and solve quiz on forces and motion problems. Practice by balancing forces on an inclined plane using mg sinθ and mg cosθ components.

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