Unit 3: Force Pairs, Newtons Third

Law

When objects interact, like forces are exchanged and

momentum is transferred.
Each student will accurately predict the magnitude and
direction of forces in an interaction.

Name
Date
1

In the following figure, student A has a mass of 75 kg, and student B has a mass of 50 kg.
They sit in identical office chairs facing each other.

Student A places his hands on the hands of student B, as shown.

Student A then suddenly pushes outward with his hands, causing both chairs to move.
1. During the push and while the students are still touching one another, .
a) neither student exerts a force on the other.
b) student A exerts a force on student B, but B does not exert any force on A. .
c) each student exerts a force on the other, but B exerts the larger force. .
d) each student exerts a force on the other, but A exerts the larger force. .
e) each student exerts the same amount of force on the other. .

The students drawn above are holding bathroom scales.

They push against one another as the picture shows.
2. If the scale on the left reads 40.N, the scale on the right will read...
a) Greater than 40. newtons.
b) Less than 40. newtons.
c) 40. newtons.
d) It depends on whether or not the people move.

A large truck collides with a small car as shown above.

3. The force exerted by the truck will be...
a) zero.
b) greater than the force exerted by the car on the truck.
c) smaller than the force exerted by the car on the truck.

Unit 3: Force Pairs, Newtons Third

Law

When objects interact, like forces are exchanged and

momentum is transferred.
Each student will accurately predict the magnitude and
direction of forces in an interaction.

Name
Date
2

d) the same size as the force exerted by the car on the truck.

Unit 3: Force Pairs, Newtons Third

Law

When objects interact, like forces are exchanged and

momentum is transferred.
Each student will accurately predict the magnitude and
direction of forces in an interaction.

Name
Date
3

A pair of blocks are push along a frictionless surface as shown below.

Use this example for questions4-6.

4. What is the size and direction of the force exerted by the hand (total force on both blocks)?
a) 6 newtons to the right
c) 15 newtons to the right
e) 9 newtons to the right
b) 6 newtons to the left
d) 15 newtons to the left
5. What is the size and direction of the force exerted by block A on block B (just the force on block B)?
a) 6 newtons to the right
c) 15 newtons to the right
e) 9 newtons to the right
b) 6 newtons to the left
d) 15 newtons to the left
6. What is the direction and magnitude of the force exerted by block B on Block A?
a) 6 newtons to the right
c) 15 newtons to the right
e) 9 newtons to the right
b) 6 newtons to the left
d) 15 newtons to the left

You push down on your desk with a force of 50 N.

7. What force does your desk push back with?
a) 50 N
b) greater than 50 N
c) less than 50 N
d) 0 N the desk does not move

A swimmer exerts 50N of force on the water.

8. How much force does the water exert on the swimmer?
a) 50N
b) greater than 50N

Unit 3: Force Pairs, Newtons Third

Law

When objects interact, like forces are exchanged and

momentum is transferred.
Each student will accurately predict the magnitude and
direction of forces in an interaction.

Name
Date
4

c) less than 50N

d) 0 N the water moves out of the way.

A polo player chases after a ball. He strikes the ball with his mallet.
9. The force exerted by the mallet on the ball is
a) greater than the force exerted by the ball on the mallet.
b) less than the force exerted by the ball on the mallet.
c) the same as the force exerted by the ball on the mallet.
Use this information for questions 10-11.

CART A collides into CART B as shown above.

Force measuring probes are attached to each cart and measure the force exerted in the collision.
The data from the probes is recorded below.
Average Force
Measured by
Probe on Cart
A
1.27 N

Average Force
Measured by
Probe on Cart
B
1.27 N

10. Which is the best interpretation of these results?

a) The probes are broken.
b) This data supports the Newtons 3rd law of motion.
c) This data does not support Newtons 3rd law of motion.
d) This data supports Newtons 1st law of motion.

Unit 3: Force Pairs, Newtons Third

Law

When objects interact, like forces are exchanged and

momentum is transferred.
Each student will accurately predict the magnitude and
direction of forces in an interaction.

Name
Date
5

The teacher will show the video clip waterpolo.mov.

Carefully observe the collision between the ball and the defenders hand.
11. Which statement correctly evaluates this event?
a) The force exerted on the defenders hand is greater than the force exerted on the ball.
b) The force exerted on the defenders hand is less than the force exerted on the ball.
c) The force exerted on the defenders hand is the same as the force exerted on the ball.
d) No momentum is transferred to the defenders hand in the collision.

John pulls his spring scale to the left and Mary pulls her spring scale to the right.
Marys scale reads 5 newtons of force.
The scales move steadily to the right with a speed of 10 cm/second.
12. John pulls with a force...
a) greater than 5 newtons
b) less than 5 newtons
c) 5 newtons
d) 0 newtons

The teacher will show the video clip push.mov.

13. Why does the boat move forward when the boy pushes backward?
a) The river bottom is moved out of the way by the pole.
b) The river bottom pushes forward against the pole.
c) The motion of the pole stirs the water like a paddle.

Unit 3: Force Pairs, Newtons Third

Law

When objects interact, like forces are exchanged and

momentum is transferred.
Each student will accurately predict the magnitude and
direction of forces in an interaction.

Name
Date
6

d) The boat cannot move because the pole pushing force is balanced by the river bottom pushing force.