Name ___________________________ Class __________________ Date ____________

Chapter 7 Test Newton’s Third Law of Motion—Action and Reaction

True or False Questions

Circle the correct answer.

T F 1. Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second

object always exerts the same amount of force back on the first
object.
T F 2. A rocketship is pushed forward by gases that are forced out the
back of the ship.
T F 3. In order to make a cart move forward, a horse must pull harder on
the cart than the cart pulls on the horse.
T F 4. If a bicycle and a parked car have a head-on collision, the force of
impact is greater on the bicycle.
T F 5. The earth and moon pull on each other with equal amounts of
force.

Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the best answer to each question and write the appropriate letter in the
space provided.

_________ 6. Whenever an object exerts a force on another object, the second

object exerts a force of the same magnitude, but in the opposite
direction to that of the first object.
a. Always true
b. Sometimes true
c. Always false
_________ 7. A high school student hits a nail with a hammer. During the
collision, there is a force
a. on the hammer but not on the nail.
b. on the nail but not on the hammer.
c. on the nail and also on the hammer.
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_________ 8. A woman weighing 500 N sits on the floor. She exerts a force on the
floor of
a. 1000 N.
b. 500 N.
c. 250 N.
d. 50 N.
_________ 9. As a 500 N woman sits on the floor, the floor exerts a force on her of
a. 1000 N.
b. 500 N.
c. 250 N.
d. 50 N.
_________ 10. Forces always occur
a. when velocities are constant.
b. as single quantities.
c. in pairs.
d. in triplets.

Chapter 7 Test 13
Name ___________________________ Class __________________ Date ____________

Chapter 7 Test Newton’s Third Law of Motion—Action and Reaction

_________ 11. An unfortunate bug splatters against the windshield of a

moving car. Compared to the force of the car on the bug,
the amount of force of the bug on the car is
a. larger.
b. smaller.
c. the same.
_________ 12. An unfortunate bug splatters against the windshield of a
moving car. Compared to the deceleration of the car, the
deceleration of the bug is
a. larger.
b. smaller.
c. the same.
_________ 13. If a horse pulls on a wagon at rest, the wagon pulls back
equally as much on the horse. Will the wagon be set
into motion?
a. No, because the forces cancel each other.
b. Yes, because there is a net force acting on the wagon.
c. Yes, because there is a time delay between action and
reaction.
d. Yes, because the horse’s pull on the wagon is larger
than the wagon’s pull on the horse.

Math Problems
Solve the following problems in the space provided. Show all work.

14. A 60-kg person on in-line skates pushes against a wall with a force
of 30 N and recoils. What acceleration does that person experience?

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15. A boxer punches a sheet of paper in midair, and brings it from rest
up to a speed of 40 m/s in 0.05 s. If the mass of the paper is 0.01 kg,
what is the force of impact on the paper?

Essay Question
On a separate piece of paper, answer the following question.

16. Apply Newton’s third law to a falling boulder, identifying the

action and reaction forces. If a force is exerted on the earth, why
doesn’t it move? Explain.

14 Chapter 7 Test