Grades 6–8 · Decide which of Newton's three laws of motion explains each everyday situation, then flip to see why.

Newton's Laws in Action

First law: an object at rest stays at rest until a force acts on it.

Which of Newton's laws? A book sits on a table and doesn't move until someone pushes it.

First law: the riders' bodies keep moving forward because of inertia.

Which of Newton's laws? When a bus stops suddenly, the riders lean forward.

Second law: a bigger force gives a bigger acceleration.

Which of Newton's laws? Kicking a soccer ball harder makes it speed up more.

Second law: more mass means less acceleration for the same force.

Which of Newton's laws? The same push speeds up an empty shopping cart more than a full one.

Third law: the balloon pushes air backward, and the air pushes the balloon forward.

Which of Newton's laws? A balloon zooms forward when air rushes out of the back.

Third law: the water pushes back on the swimmer with an equal and opposite force.

Which of Newton's laws? A swimmer pushes water backward and moves forward.

First law: with very little friction, the puck keeps moving.

Which of Newton's laws? A hockey puck slides a long way across smooth ice.

Third law: the gases push the rocket up as hard as the rocket pushes them down.

Which of Newton's laws? A rocket pushes hot gases down and rises up.

Second law: F = m × a = 2 kg × 3 m/s² = 6 N.

Which of Newton's laws? How much force does it take to give a 2 kg cart an acceleration of 3 m/s²?

First law: the belt gives the force that stops your body's forward motion.

Which of Newton's laws? A seat belt keeps you from flying forward when a car stops fast.