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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. If two teams pull a rope in opposite directions with equal forces of 300 N each, are the forces balanced or unbalanced?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
2. Does an astronaut’s mass in kilograms change when travelling from Earth to the Moon: No (mass stays the same) or Yes (mass becomes zero)?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
3. Which group of three metallic elements are strongly ferromagnetic at room temperature: iron, nickel and cobalt, or gold, silver and copper?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
4. What happens to the motion of a stationary object when all forces acting on it are balanced (resultant force = 0 N): it remains stationary, or it accelerates?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
5. Why do swimmers and high-speed trains have streamlined shapes: to reduce water or air resistance (drag), or to increase mass?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
6. Why does a freely suspended magnetic compass needle align north–south: Earth itself has a magnetic field, or wind pushes the needle?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
7. Why do we put oil or grease on bicycle chains and door hinges: to lubricate surfaces and reduce friction, or to increase friction?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
8. What is the standard SI unit used to measure force: the newton (N) or the kilogram (kg)?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
9. Is magnetic attraction a contact force or a non-contact force that can act across air or paper?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
10. How can you make an electromagnet stronger: increase the number of wire turns or the current, or replace the iron core with wood?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
11. If a 50 N forward thrust acts on a model boat against 20 N of water resistance, what is the resultant forward force: 30 N or 70 N?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
12. What happens to an object already moving at constant velocity in a straight line if the resultant force acting on it is zero: it continues at the same constant velocity, or it stops instantly?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. If two teams pull a rope in opposite directions with equal forces of 300 N each, are the forces balanced or unbalanced?
Balanced
Equal and opposite forces give a resultant force of 0 N, so the forces are balanced.
2. Does an astronaut’s mass in kilograms change when travelling from Earth to the Moon: No (mass stays the same) or Yes (mass becomes zero)?
No (mass stays the same)
Mass is the amount of matter in an object and stays constant; only weight (N) decreases in weaker gravity.
3. Which group of three metallic elements are strongly ferromagnetic at room temperature: iron, nickel and cobalt, or gold, silver and copper?
Iron, nickel and cobalt
Iron, nickel and cobalt (and alloys like steel) are strongly attracted to magnets.
4. What happens to the motion of a stationary object when all forces acting on it are balanced (resultant force = 0 N): it remains stationary, or it accelerates?
It remains stationary
By Newton’s first law, a stationary object with zero resultant force stays at rest.
5. Why do swimmers and high-speed trains have streamlined shapes: to reduce water or air resistance (drag), or to increase mass?
To reduce water or air resistance (drag)
A streamlined profile lets fluid flow smoothly around the body, minimising drag.
6. Why does a freely suspended magnetic compass needle align north–south: Earth itself has a magnetic field, or wind pushes the needle?
Earth itself has a magnetic field
The compass needle aligns with Earth’s geomagnetic field.
7. Why do we put oil or grease on bicycle chains and door hinges: to lubricate surfaces and reduce friction, or to increase friction?
To lubricate surfaces and reduce friction
Lubricants form a smooth film between moving metal parts, reducing wear and friction.
8. What is the standard SI unit used to measure force: the newton (N) or the kilogram (kg)?
Newton (N)
Forces (including weight) are measured in newtons (N), whereas mass is measured in kilograms (kg).
9. Is magnetic attraction a contact force or a non-contact force that can act across air or paper?
Non-contact force
Magnetism, gravity and electrostatic forces act through fields without requiring physical contact.
10. How can you make an electromagnet stronger: increase the number of wire turns or the current, or replace the iron core with wood?
Increase the number of wire turns or the current
More coil turns and higher electric current strengthen the magnetic field.
11. If a 50 N forward thrust acts on a model boat against 20 N of water resistance, what is the resultant forward force: 30 N or 70 N?
30 N
Opposing forces subtract: 50 N − 20 N = 30 N forward.
12. What happens to an object already moving at constant velocity in a straight line if the resultant force acting on it is zero: it continues at the same constant velocity, or it stops instantly?
It continues at the same constant velocity
By Newton’s first law, zero resultant force means zero acceleration, so velocity remains constant.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. If two teams pull a rope in opposite directions with equal forces of 300 N each, are the forces balanced or unbalanced?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
2. Does an astronaut’s mass in kilograms change when travelling from Earth to the Moon: No (mass stays the same) or Yes (mass becomes zero)?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
3. Which group of three metallic elements are strongly ferromagnetic at room temperature: iron, nickel and cobalt, or gold, silver and copper?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
4. What happens to the motion of a stationary object when all forces acting on it are balanced (resultant force = 0 N): it remains stationary, or it accelerates?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
5. Why do swimmers and high-speed trains have streamlined shapes: to reduce water or air resistance (drag), or to increase mass?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
6. Why does a freely suspended magnetic compass needle align north–south: Earth itself has a magnetic field, or wind pushes the needle?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
7. Why do we put oil or grease on bicycle chains and door hinges: to lubricate surfaces and reduce friction, or to increase friction?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
8. What is the standard SI unit used to measure force: the newton (N) or the kilogram (kg)?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
9. Is magnetic attraction a contact force or a non-contact force that can act across air or paper?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
10. How can you make an electromagnet stronger: increase the number of wire turns or the current, or replace the iron core with wood?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
11. If a 50 N forward thrust acts on a model boat against 20 N of water resistance, what is the resultant forward force: 30 N or 70 N?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
12. What happens to an object already moving at constant velocity in a straight line if the resultant force acting on it is zero: it continues at the same constant velocity, or it stops instantly?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. If two teams pull a rope in opposite directions with equal forces of 300 N each, are the forces balanced or unbalanced?
Balanced
Equal and opposite forces give a resultant force of 0 N, so the forces are balanced.
2. Does an astronaut’s mass in kilograms change when travelling from Earth to the Moon: No (mass stays the same) or Yes (mass becomes zero)?
No (mass stays the same)
Mass is the amount of matter in an object and stays constant; only weight (N) decreases in weaker gravity.
3. Which group of three metallic elements are strongly ferromagnetic at room temperature: iron, nickel and cobalt, or gold, silver and copper?
Iron, nickel and cobalt
Iron, nickel and cobalt (and alloys like steel) are strongly attracted to magnets.
4. What happens to the motion of a stationary object when all forces acting on it are balanced (resultant force = 0 N): it remains stationary, or it accelerates?
It remains stationary
By Newton’s first law, a stationary object with zero resultant force stays at rest.
5. Why do swimmers and high-speed trains have streamlined shapes: to reduce water or air resistance (drag), or to increase mass?
To reduce water or air resistance (drag)
A streamlined profile lets fluid flow smoothly around the body, minimising drag.
6. Why does a freely suspended magnetic compass needle align north–south: Earth itself has a magnetic field, or wind pushes the needle?
Earth itself has a magnetic field
The compass needle aligns with Earth’s geomagnetic field.
7. Why do we put oil or grease on bicycle chains and door hinges: to lubricate surfaces and reduce friction, or to increase friction?
To lubricate surfaces and reduce friction
Lubricants form a smooth film between moving metal parts, reducing wear and friction.
8. What is the standard SI unit used to measure force: the newton (N) or the kilogram (kg)?
Newton (N)
Forces (including weight) are measured in newtons (N), whereas mass is measured in kilograms (kg).
9. Is magnetic attraction a contact force or a non-contact force that can act across air or paper?
Non-contact force
Magnetism, gravity and electrostatic forces act through fields without requiring physical contact.
10. How can you make an electromagnet stronger: increase the number of wire turns or the current, or replace the iron core with wood?
Increase the number of wire turns or the current
More coil turns and higher electric current strengthen the magnetic field.
11. If a 50 N forward thrust acts on a model boat against 20 N of water resistance, what is the resultant forward force: 30 N or 70 N?
30 N
Opposing forces subtract: 50 N − 20 N = 30 N forward.
12. What happens to an object already moving at constant velocity in a straight line if the resultant force acting on it is zero: it continues at the same constant velocity, or it stops instantly?
It continues at the same constant velocity
By Newton’s first law, zero resultant force means zero acceleration, so velocity remains constant.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification