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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Where is the magnetic field around a bar magnet strongest: at the two poles, or in the exact middle?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
2. What happens when the north pole of one magnet is brought close to the north pole of another magnet: they repel or they attract?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
3. 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)
4. Outside a bar magnet, in which direction do magnetic field lines point by convention: from the north pole to the south pole, or from south to north?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
5. Which force pulls objects toward the centre of the Earth and gives them weight: gravity or friction?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
6. 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)
7. Why do bicycle brakes press rubber pads against the wheel rim: to increase friction and slow the wheel, or to reduce gravity?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
8. 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)
9. 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)
10. 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)
11. 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)
12. Which contact force acts between two surfaces sliding past each other and opposes motion: friction or magnetism?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
12 questions · Seed 45 · 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. Where is the magnetic field around a bar magnet strongest: at the two poles, or in the exact middle?
At the two poles
Magnetic field lines are most concentrated at the north and south poles of a bar magnet.
2. What happens when the north pole of one magnet is brought close to the north pole of another magnet: they repel or they attract?
They repel
Like magnetic poles (north–north or south–south) repel each other.
3. 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.
4. Outside a bar magnet, in which direction do magnetic field lines point by convention: from the north pole to the south pole, or from south to north?
From the north pole to the south pole
Magnetic field lines point in the direction a compass north pole would point: from north to south.
5. Which force pulls objects toward the centre of the Earth and gives them weight: gravity or friction?
Gravity
Earth’s gravitational field pulls all masses toward Earth’s centre.
6. 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.
7. Why do bicycle brakes press rubber pads against the wheel rim: to increase friction and slow the wheel, or to reduce gravity?
To increase friction and slow the wheel
Friction between the brake pads and rim converts kinetic energy into thermal energy, slowing the bike.
8. 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.
9. 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).
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Which contact force acts between two surfaces sliding past each other and opposes motion: friction or magnetism?
Friction
Friction acts in the direction opposite to sliding motion and generates heat.
12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Where is the magnetic field around a bar magnet strongest: at the two poles, or in the exact middle?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
2. What happens when the north pole of one magnet is brought close to the north pole of another magnet: they repel or they attract?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
3. 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)
4. Outside a bar magnet, in which direction do magnetic field lines point by convention: from the north pole to the south pole, or from south to north?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
5. Which force pulls objects toward the centre of the Earth and gives them weight: gravity or friction?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
6. 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)
7. Why do bicycle brakes press rubber pads against the wheel rim: to increase friction and slow the wheel, or to reduce gravity?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
8. 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)
9. 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)
10. 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)
11. 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)
12. Which contact force acts between two surfaces sliding past each other and opposes motion: friction or magnetism?
N [Magnet] S → Magnetic Pull / Friction · Opposite poles attract (N ↔ S)
12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Forces, friction & magnetism
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Where is the magnetic field around a bar magnet strongest: at the two poles, or in the exact middle?
At the two poles
Magnetic field lines are most concentrated at the north and south poles of a bar magnet.
2. What happens when the north pole of one magnet is brought close to the north pole of another magnet: they repel or they attract?
They repel
Like magnetic poles (north–north or south–south) repel each other.
3. 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.
4. Outside a bar magnet, in which direction do magnetic field lines point by convention: from the north pole to the south pole, or from south to north?
From the north pole to the south pole
Magnetic field lines point in the direction a compass north pole would point: from north to south.
5. Which force pulls objects toward the centre of the Earth and gives them weight: gravity or friction?
Gravity
Earth’s gravitational field pulls all masses toward Earth’s centre.
6. 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.
7. Why do bicycle brakes press rubber pads against the wheel rim: to increase friction and slow the wheel, or to reduce gravity?
To increase friction and slow the wheel
Friction between the brake pads and rim converts kinetic energy into thermal energy, slowing the bike.
8. 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.
9. 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).
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Which contact force acts between two surfaces sliding past each other and opposes motion: friction or magnetism?
Friction
Friction acts in the direction opposite to sliding motion and generates heat.
12 questions · Seed 45 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification