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Question
For each statement below, indicate which of Newton's Three Laws the statement represents. (5 points)
Newton's 1st Law Newton's 2nd Law Newton's 3rd Law
A ball rolls directly across the floor until Luis gives it a kick.



Both a bowling ball and a tennis ball roll over your foot at identical speeds, but the force of the bowling ball causes much more pain.



Your riding lawn mower stalls, and as your friends push it, the force helps the lawn mower move until it gradually accelerates.



A firefighter turns on a water hose and is pushed backward by the force.



A soccer ball remains stationary until a player kicks it into motion.

1 answer

Here is the categorization of each statement according to Newton's three laws:

  1. A ball rolls directly across the floor until Luis gives it a kick.

    • Newton's 1st Law (An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.)
  2. Both a bowling ball and a tennis ball roll over your foot at identical speeds, but the force of the bowling ball causes much more pain.

    • Newton's 2nd Law (Force = mass x acceleration; the bowling ball has greater mass, hence it exerts a greater force.)
  3. Your riding lawn mower stalls, and as your friends push it, the force helps the lawn mower move until it gradually accelerates.

    • Newton's 2nd Law (The force applied by the friends helps to overcome inertia and causes acceleration.)
  4. A firefighter turns on a water hose and is pushed backward by the force.

    • Newton's 3rd Law (For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; the force of the water coming out pushes the firefighter back.)
  5. A soccer ball remains stationary until a player kicks it into motion.

    • Newton's 1st Law (The soccer ball remains at rest until acted upon by the external force of the kick.)

In summary:

  • Newton's 1st Law: 1, 5
  • Newton's 2nd Law: 2, 3
  • Newton's 3rd Law: 4