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This interactive problem set is designed to help students recognize forces that are exerted in 11 common physical situations. For each situation, the user will decide which forces are present (P) or absent (A), then use a pull-down menu to view correct answers.
This self-assessment is part of The Physics Classroom tutorial collection.
The motion of an object is determined by the sum of the forces acting on it; if the total force on the object is not zero, its motion will change. The greater the mass of the object, the greater the force needed to achieve the same change in motion. For any given object, a larger force causes a larger change in motion. (6-8)
Newton's second law accurately predicts changes in the motion of macroscopic objects. (9-12)
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)
4. The Physical Setting
4F. Motion
6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.
9-12: 4F/H7. In most familiar situations, frictional forces complicate the description of motion, although the basic principles still apply.
4G. Forces of Nature
6-8: 4G/M1. Every object exerts gravitational force on every other object. The force depends on how much mass the objects have and on how far apart they are. The force is hard to detect unless at least one of the objects has a lot of mass.
Henderson, T. (2010, November 18). Physics Classroom: Recognizing Forces. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/morehelp/recforce/recforce.cfm
%0 Electronic Source %A Henderson, Tom %D November 18, 2010 %T Physics Classroom: Recognizing Forces %V 2026 %N 13 August 2026 %8 November 18, 2010 %9 text/html %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/morehelp/recforce/recforce.cfm
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