Fun Exercises for Newton's Laws of Motion

Newton's Laws of Motion Printables
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Sir Isaac Newton, born on January 4, 1643, was a scientist, mathematician, and astronomer. Newton is regarded as one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. Isaac Newton defined the laws of gravity, introduced an entirely new branch of mathematics (calculus), and developed Newton's laws of motion.

The three laws of motion were first put together in a book published by Isaac Newton in 1687, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy). Newton used them to explain and investigate the motion of many physical objects and systems. For example, in the third volume of the text, Newton showed that these laws of motion, combined with his law of universal gravitation, explained Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws that, together, laid the foundation for classical mechanics. They describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, and its motion in response to those forces. They have been expressed in several different ways, over nearly three centuries, and can be summarized as follows.

Newton's Three Laws of Motion

  1. Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.
  2. The acceleration produced by a particular force acting on a body is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force and inversely proportional to the mass of the body.
  3. To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction; or, the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts.

If you are a parent or teacher who wants to introduce your students to Sir Isaac Newton, the following printable worksheets can make a great addition to your study. You might also want to look at resources such as the following books:

  • Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion - This book is written in graphic-novel format, making it much more appealing to students than a standard textbook. It tells the story of how Isaac Newton developed the laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. 
  • Force and Motion: An Illustrated Guide to Newton's Laws - Author Jason Zimba breaks with the traditional method of teaching the laws of motion by explaining them visually. The book is organized into seventeen brief, well-sequenced lessons that are each followed with problems for students to work. 

Newton's Laws of Motion Vocabulary

Print the PDF: Newton's Laws of Motion Vocabulary Sheet

Help your students begin to familiarize themselves with terms related to Newton's laws of motion with this vocabulary worksheet. Students should use a dictionary or the Internet to look up and define the terms. They will then write each term on the blank line next to its correct definition.

Newton's Laws of Motion Word Search

Print the PDF: Newton's Laws of Motion Word Search

This word search puzzle will make a fun review for students studying the laws of motion. Each related term can be found among the jumbled letters in the puzzle. As they find each word, students should make sure that they remember its definition, referring to their completed vocabulary sheet if necessary.

Newton's Laws of Motion Crossword Puzzle

Print the PDF: Newton's Laws of Motion Crossword Puzzle

Use this law of motion crossword puzzle as a low-key review for students. Each clue describes a previously-defined term related to Newton's laws of motion. 

Newton's Laws of Motion Alphabet Activity

Print the PDF: Newton's Laws of Motion Alphabet Activity

Young students can review terms associated with Newton's laws of motion while practicing their alphabetizing skills. Students should write each word from the word bank in correct alphabetical order on the blank lines provided. 

Newton's Laws of Motion Challenge

Print the PDF: Newton's Laws of Motion Challenge

Use this challenge worksheet as a simple quiz to see how well students recall what they've learned about Newton's laws of motion. Each description is followed by four multiple choice options. 

Newton's Laws of Motion Draw and Write

Print the PDF: Newton's Laws of Motion Draw and Write Page

Students can use this draw and write page to complete a simple report about Newton's laws of motion. They should draw a picture related to the laws of motion and use the blank lines to write about their drawing.

Sir Isaac Newton's Birthplace Coloring Page

Print the PDF: Sir Isaac Newton's Birthplace Coloring Page

Sir Issac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. Use this coloring page to encourage students to research a bit more on the life of this famous physicist. 

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Hernandez, Beverly. "Fun Exercises for Newton's Laws of Motion." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/newtons-laws-of-motion-printables-1832432. Hernandez, Beverly. (2023, April 5). Fun Exercises for Newton's Laws of Motion. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/newtons-laws-of-motion-printables-1832432 Hernandez, Beverly. "Fun Exercises for Newton's Laws of Motion." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/newtons-laws-of-motion-printables-1832432 (accessed March 28, 2024).