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12.33 Newton's First Law and Equilibrium Worksheet

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Worksheet Overview & Skills Covered

Core academic competencies and curriculum alignment

This Physics Science worksheet provides structured practice on 12.33 Newton's First Law and Equilibrium. Students are guided through targeted exercises that build foundational understanding, computational accuracy, and critical thinking skills.

Newton's First Law and Equilibrium: Identify when forces are balanced and choose the correct inertia or constant-velocity explanation. Aligned to NGSS, CCSS Literacy and Mathematics, AP Physics, and selected state frameworks 12.33 - Newton's First Law and Equilibrium: NGSS HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-3, HS-PS2-4; CCSS HSN-Q.A, HSA-CED.A, HSG-MG; AP Physics 1 Unit 2; AP Physics C: Mechanics dynamics enrichment; TX TEKS Physics §112.45(c) forces; FL SC.912.P.12.3, SC.912.P.12.4; VA PH.3; MA/CA/NY HS-PS2.

Whether you are an educator preparing classroom handouts, a tutor reinforcing weekly topics, or a parent supporting homeschool learning, this printable resource gives students the deliberate practice required to achieve subject fluency and master state standards.

Grade

Physics

Subject

Science

Domain

Science Curriculum

Formats

PDF & DOCX

Sample Practice Problems

Preview the types of problems and questions covered in this worksheet

Below are sample questions representative of the exercises included on this worksheet and related 12.33 Newton's First Law and Equilibrium skill assessments:

Problem 1Difficulty: Mastery

A ball lies on the floor of a bus that is accelerating forward. The ball is momentarily at rest relative to the bus. In an inertial ground frame, is the ball necessarily in equilibrium?

AYes, because anything at rest relative to its surroundings is in equilibrium.

BYes, because the bus floor cancels all horizontal forces automatically.

CNo, because equilibrium is impossible inside any vehicle.

DNo, because being at rest relative to an accelerating bus can still involve acceleration in the ground frame.

Solution & Explanation:Newton's First Law is applied in inertial frames. If the bus accelerates and the ball shares that acceleration, the ball has a nonzero net force in the ground frame.

Problem 2Difficulty: Mastery

Two carts are connected by a compressed spring and drift east together in deep space. When the spring is released, no external force acts on the two-cart system. What statement is correct?

AThe system's center of mass accelerates east because the spring pushes both carts.

BThe system's center of mass stops because internal forces cancel motion.

CThe carts can move relative to each other, but the system's center of mass keeps moving east at constant velocity.

DThe carts must both keep exactly the same velocity because net external force is zero.

Solution & Explanation:Internal forces can change individual velocities inside the system, but zero net external force keeps the center-of-mass velocity constant.

Problem 3Difficulty: Mastery

A glider moves west at 2 m/s on an air track. From now on, all horizontal forces on it remain balanced. What will the glider do?

ASlow to rest because balanced forces remove motion.

BContinue west at 2 m/s.

CAccelerate west because it is already moving west.

DReverse direction because no westward net force acts.

Solution & Explanation:Balanced horizontal forces mean zero horizontal acceleration. The glider keeps its existing westward velocity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about printing, using, and solving this worksheet

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QWhat grade level and standards does this worksheet align with?

This worksheet is designed specifically for Physics Science students. It aligns with educational standard 12.33 (NGSS HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-3, HS-PS2-4; CCSS HSN-Q.A, HSA-CED.A, HSG-MG; AP Physics 1 Unit 2; AP Physics C: Mechanics dynamics enrichment; TX TEKS Physics §112.45(c) forces; FL SC.912.P.12.3, SC.912.P.12.4; VA PH.3; MA/CA/NY HS-PS2.).