Forces and Motion Worksheet — KS3 — Intermediate
Forces and Motion worksheet for Key Stage 3 / Year 7-9 (Ages 11-14). Intermediate level science practice, aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Print-ready with answer key included.
Exploring Forces and Motion
Key Stage 3, Ages 11-14, Intermediate Level
Instructions: This worksheet will help you explore the fundamental concepts of forces and motion. You will engage in a variety of activities that require critical thinking and application of scientific principles.
Understanding Forces
Identify the types of forces acting on the objects described. Write the type of force in the box provided.
1. A book resting on a table.
2. A car accelerating on a highway.
3. A skydiver falling at terminal velocity.
4. A magnet attracting a paperclip.
Calculating Speed
Use the formula speed = distance/time to calculate the speed of the objects. Show your working clearly.
1. A car travels 150 km in 3 hours. Speed =
2. A cyclist covers 20 km in 1 hour. Speed =
3. A runner completes a 10 km race in 40 minutes. Speed =
4. A train moves 300 km in 5 hours. Speed =
Graph Analysis
Analyse the distance-time graph provided and answer the questions below. Use the graph to determine the speed and identify any changes in motion.
| Time (hours) | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 50 | 50 |
| 2 | 100 | 50 |
| 3 | 150 | 50 |
| 4 | 200 | 50 |
1. What is the constant speed of the object?
2. At what time does the object stop moving?
3. Calculate the average speed for the entire journey.
Newton's Laws of Motion
Match each scenario with the correct law of motion. Write the number of the law in the box provided.
1. A rocket launching into space.
2. A person pushing a broken-down car.
3. A ball rolling down a hill and gradually stopping.
4. A swimmer pushing water backwards to move forward.
Laws of Motion:
1. First Law (Inertia)
2. Second Law (F=ma)
3. Third Law (Action-Reaction)
Friction Investigation
Design a simple experiment to investigate how different surfaces affect the frictional force. Describe your method and expected results.
Explain how you would set up the experiment, what materials you would use, and how you would measure the frictional force.
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Determine whether the forces described are balanced or unbalanced. Write your answer in the box provided.
1. A stationary car on a flat road.
2. A cyclist accelerating down a slope.
3. A satellite orbiting the Earth.
4. A boat moving at constant speed.
Force Calculations
Calculate the force exerted in each scenario using the formula F = ma (Force = mass × acceleration). Show your working.
1. A 5 kg object accelerating at 2 m/s². Force =
2. A 10 kg object accelerating at 3 m/s². Force =
3. A 15 kg object accelerating at 1 m/s². Force =
4. A 20 kg object accelerating at 4 m/s². Force =
Essay: The Impact of Forces
Write a detailed essay on how forces impact everyday life. Include examples and explain the science behind them.
Discuss at least three different examples where forces play a crucial role in daily activities. [15 marks]
Activity 1: Gravity ; Thrust ; Air Resistance ; Magnetic
Activity 2: 50 km/h ; 20 km/h ; 15 km/h ; 60 km/h
Activity 3: 50 km/h ; 4 hours ; 50 km/h
Activity 4: 3 ; 2 ; 1 ; 3
Activity 5: N/A
Activity 6: Balanced ; Unbalanced ; Balanced ; Balanced
Activity 7: 10 N ; 30 N ; 15 N ; 80 N
Activity 8: N/A
📚 Great books for Science
Handpicked books to support learning at home · Amazon affiliate links
CGP KS2 Science Study Book
Complete KS2 science - biology, chemistry and physics
Usually ships in 24hrs
Horrible Science Collection
Engaging science books that make learning fun
Usually ships in 24hrs
KS3 Science Complete Revision
CGP all-in-one revision for secondary science
Usually ships in 24hrs
Usborne Science Encyclopedia
Illustrated reference covering all areas of science
Usually ships in 24hrs