Forces Worksheet - GCSE - Beginner

Forces worksheet for GCSE (Key Stage 4 / GCSE (Ages 14-16)). Beginner level science practice, aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Print-ready with answer key included.

Science•Key Stage 4 / GCSE (Ages 14-16)•Forcesbeginner

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Forces in Motion: GCSE Physics Practice

Key Stage 4 | Ages 14–16 | Beginner

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Instructions: Work through the activities in order, using the equation prompts and worked example to help you. Show your working for calculations, include units, and use the answer boxes for written responses.

Resultant Forces and Newton’s Laws

For each question, identify the key force idea before writing your answer. A resultant force is the overall force after forces are combined, taking direction into account. Use complete sentences for explanations.

1. A trolley is pushed forwards with a force of 18 N. Friction acts backwards with a force of 7 N. Calculate the resultant force and state its direction.

2. Two people push a box in opposite directions. One pushes east with 32 N and the other pushes west with 32 N. State the resultant force and describe the box’s motion if it was initially at rest.

3. State Newton’s first law of motion.

4. Explain, using Newton’s second law, what happens to the acceleration of a fixed-mass object when the resultant force on it increases.

5. A book rests on a table. Name the two vertical forces acting on the book and explain why it remains at rest.

Speed and Velocity

Use speed = distance ÷ time. Speed has no direction; velocity includes direction. Convert minutes to seconds where needed, and give each answer with a suitable unit.

Worked example: A runner travels 100 m in 20 s. Speed = 100 ÷ 20 = 5 m/s.

1. A cyclist travels 240 m in 30 s. Calculate the cyclist’s average speed.

2. A car travels 1,500 m in 2 minutes. Calculate its average speed in m/s.

3. A student walks 60 m north in 40 s. Calculate the student’s average velocity.

4. Explain the difference between speed and velocity.

Acceleration and F = ma

Use acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time. For force calculations, use resultant force = mass × acceleration. Keep track of units: acceleration in m/s², mass in kg and force in N.

1. A car’s velocity increases from 4 m/s to 16 m/s in 6 s. Calculate its acceleration.

2. A cyclist slows from 12 m/s to 3 m/s in 3 s. Calculate the acceleration, including its sign.

3. A 5 kg object accelerates at 2 m/s². Calculate the resultant force on it.

4. A resultant force of 24 N acts on a 6 kg trolley. Calculate the trolley’s acceleration.

Newton’s Third Law in Context

For each situation, identify the two interacting objects. Newton’s third-law forces are equal in size, opposite in direction, and act on different objects. Explain the force pair clearly.

1. A swimmer pushes water backwards. Describe the force the water exerts on the swimmer.

2. A hammer exerts a force on a nail. State the third-law partner force, including which object exerts it and its direction.

3. Explain why the equal and opposite forces in a third-law pair do not cancel each other out.

Stopping Distances and Road Safety

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance. Thinking distance is affected by the driver’s reaction time and speed; braking distance is affected by speed, road and vehicle conditions. Use the table to support your answers.

Speed (m/s)	Thinking distance (m)	Braking distance (m)
10	6	5
20	12	20
30	18	45

1. Calculate the stopping distance at 10 m/s.

2. Calculate the stopping distance at 20 m/s.

3. By how much does the stopping distance increase from 10 m/s to 30 m/s?

4. Describe how tiredness could affect a driver’s stopping distance.

Apply the Ideas: One-Question Challenge

Read the scenario carefully and connect the ideas of velocity, acceleration and resultant force. Show the calculation steps and include units in your answer.

A 1,200 kg car travels at 5 m/s. It accelerates uniformly to 17 m/s in 4 s on a straight road. Calculate its acceleration, then calculate the resultant force on the car. [4 marks]

Answer Key

Activity 1: 1. 11 N forwards ; 2. 0 N; it remains at rest ; 3. An object remains at rest or continues at constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force ; 4. Its acceleration increases in direct proportion to the resultant force, provided its mass stays constant ; 5. Weight acts downwards and the table’s normal contact force acts upwards; they are equal and opposite, so the resultant force is zero

Activity 2: 1. 8 m/s ; 2. 12.5 m/s ; 3. 1.5 m/s north ; 4. Speed is distance travelled per unit time and has no direction; velocity is displacement per unit time and includes direction

Activity 3: 1. 2 m/s² ; 2. −3 m/s² ; 3. 10 N ; 4. 4 m/s²

Activity 4: 1. The water pushes the swimmer forwards with an equal-sized force ; 2. The nail exerts an equal-sized force on the hammer in the opposite direction ; 3. The forces act on different objects, so they do not cancel on either single object

Activity 5: 1. 11 m ; 2. 32 m ; 3. 57 − 11 = 46 m ; 4. Tiredness can increase reaction time, increasing thinking distance and therefore stopping distance

Activity 6: Acceleration = (17 − 5) ÷ 4 = 3 m/s²; resultant force = 1,200 × 3 = 3,600 N