Lesson T2.2.1

T2.2.1 Forces as pushes and pulls Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson T2.2.1, Forces as pushes and pulls: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Motion and forces, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. What is a force?

    • A measure of how much matter an object contains
    • A push or a pull that acts between two objects
    • A measure of how fast an object moves
    • A type of energy stored in an object

  2. What is the unit of force?

    • Metre per second (m/s)
    • Kilogram (kg)
    • Joule (J)
    • Newton (N)

  3. Which of these is a non-contact force?

    • The friction between a box and the floor as the box is slid across it
    • The tension in a rope pulling a trolley along a flat, level floor
    • The push of a hand on a door as a person opens it from the other side
    • The pull of gravity from the Earth on an object above it

  4. A spring is stretched by a pull. What happens to the energy stored in the spring?

    • It becomes thermal energy only
    • It is converted into chemical energy
    • It is stored as elastic potential energy
    • It is destroyed

  5. A magnet pulls a paper clip without touching it. What type of force is this?

    • A non-contact force
    • A force caused by air resistance
    • A tension in a string
    • A contact force of friction

  6. Which force arises when two surfaces rub against each other?

    • Upthrust
    • Gravity
    • Magnetism
    • Friction

  7. A child pushes a shopping trolley. Which statement about the force is correct?

    • The force is measured in joules
    • The trolley pushes the child's hand as a separate force only
    • The child's push is a force acting on the trolley
    • The force is stored in the child's hand

  8. A force of 15 N is applied to a box. What unit is the force measured in?

    • Joules
    • Metres per second
    • Kilograms
    • Newtons

  9. Which type of force is associated with squashing an object, such as a sponge?

    • A contact force that changes the shape of the object
    • A force that only acts on liquids, which squash in the same way as sponges
    • A force that only acts in space, where objects are weightless and float freely
    • A non-contact force from gravity that pulls the sponge towards the ground

  10. Which statement about the interaction of two objects is correct?

    • Forces do not occur when objects are not touching
    • Forces always come in pairs acting on both objects
    • Forces are only found in moving objects
    • A force acts on only one object

  11. Which force is due to static electricity?

    • A rope stretched by a crane lifting a heavy steel load off the ground
    • A cup sitting on a table, held there by the table and the cup's own weight
    • A car braking on a road, slowed by friction between the tyres and the road
    • A balloon sticking to a wall after rubbing

  12. Which force pushes an object out of the way as it moves through a fluid?

    • Static electricity from the object, which builds up as it moves through the fluid
    • Magnetism from the Earth's core, which pulls the object towards the planet
    • Gravity pulling it downwards only, which is the weight of the object
    • Resistance from the fluid, such as air or water resistance

  13. A stretched spring is released. Which change happens in the spring's store?

    • Kinetic energy is transferred to chemical energy as the spring is released
    • Elastic potential energy is transferred to the kinetic energy of the moving object
    • No energy changes occur because the spring's stored energy stays inside it
    • Thermal energy is transferred to elastic potential energy as the spring cools

  14. A stone rests on a shelf. Which force from the shelf balances its weight?

    • A non-contact magnetic force
    • An upward contact force from the shelf
    • A downward force from the shelf
    • Air resistance

  15. A force meter measures a force of 6 N. Which action increases the reading?

    • Changing the colour of the force meter
    • Moving the force meter to a different room
    • Pulling the hook harder
    • Reading the meter in a different unit

  16. Which of these is a contact force?

    • Gravity on a falling leaf
    • Air resistance on a falling leaf
    • Magnetic attraction to a magnet
    • Electrostatic attraction from a balloon

  17. A boy pulls a rope with a force of 40 N and a girl pulls the other end in the opposite direction with 40 N. What is the net effect on the rope?

    • The forces are balanced and the rope does not accelerate
    • The rope gains 80 N of force
    • The rope accelerates in the direction of the boy
    • The rope gains kinetic energy only

  18. A tennis ball is hit and changes direction. What is the cause of this change?

    • The ball's mass changing
    • A force acting on the ball
    • The ball's colour changing
    • The ball gaining energy from nowhere

  19. Which of these is a force that holds a book on a table in place?

    • Static electricity from the book, which sticks it to the surface below
    • A non-contact force from the ground below, which pulls the table and book together
    • The upward push of the table, called the normal contact force
    • A magnetic force from the table, which holds the book down by attraction

  20. Stretching a spring needs a force. What kind of force is it, and how does the spring push back?

    • A non-contact force that stays the same size
    • A magnetic force that pulls the spring back
    • A contact force that grows as the spring is stretched further
    • A gravitational force that depends on the spring colour

All KS3 Physics quizzes