Lesson T2.2.4

T2.2.4 Friction and drag Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T2.2.4, Friction and drag: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Motion and forces, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is friction?

    • A force that only acts on liquids, slowing them as they flow through pipes
    • A non-contact force that pulls objects together across a small gap in space
    • A contact force that opposes motion between surfaces that touch
    • A force that adds to the motion of an object, pushing it along the surface

  2. When a box slides across a floor, which energy transfer happens because of friction?

    • Thermal energy is transferred to kinetic energy
    • Electrical energy is transferred to gravitational energy
    • Kinetic energy is transferred to thermal energy
    • Chemical energy is transferred to elastic energy

  3. Why are car tyres treaded?

    • To make the car heavier
    • To store energy as elastic potential energy
    • To increase friction and grip on wet roads
    • To reduce friction to zero

  4. A lubricant such as oil is used between moving parts to:

    • Reduce friction and wear
    • Add mass to the parts
    • Produce electrical energy
    • Increase friction for better grip

  5. Which change increases friction between two surfaces?

    • Pressing them together harder
    • Reducing the force pushing them together
    • Making them smoother and more slippery
    • Polishing them to a shine

  6. How does air resistance acting on a cyclist change as the cyclist speeds up?

    • It is zero at high speeds
    • It stays the same at all speeds
    • It decreases
    • It increases

  7. Why does a streamlined car shape help it use less fuel?

    • It reduces drag from the air
    • It removes air resistance completely
    • It increases drag from the air
    • It increases the car's weight

  8. What is drag?

    • The push from a magnet
    • The weight of an object
    • A force that pulls objects together at a distance
    • Air or water resistance that opposes motion through a fluid

  9. A parachute is opened to increase drag. What happens to the falling speed?

    • The speed increases, because the parachute pulls the person downwards faster
    • There is no effect, because drag does not depend on the size of the parachute
    • The weight increases, because the open parachute adds mass to the person
    • The terminal speed is reduced

  10. A 12 N force pushes a box at constant speed across a floor. What is the friction force?

    • 24 N
    • 6 N
    • 0 N
    • 12 N

  11. A brake pad rubs against a spinning wheel and slows it. Which energy transfer happens?

    • Thermal energy is transferred to chemical energy in the brake pad as it is rubbed
    • Kinetic energy of the wheel is transferred to thermal energy of the brake pad and wheel
    • Elastic energy is transferred to electrical energy in the wheel as it spins round
    • Gravitational energy is transferred to nuclear energy as the wheel slows down on the road

  12. Why is ice good for sliding on?

    • The skate blades create extra air resistance
    • Ice has low friction, so objects slide easily across it
    • Ice has high friction, so objects slide easily across it
    • Skates increase the weight of the skater

  13. Why does a feather fall more slowly than a stone dropped from the same height?

    • The feather is heavier than the stone
    • The stone has less mass than the feather
    • Air resistance is large compared with its weight
    • The feather is held up by non-contact forces

  14. Which surface would produce the most friction for a block sliding across it?

    • Smooth polished glass
    • Ice
    • Lightly oiled metal
    • Rough sandpaper

  15. Which force slows a car down when its brakes are applied?

    • Gravity pulling the car forwards along the road, which speeds it up as it goes
    • Magnetism from the engine, which pulls the wheels in the opposite direction
    • Friction between the brake pads and the disc
    • Static electricity in the tyres, which builds up as the car travels along

  16. A sledge slides fastest over which surface?

    • Sandpaper
    • Smooth, wet ice
    • Rough gravel
    • Dry carpet

  17. Why do football boots have studs?

    • The studs dig in and increase grip on the ground
    • The studs produce energy as the player runs
    • The studs stop air resistance
    • The studs reduce friction to make the player faster

  18. A cyclist moves at a steady speed. Which pair of forces describes this?

    • The driving force equals the total drag and friction
    • The drag is zero
    • The driving force is zero
    • The driving force is greater than the drag

  19. Why is friction useful when striking a match?

    • It stores electricity in the match head, which lights the match on contact
    • It transfers chemical energy into elastic energy stored in the match head
    • It produces thermal energy when the match is rubbed on the striking surface
    • It stops the match from burning when it is struck against the box

  20. A sledge has 40 N of drag and is pulled forward with 25 N. What is the resultant force?

    • 65 N forwards
    • 40 N forwards
    • 25 N forwards
    • 15 N backwards

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