Newton’s Third Law Crossword Puzzle Printable

Newton’s Third Law of Motion, depicted through a rocket launching into space. The action-reaction forces are shown with the rocket’s engines pushing against the ground, propelling it upward.

Understanding Newton’s Third Law

Have you ever wondered why a soccer ball flies across the field when you kick it, or why you feel a jolt when you bump into a friend in the hallway? These everyday experiences can be explained by Newton’s Third Law of Motion. In this essay, we will explore the concepts of collide, force, interacting objects, motion, Newton (the unit of measurement for force), Newton’s Third Law, spring scales, mass, weight, action force, agent, object, and gravity. By the end, you’ll understand how these concepts come together to explain the world around us.

Collide

When two objects collide, they strike or hit each other with any amount of force. Think of a car accident, where two cars crash into each other. The force of the collision can vary from a gentle bump to a massive crash, but in every case, Newton’s Third Law is at play.

Force

A force is a push or pull that can change the motion of an object. For example, when you push a swing, you apply a force that sets it in motion. Forces can cause objects to start moving, stop moving, change direction, or change speed.

Interacting Objects

Interacting objects are objects that affect one another. When you push a book across a table, both the book and the table interact. The book moves because of the force you apply, and the table provides resistance due to friction.

Motion

Motion is the change in an object’s position with respect to time and in comparison to the position of other objects used as reference points. For instance, a car driving down a road changes its position over time relative to the trees and buildings it passes.

Newton

The Newton, abbreviated as N, is the unit of measurement for force. One Newton is the amount of force required to accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second squared. It’s named after Sir Isaac Newton, the scientist who formulated the laws of motion.

Newton’s Third Law

Newton’s Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that forces always come in pairs. When you push against a wall, the wall pushes back with an equal force in the opposite direction. This principle is why you don’t move when you push a solid, immovable wall.

Spring Scale

A spring scale is a tool that measures a pulling force by the tension on a spring. The force is measured in Newtons. When you hang an object on a spring scale, the spring stretches, and the scale shows the force of gravity acting on the object (its weight).

Mass

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It’s usually measured in kilograms or grams. Mass is a measure of an object’s inertia, or its resistance to changes in motion. Unlike weight, mass does not change with the location of the object.

Weight

Weight is the pull of gravity on an object. It’s the force that gravity exerts on an object’s mass. Weight is measured in Newtons and can change depending on where the object is in the universe. For example, you would weigh less on the Moon than on Earth because the Moon’s gravitational pull is weaker.

Action Force and Reaction Force

The action force is the initial force applied in a situation. It is equal in strength and opposite in direction to the reaction force. These forces act simultaneously on different objects. For example, when you jump off a diving board, you push down on the board (action force), and the board pushes you up into the air (reaction force).

Agent

An agent is the source of a force. In our earlier example of pushing a book, you are the agent because you apply the force that moves the book. The agent is always the entity that exerts the force.

Object

The object is the thing upon which forces act. In the book example, the book is the object because it is being moved by the force you apply.

Gravity

Gravity is an attractive force that exists between all objects that have mass. It pulls objects toward each other. The force of gravity depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them. Earth’s gravity pulls everything toward its center, which is why we stay grounded and why objects fall when dropped.

Conclusion

Understanding Newton’s Third Law helps us explain many phenomena in our daily lives. Whether it’s a collision between cars, the motion of a swing, or the act of jumping off a diving board, Newton’s Third Law shows that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. By grasping the concepts of force, interacting objects, motion, mass, weight, and gravity, we can better appreciate the forces at work in our world. Next time you experience a push or pull, remember that there’s always a paired force acting in response, illustrating the beautiful balance of nature’s laws.

Student can learn all about Newton’s Third Law by completing the Rudolph Academy Newton’s Third Law Crossword Puzzle. This interactive activity makes learning fun and engaging, reinforcing key concepts such as force, action and reaction, and motion. By solving the crossword, students will enhance their understanding and retention of the material. This Newton’s Third Law Crossword Puzzle covers 13 terms. Teachers, parents, and students can print out and make copies.

Newton’s Third Law Study Sheet
Newton’s Third Law Crossword Puzzle
Newton’s Third Law CW
Newton’s Third Law CW Answers

Puzzles, Quizzes, Word Searches
Go to more 8th Grade Science CWs
Go to 8th Grade Science Word Searches
Go to 8th Grade Science Quizzes
Go to 8th Grade Math CWs
Go to 8th Grade Language Arts CWs
Go to 8th Grade US History CWs
Go to 8th Grade Academic Vocabulary CWs
Go to more Science CWs

Over 1,000 science and social studies resources, available in 3 reading levels, vetted by subject experts and contain zero ads. Let’s Do It

© 2025 Rudolph Academy