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RISE Science Grade 7 study materials
RISE Science Grade 7 study resources

RISE Science Grade 7 practice questions

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Question 1Forces and Interactions

Which unit is used to measure force in the SI system?

  1. Watt
  2. Kilogram
  3. Joule
  4. Newton Correct answer.

Explanation

Force is measured in newtons. One newton is the force that accelerates a 1 kg mass at 1 m/s². The other units describe different quantities.

Question 2Forces and Interactions

A box sits on a table without moving, and the forces on it are balanced. What is the net force on the box?

  1. Equal to the normal force
  2. Increasing slowly over time
  3. Equal to the weight of the box
  4. Zero newtons Correct answer.

Explanation

Balanced forces are equal in size and opposite in direction, so they cancel each other. When the net force is zero, the motion of the object does not change, which is why the box stays at rest.

Question 3Forces and Interactions

Which statement describes the direction of Earth's gravitational pull on an object near its surface?

  1. It points toward the object's nearest side
  2. It points in the direction the object moves
  3. It points toward Earth's center Correct answer.
  4. It points away from Earth's center

Explanation

Gravity is an attractive force, so Earth pulls objects toward its center. This is why a dropped object falls straight down toward the ground regardless of how it is moving sideways.

Question 4Forces and Interactions

A sled slides across packed snow and gradually slows down. Which force mainly causes the sled to slow?

  1. Friction between sled and snow Correct answer.
  2. Air pressure pushing on the sled
  3. Magnetism from Earth's poles
  4. Gravity pulling the sled forward

Explanation

Friction acts between surfaces in contact and opposes the sliding motion, which removes speed from the sled. This is why rough surfaces slow sliding objects faster than smooth ones.

Question 5Forces and Interactions

A hockey puck slides across smooth ice at constant speed in a straight line. According to Newton's first law, what keeps the puck moving?

  1. The friction of the ice pushing it
  2. The puck's weight pulling it along
  3. A steady forward force from the ice
  4. Its inertia with no net force Correct answer.

Explanation

Newton's first law states that an object in motion stays in motion at constant velocity when the net force is zero. The puck keeps gliding because of its inertia, not because a forward force pushes it.

Question 6Forces and Interactions

Which of these forces can act on an object without the two objects touching?

  1. Normal force
  2. Magnetic force Correct answer.
  3. Tension in a rope
  4. Friction

Explanation

Magnetic force acts at a distance through a magnetic field, so the magnet and the object do not need to touch. Normal force, tension, and friction all require direct contact between objects.

Question 7Forces and Interactions

An astronaut travels from Earth to the Moon. Which property of the astronaut stays the same on the Moon?

  1. Weight measured in newtons
  2. Gravitational pull on the body
  3. Mass measured in kilograms Correct answer.
  4. Downward force of the surface

Explanation

Mass is the amount of matter in an object and does not change with location. Weight is a force that depends on the strength of gravity, so it is smaller on the Moon.

Question 8Forces and Interactions

When one object pushes on a second object, the second object pushes back. How do these two forces compare?

  1. Equal in size and opposite in direction Correct answer.
  2. They act in the same direction on one object
  3. The push back is always smaller
  4. The larger object always pushes harder

Explanation

Newton's third law says that forces come in pairs that are equal in size and opposite in direction. Each force acts on a different object, which is why the pair does not cancel out.

Question 9Forces and Interactions

Two students push a cart in the same direction, one with 12 N and the other with 7 N. What is the net force on the cart?

  1. 19 N opposite to the pushes
  2. 5 N in the direction of the 12 N push
  3. 19 N in the direction of the pushes Correct answer.
  4. 5 N opposite the 12 N push

Explanation

When forces point in the same direction, their sizes add together to give the net force. Here 12 N + 7 N = 19 N, and the net force points the same way as both pushes.

Question 10Forces and Interactions

A rope is pulled to the left with 25 N and to the right with 10 N. What is the net force on the rope?

  1. 15 N to the right
  2. 35 N to the right
  3. 35 N to the left
  4. 15 N to the left Correct answer.

Explanation

Forces in opposite directions partially cancel, so subtract the smaller from the larger: 25 N − 10 N = 15 N. The net force points in the direction of the larger force, which is to the left.

Question 11Forces and Interactions

A 4 kg cart is pushed with a net force of 20 N. What is the cart's acceleration?

  1. 24 m/s²
  2. 5 m/s² Correct answer.
  3. 80 m/s²
  4. 0.2 m/s²

Explanation

Newton's second law gives a = F ÷ m. Dividing 20 N by 4 kg gives an acceleration of 5 m/s².

Question 12Forces and Interactions

The same cart is pushed with twice the net force along a frictionless track. What happens to its acceleration?

  1. It is cut in half
  2. It becomes four times larger
  3. It doubles Correct answer.
  4. It stays the same

Explanation

Acceleration is directly proportional to net force when mass does not change, as shown by a = F ÷ m. Doubling the force while keeping the mass the same doubles the acceleration.

Question 13Forces and Interactions

Two boxes are pushed with equal net forces. Box A has twice the mass of Box B. How does Box A's acceleration compare with Box B's?

  1. It is the same as Box B's
  2. It is four times as large as Box B's
  3. It is twice as large as Box B's
  4. It is half as large as Box B's Correct answer.

Explanation

For a fixed net force, acceleration is inversely related to mass because a = F ÷ m. Doubling the mass while keeping the force the same halves the acceleration.

Question 14Forces and Interactions

A student on roller skates pushes off a wall and rolls backward. Which statement explains this?

  1. The wall has less mass so it moves first
  2. The student's weight pushes them backward
  3. The wall pulls the student with magnetic force
  4. The wall pushes back with an equal force Correct answer.

Explanation

Pushing on the wall is the action force, and the wall responds with an equal and opposite force on the student. That reaction force is what sends the student rolling backward.

Question 15Forces and Interactions

A skydiver falls and then continues downward at a constant speed. What is true at that constant speed?

  1. The skydiver has no weight at that speed
  2. Gravity stops acting on the skydiver
  3. Air resistance equals the skydiver's weight Correct answer.
  4. Air resistance is greater than the weight

Explanation

Constant speed in a straight line means the forces are balanced, so the net force is zero. The upward air resistance must therefore equal the downward weight.

Question 16Forces and Interactions

A book rests on a flat table. In which direction does the table's normal force act on the book?

  1. Upward, perpendicular to the table Correct answer.
  2. Horizontally along the table
  3. At an angle of 45 degrees
  4. Downward, toward Earth's center

Explanation

The normal force is a contact force exerted by a surface, and it acts perpendicular to that surface. For a flat horizontal table, the perpendicular direction is straight up.

Question 17Forces and Interactions

A student pushes a heavy crate with 50 N, but the crate does not move. What is the size of the friction force on the crate?

  1. Zero, because the crate is not moving
  2. 50 N, opposite the push Correct answer.
  3. Less than 50 N, so it can start moving
  4. More than 50 N, in the push direction

Explanation

Because the crate stays at rest, the forces must be balanced, so static friction must equal the applied force. It acts in the direction opposite the push.

Question 18Forces and Interactions

A cyclist moves at a steady 6 m/s in a straight line. What can be concluded about the forces on the bicycle?

  1. Only gravity acts on the moving bicycle
  2. No forces at all act on the moving bicycle
  3. The forces balance to a net force of zero Correct answer.
  4. The forward force is larger than friction

Explanation

Steady speed in a straight line means the velocity is not changing, so the acceleration is zero. By Newton's second law, zero acceleration means the net force is zero, so the forces are balanced.

Question 19Forces and Interactions

Two magnets are pulled apart so the distance between them doubles. How does the magnetic force between them change?

  1. It becomes weaker Correct answer.
  2. It stays exactly the same
  3. It becomes stronger
  4. It changes to a pushing force

Explanation

Magnetic force, like gravity, acts at a distance and weakens as the objects move farther apart. Doubling the separation therefore reduces the force between the magnets.

Question 20Forces and Interactions

A spring scale stretches farther as more mass is hung from it. What does this show about the spring's force?

  1. The force decreases as it stretches
  2. The force stays constant as it stretches
  3. The force depends only on the spring's color
  4. The force increases as it stretches Correct answer.

Explanation

A stretched spring pulls back harder the more it is stretched, which is why the scale reading rises with added mass. This relationship lets a spring scale measure force by how far it stretches.

Question 21Forces and Interactions

A small car collides head-on with a large truck. During the collision, how do the forces compare?

  1. The truck pushes the car harder than the car pushes the truck
  2. Both vehicles experience forces equal in size Correct answer.
  3. Only the car experiences a force from the truck
  4. The car pushes the truck harder because it is faster

Explanation

Newton's third law applies to collisions: the force on each object is equal in size and opposite in direction. The masses differ, so the accelerations differ, but the forces themselves are equal.

Question 22Forces and Interactions

How does the gravitational force between two objects change if the distance between them increases?

  1. It becomes zero once they are far apart
  2. It stays the same because mass does not change
  3. It decreases as the distance increases Correct answer.
  4. It increases because the objects move faster

Explanation

Gravitational force depends on the masses of the objects and on the distance between them. Increasing the distance weakens the force, though it never truly reaches zero.

Question 23Forces and Interactions

Three horizontal forces act on a 2 kg cart: 15 N east, 5 N west, and 4 N west. What is the cart's acceleration?

  1. 3 m/s² east Correct answer.
  2. 6 m/s² east
  3. 12 m/s² east
  4. 5 m/s² east

Explanation

First combine the forces: the two westward forces total 9 N, so the net force is 15 N − 9 N = 6 N east. Then use a = F ÷ m, giving 6 N ÷ 2 kg = 3 m/s² east.

Question 24Forces and Interactions

An astronaut has a mass of 60 kg on Earth. On the Moon, gravity is about one-sixth as strong as on Earth. What are the astronaut's mass and weight on the Moon?

  1. Mass 60 kg, weight 98 N Correct answer.
  2. Mass 10 kg, weight 98 N
  3. Mass 60 kg, weight 588 N
  4. Mass 10 kg, weight 588 N

Explanation

Mass is a measure of matter and does not change, so it stays 60 kg. Weight equals mass times gravitational strength, so 588 N on Earth becomes about one-sixth of that, or 98 N, on the Moon.

Question 25Forces and Interactions

A 4 kg box is pushed east with 30 N while friction acts west with 10 N. What is the box's acceleration?

  1. 10 m/s² east
  2. 7.5 m/s² east
  3. 5 m/s² east Correct answer.
  4. 2.5 m/s² east

Explanation

The forces point in opposite directions, so the net force is 30 N − 10 N = 20 N east. Dividing by the 4 kg mass gives a = 20 N ÷ 4 kg = 5 m/s² east.

Question 26Forces and Interactions

Which quantity is measured in newtons (N)?

  1. Speed
  2. Force Correct answer.
  3. Mass
  4. Acceleration

Explanation

The newton is the SI unit of force, defined as the force that gives a 1 kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/s². Balances and spring scales that measure pushes or pulls report their results in newtons.

Question 27Forces and Interactions

Which term describes the force that opposes motion when two surfaces slide past each other?

  1. Normal force
  2. Tension
  3. Gravitational force
  4. Kinetic friction Correct answer.

Explanation

Kinetic friction acts between surfaces that are already sliding over one another and points opposite to the sliding motion. It exists only while the surfaces are in contact and moving relative to each other.

Question 28Forces and Interactions

What is the net force on an object acted on by a set of balanced forces?

  1. Equal to the smallest force
  2. Equal to the sum of the forces
  3. Equal to the largest force
  4. Zero Correct answer.

Explanation

Balanced forces are equal in size and opposite in direction, so they cancel when combined. Adding them as vectors gives a net force of zero.

Question 29Forces and Interactions

A wagon sits motionless on a level sidewalk. What is the net force acting on the wagon?

  1. Equal to its weight
  2. Equal to the upward support force
  3. Greater than its weight
  4. Zero newtons Correct answer.

Explanation

Because the wagon is at rest, its velocity is not changing, so all the forces on it must cancel. The downward weight and the upward push of the ground are equal and opposite.

Question 30Forces and Interactions

Which condition is required to change the velocity of a moving object?

  1. A net force of zero
  2. An unbalanced force Correct answer.
  3. Balanced forces
  4. Any contact force at all

Explanation

A change in velocity is an acceleration, and an acceleration always requires a nonzero net force. Balanced forces cancel, so they leave the velocity unchanged.

Question 31Forces and Interactions

Inertia is best described by which of the following?

  1. The force that pulls objects toward Earth
  2. An object's resistance to a change in motion Correct answer.
  3. The top speed reached by a falling object
  4. The grip a rough surface has on a sliding object

Explanation

Inertia is the property of matter that keeps an object doing what it is already doing unless a net force acts on it. Objects with more mass have more inertia.

Question 32Forces and Interactions

A box slides to the right across a rough floor. In which direction does the friction force on the box act?

  1. Downward
  2. To the left Correct answer.
  3. To the right
  4. Upward

Explanation

Kinetic friction acts along the surfaces and opposite to the direction of sliding, so it points to the left. This force is what makes a sliding box gradually slow down.

Question 33Forces and Interactions

Which of these forces is a contact force?

  1. The push of a hand on a door Correct answer.
  2. The magnetic pull on a paper clip
  3. Earth's pull on an orbiting satellite
  4. The attraction between two electric charges

Explanation

A contact force requires the objects to touch, as when a hand pushes a door. Gravity, magnetism and electric attraction all act across a distance without contact.

Question 34Forces and Interactions

Two forces act on a small box at the same time: 6 N pushing north and 8 N pushing east. What is the size of the net force on the box?

  1. 14 N
  2. 48 N
  3. 2 N
  4. 10 N Correct answer.

Explanation

Forces at right angles combine like the legs of a right triangle, so the net force equals the square root of (6² + 8²). That gives 10 N.

Question 35Forces and Interactions

A net force of 12 N gives a cart an acceleration of 3 m/s². What is the mass of the cart?

  1. 9 kg
  2. 0.25 kg
  3. 36 kg
  4. 4 kg Correct answer.

Explanation

Newton's second law rearranged gives mass = net force ÷ acceleration. Dividing 12 N by 3 m/s² gives 4 kg.

Question 36Forces and Interactions

On a planet where gravity has a strength of 10 N/kg, what is the weight of a 5 kg rock?

  1. 50 N Correct answer.
  2. 5 N
  3. 15 N
  4. 0.5 N

Explanation

Weight equals mass multiplied by the strength of gravity at that location. Multiplying 5 kg by 10 N/kg gives 50 N.

Question 37Forces and Interactions

A mover finds it takes a hard shove to start a heavy crate sliding, but a gentler push keeps it moving. Which statement explains this?

  1. The friction on a still crate is larger than sliding friction Correct answer.
  2. Friction disappears once the crate starts moving
  3. Sliding friction is larger than the friction on a still crate
  4. Friction depends only on the weight of the crate

Explanation

Static friction can build up to a larger maximum value than kinetic friction does. That is why breaking a crate free takes more force than keeping it sliding.

Question 38Forces and Interactions

A ball on a string moves in a circle at a constant speed. Which statement about the ball is correct?

  1. No force acts on the ball because its speed stays constant
  2. The net force on the ball points along its direction of motion
  3. Its velocity changes, so a net force acts on it Correct answer.
  4. The ball's velocity is constant, so the net force on it is zero

Explanation

Velocity includes direction, and the ball's direction changes continuously as it goes around the circle. A changing velocity means the ball is accelerating, so a net force must act on it, directed toward the centre of the circle.

Question 39Forces and Interactions

A book rests on a desk. Which pair of forces is an action–reaction pair?

  1. The book pushes down on the desk and the desk pushes up on the book Correct answer.
  2. The downward weight of the book and the downward weight of the desk
  3. The normal force on the book and the friction on the book
  4. Earth's downward pull on the book and the desk's upward push on the book

Explanation

Newton's third-law pairs are equal, opposite, the same type of force, and act on two different objects. The book pressing on the desk and the desk pressing back on the book meet all of these conditions.

Question 40Forces and Interactions

A ball rolls off a table and falls. Ignoring air resistance, which forces act on the ball while it is in the air?

  1. Gravity and an upward force from the air
  2. A forward push from the table only
  3. Gravity and a forward push from the table
  4. Gravity only Correct answer.

Explanation

Once the ball leaves the table, the table can no longer push it, and with air resistance ignored, gravity is the only force acting. That is why the ball speeds up only in the downward direction.

Question 41Forces and Interactions

A puck slides across frictionless ice and is given a brief push that then stops. What happens to the puck after the push ends?

  1. It moves in a circle at constant speed
  2. It keeps moving at constant velocity Correct answer.
  3. It keeps speeding up along a straight line
  4. It gradually slows down and stops

Explanation

With no friction and no other horizontal force, the net force on the puck is zero after the push ends. A zero net force means the puck keeps the velocity it has, in both size and direction.

Question 42Forces and Interactions

Which statement about mass and weight is correct?

  1. Mass is measured in newtons and weight in kilograms
  2. Mass and weight are the same quantity
  3. Weight stays the same everywhere while mass changes with gravity
  4. Mass is in kilograms; weight is a force in newtons Correct answer.

Explanation

Mass measures the amount of matter and is reported in kilograms. Weight is the gravitational force on that mass and is reported in newtons.

Question 43Forces and Interactions

A box slides across a floor at constant speed. Which change would increase the kinetic friction acting on the box?

  1. Turning the box onto a larger face
  2. Sliding the box faster
  3. Sliding the box on a smoother floor
  4. Placing extra weights on top of the box Correct answer.

Explanation

Kinetic friction grows as the force pressing the two surfaces together increases. Adding weights increases that pressing force, so the friction increases.

Question 44Forces and Interactions

Air resistance is ignored. What is the acceleration of a 3 kg ball falling near Earth's surface, where g = 10 N/kg?

  1. 10 m/s² Correct answer.
  2. 3 m/s²
  3. 0 m/s²
  4. 30 m/s²

Explanation

The weight of the ball is 3 kg × 10 N/kg = 30 N, and dividing that force by the mass gives 30 N ÷ 3 kg = 10 m/s². Every freely falling object near Earth accelerates at about 10 m/s².

Question 45Forces and Interactions

Two objects attract each other with a gravitational force. If the mass of one object doubles while the distance between them stays the same, what happens to the force?

  1. It becomes four times as large
  2. It doubles Correct answer.
  3. It stays the same
  4. It halves

Explanation

Gravitational force is proportional to each of the two masses. Doubling one mass while the distance stays fixed doubles the force.

Question 46Forces and Interactions

A ball is thrown straight upward and air resistance is ignored. Which statement about the ball at the highest point of its flight is correct?

  1. No forces act on it at that instant
  2. The net force on it points upward
  3. The net force on it points downward and is not zero Correct answer.
  4. The net force on it is zero because it stops for an instant

Explanation

Gravity acts on the ball at every moment of the flight, including at the top. The net force is therefore the ball's weight, pointing downward, even though its velocity is momentarily zero.

Question 47Forces and Interactions

A 2 kg cart moving at 4 m/s is brought to rest in 2 s by a steady force. What net force acts on the cart while it stops?

  1. 16 N
  2. 4 N Correct answer.
  3. 8 N
  4. 2 N

Explanation

The acceleration is the change in velocity divided by the time: (0 − 4 m/s) ÷ 2 s = 2 m/s² opposing the motion. Newton's second law then gives F = 2 kg × 2 m/s² = 4 N.

Question 48Forces and Interactions

A crate is pushed across a rough floor at a steady speed by a horizontal force of 20 N. The push is then increased to 30 N while friction stays at 20 N. What happens to the crate?

  1. It speeds up while the 30 N push acts Correct answer.
  2. It instantly moves at a new, higher constant speed
  3. It slows down because friction is now larger
  4. It keeps moving at the same steady speed as before

Explanation

A 30 N push against 20 N of friction leaves a net force of 10 N in the direction of motion. With an unbalanced force acting, the crate accelerates and its speed keeps increasing until the forces change again.

Question 49Forces and Interactions

A 4 kg object hangs from a rope and is pulled upward, where g = 10 N/kg. The rope pulls up with 60 N while gravity pulls down with 40 N. What is the object's acceleration?

  1. 25 m/s² upward
  2. 10 m/s² downward
  3. 15 m/s² upward
  4. 5 m/s² upward Correct answer.

Explanation

The net force is 60 N up minus 40 N down, which is 20 N upward. Dividing by the mass gives 20 N ÷ 4 kg = 5 m/s² upward.

Question 50Forces and Interactions

A heavy metal ball and a light foam ball of the same size are dropped together inside a chamber with all the air pumped out. Which result occurs?

  1. The metal ball lands first because it is much heavier
  2. The foam ball lands first because it is lighter
  3. They land together because both have the same acceleration Correct answer.
  4. Neither ball falls because there is no air in the chamber

Explanation

In a vacuum the only force on each ball is gravity, which gives every object the same acceleration of about 10 m/s² regardless of mass. The greater weight of the metal ball is matched by its greater inertia, so the two balls fall side by side.