Forces Flashcards
(106 cards)
Scalar quantities
Have magnitude only
Vector quantities
Have magnitude and direction
How to represent vector quantities
- arrow
- length represents magnitude
- direction represents direction
Force
Push/pull on object, caused by it interacting with something
Unit of force
Newtons (N)
Force quantity
Vector
Types of force
- contact
- non-contact
Contact force
When 2 objects have to touch for a force to act
What are the contact forces
- friction
- air resistance
- tension
- normal contact force
Non-contact force
When objects don’t need to be touching for force to act
Non-contact forces
- gravitational force
- electrostatic force
- magnetic force
What happens when 2 objects interact
A force is produced on both objects
Interaction pair
Pair of forces equal and opposite and act on two interacting objects
Gravitational force
Force of attraction between masses
Weight
Force acting on object due to gravity
Units for weight
Newtons (N)
Why is there a force of gravity
Due to gravitational field strength around Earth
Effects of gravity
- gives everything weight
- on surface of planet, makes all things fall to ground
Mass
amount of ‘stuff’ in an object
What does weight depends on
Gravitational field strength at location of object
Unit of weight
Newtons (N)
Centre of mass
Single point on object where weight force acts on it
Relationship between object’s weight and mass
Directly proportinal
How is weight measured
With a newtonmeter - calibrated spring balance