Forces

Question 1

What is a force?

Answer 1

A vector quantity (has magnitude and direction) that can change the shape of an object and put it into motion.

Question 2

What can forces do to objects?

Answer 2

1. Change velocity - speed up/slow down and change direction

2. Change shape - requires two forces

Question 3

How are forces represented on a diagram?

Answer 3

With arrows - the direction shows direction and the length shows magnitude.

Question 4

In what conditions are the forces on an object balanced?

Answer 4

1. Stationary
2. Moving at a constant velocity (zero resultant force)
   • if there’s no counter force, and accelerating object will continue accelerating.

Question 5

What is a resultant force? How do we calculate it?

Answer 5

1. Created when a force acting on an object is bigger than the other
2. Parallel OPPOSING forces = subtract them
3. Parallel SAME WAY forces = add them