Forces and motion Flashcards
Vector
A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Scalar –
A physical quantity that only has magnitude.
Resultant vector
The single vector which has the same effect as all the original vectors acting together.
Distance
– The length of path travelled.
Displacement
Change in position.
Speed
Rate of change of distance.
Velocity –
Rate of change of position or Rate of change of displacement.
Acceleration
Rate of change of velocity.
Inertia –
The property of an object that causes it to resist a change in its state of rest or
uniform motion.
Weight –
The gravitational force the earth exerts on any object on or near its surface.
Normal force
The perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it.
Frictional force
The force that opposes the motion of an object.
Tension in a string/cable
The tension in a string/cable is the same throughout the entire
string/cable.
Newton’s First Law
– An object continues in a state of rest or uniform velocity unless it is
acted upon by a net or resultant force.
Newton’s Second Law
– When a net force, Fnet, is applied to an object of mass, m, it accelerates in the direction of the net force. The acceleration, a, is directly proportional to the net force and inversely proportional to the mass.
