Forces: Key words and terms Flashcards
(20 cards)
Air resistance
A force that slows down things that are moving through the air. Its a type of friction
Balanced forces
When all forces acting on an object cancxel each other, so that the object diesn’t change speed, direction, or shape.
Contact force
A force that only acts between things that are touching (e.g. friciton)
Electrostatic force
A force that attracts things. Its caused when certain materials rub together
Equilibrium
The word for when forces are balanced. When in equiliubrium an object will either stay still or keep moving with the same speed in a straight line.
Force
A push, pull, or twist
Force meter
Piece of equipment containing a spring that is used to measure forces in newtons
Friction
A force that slows down things that rub together. It acts in the opposite direction to the movement.
Gravitational field strength
The force of attraction per kg between any two objects. The Earth is very big and so has a strong gravity that pulls everything towards the centre of the earth. GFS on earth is 10N/KG
Magnetism
a force that acts between magnets, or between magnets and objects made of iron
Mass
The amount of matter soomething is made of. Mass is measured in grams and kilograms. Mass is conserved and doesn’t change.
Newton
Unit of force. The weight of an apple is about 1N
Non contact force
A force that can affect something from a distance
Normal reaction force
The normal contact force pushed back when two objects are in contact
Resultant force
The overall force on an object when all of the forces acting on it are combined. It is the force left over to make things change.
Thrust
A driving force
Unbalanced forces
When forces on an object are unbalanced there is a resultant (overall) force, which will make the object change speed, direction or shape
Upthrust
A force that pushes things up in liquids and gases
Water resistance
A force that slows things down that are moving through the water. It is a type of friction
Weight
The amount of force which gravity pulls something towards earth. its measured in newtons.
