Vocab
Free Fall
The motion of an object that is determined solely by gravity
Mass
A measure of an object’s inertia
Newton's 2nd Law
More force is more acceleration and objects with larger masses are harder to accelerate (Example: It’s easier to push an empty shopping cart than a full one)
Applied Force
Force that is applied to an object by a person or another object (contact force)
Terminal Velocity
Maximum speed an object reaches when falling through a fluid (contact force)
Inertia
An object’s resistance to changes in its motion (Example: A rolling ball won’t stop unless a force acts on it)
Equilibrium
When all the forces on an object balance out, so it stays at rest or moves at a constant velocity
Newton's 3rd Law
For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction (Example: When you jump off a boat, the boat moves backward)
Normal Force
The upward force a surface exerts to support the weight of an object resting on it (contact force)
Electric Force
Region of space around a charged body (field force)
Friction
A force that resists motion when two surfaces touch
Static Equilibrium
An object is at rest; it is not moving
Force
A push or pull exerted on an object that causes a change in its motion
Tension Force
The pulling force transmitted through a rope, string, or cable when it’s pulled tight (contact force)
Magnetic Force
A body sensitive to magnetic fields (field force)
Static Friction
The friction that prevents an object from starting to move
Dynamic Equilibrium
An object is moving at a constant velocity
Contact Force
Anything touching an object will exert a force on it (Example: Table exerts a force on a book sitting on it because they are in contact with one another)
Spring Force
Force exerted by a compressed or stretched spring upon any object that is attached to it
Gravitational Force
The force pulling objects to the Earth (field force)
Kinetic Friction
The friction that acts on a moving object
Newton's 1st Law
Things keep doing what they’re doing unless a force acts on them (Example: A soccer ball won't move unless you kick it)
Field Force
Forces exerted on an object without contact (Example: Gravity)
Drag Force
The resistance force caused by the motion of a body through a fluid, such as water or air (contact force)
What is the difference between mass and weight?
Mass = the amount of matter something is composed of
Weight = the measure of the pull of gravity on a mass