Balanced Forces
What are balanced forces?
Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.
What are unbalanced forces?
Forces that are not equal, causing a change in motion.
What is a lever?
A simple machine that consists of a bar that pivots on a fixed point called a fulcrum.
What is a pulley?
A simple machine that uses a wheel and a rope to lift objects.
What is a wedge?
A simple machine that is a triangular-shaped tool used to split things apart.
How do balanced forces affect motion?
They keep an object at rest or moving at a constant speed.
How do unbalanced forces affect motion?
They cause an object to start moving, stop moving, or change direction.
How does a lever make work easier?
It allows you to lift a heavy load with less effort by changing the direction or magnitude of the force.
How does a pulley help lift objects?
It changes the direction of the force needed to lift the object.
How does an inclined plane help move objects?
It allows you to move heavy objects up a slope instead of lifting them straight up.
Give an example of balanced forces in everyday life.
A book resting on a table, where the force of gravity is balanced by the support force of the table.
Give an example of unbalanced forces in sports.
A soccer player kicking a ball; the force of the kick is greater than the resistance of the ball.
Give an example of a lever in use.
A seesaw or a crowbar.
Give an example of a pulley system.
A flagpole with a rope to raise and lower the flag.
Give an example of a wedge in use.
A knife or an axe.
How can you tell if forces are balanced?
If the object is not moving or is moving at a constant speed.
What direction will an object move with unbalanced forces?
In the direction of the greater force.
What are the parts of a lever?
The effort, load, and fulcrum.
What are the advantages of using a pulley?
It reduces the amount of force needed to lift an object.
How do wedges and inclined planes change forces?
They reduce the amount of force needed to do work by spreading it over a longer distance.
What happens when balanced forces act on an object?
The object does not change its state of motion.
How can unbalanced forces change an object's speed?
They can increase or decrease the speed of the object depending on the direction of the forces.
How do you find the fulcrum in a lever?
It is the point around which the lever rotates.
How does the number of pulleys affect the force needed?
More pulleys reduce the amount of force needed to lift the load.
Compare the work done with a wedge vs. an inclined plane.
Both reduce the effort needed, but a wedge requires force applied to drive it in, while an inclined plane allows for gradual lifting.