Forces Unit Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is acceleration?

a change in speed or direction

What causes acceleration?

a force

What is a force?

a push or a pull on an object

What is used to measure a force? How is it defined?

newton - 1N is the same as the force of gravity acting on a 100g object Signup and view all the answers

What force measuring device did we use in class?

spring scale Signup and view all the answers

What is a vector and what information does it convey?

an arrow used to represent force; it shows the direction and magnitude Signup and view all the answers

What are opposing forces?

forces acting against each other Signup and view all the answers

What is tension?

transmitted through material when pulled; stretching type force Signup and view all the answers

What must be done to a spring scale before using it? Explain how it's done.

you have to zero the scale by pulling the tab at the top so that 1N=100g Signup and view all the answers

What do speeding up, slowing down, and changing direction all have in common?

all defined as acceleration Signup and view all the answers

What is magnitude?

the strength, power, or size of something Signup and view all the answers

How many objects are required to produce a force?

2 objects Signup and view all the answers

Define net force. What does it produce? AKA?

the sum of all forces acting on an object; causes acceleration; AKA resulting force or resultant force Signup and view all the answers

What are different ways of saying acceleration?

non-uniform motion, change in speed or direction Signup and view all the answers

What is the net force when forces are balanced?

0N Signup and view all the answers

What causes forces to be balanced?

when all forces acting on an object cancel each other out Signup and view all the answers

When forces on an object are balanced, how is the object described?

equilibrium Signup and view all the answers

What is the net force when forces are unbalanced? What happens?

the net force is greater than 0N; an object will accelerate Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the forces acting on an object are in the same direction?

the object will accelerate in the direction of the forces acting on it Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the forces acting on an object are in opposite directions?

the side with the greater force 'wins', so the object will accelerate in the way with the greater force Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the forces are in multiple directions?

forces can cancel each other out, or depending on the net force, an object can accelerate Signup and view all the answers

What will happen to a moving object if the forces acting on it are balanced?

the object will have no change in motion; object will continue to move in a straight line at the same speed Signup and view all the answers

What will happen to a motionless object if forces acting on it are balanced?

the object will have no change in motion; object will remain at rest Signup and view all the answers

What will happen to a moving object if the forces acting on it are unbalanced?

the object will accelerate Signup and view all the answers

What will happen to a motionless object if the forces are unbalanced?

the motionless object will move Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts of Forces and Acceleration

Acceleration refers to a change in speed or direction of an object.
Force is defined as a push or pull acting on an object, and acceleration requires the application of force.
Measurement of force is done in newtons (N), where 1N equals the gravitational force on a 100g object.
In class, a spring scale was used to measure force, demonstrating the relationship between force and the weight of an object.

Representing Forces

A vector represents force using an arrow, indicating both its direction and magnitude.
Opposing forces occur when two forces act against each other, potentially leading to balance or unbalance.

Tension and Force Measurements

Tension is a type of force transmitted through a material when pulled, resulting in stretching.
Before using a spring scale, it is crucial to zero the scale to ensure accurate measurements, where pulling a tab sets 1N to equal 100g.

Understanding Net Force

Net force is the total of all forces acting on an object, which determines its acceleration, also known as the resultant force.
When forces are balanced, the net force equals 0N, resulting in no change in the object's state of motion.
Equilibrium describes the state of an object when forces acting on it are balanced.

Effects of Forces on Motion

An object with unbalanced forces will experience acceleration, with a net force greater than 0N.
If forces act in the same direction, the object accelerates in that direction.
For forces acting in opposite directions, the stronger force prevails, causing acceleration toward the greater force.
Forces acting in multiple directions may cancel each other out, with the net force determining the object's acceleration.

Motion Dynamics

A moving object under balanced forces maintains its motion, continuing in a straight path at constant speed.
A motionless object under balanced forces remains at rest.
If forces on a moving object are unbalanced, it will accelerate.
A motionless object will begin to move if influenced by unbalanced forces.

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Test your understanding of key concepts related to forces and acceleration with these flashcards. Each card defines important terms and principles, helping you grasp the foundational aspects of physics. Perfect for review or study sessions!