Newton's Laws of Motion

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary related to Newton's Laws of Motion, including definitions and explanations.

Force

A physical vector quantity resulting from the interaction between two bodies, which can be exerted at distance or through contact.

Mass

An intrinsic property of a body that specifies its resistance to changes in velocity; measured in kilograms.

Weight

The gravitational force exerted by the Earth on an object, which has an average acceleration of 9.8 m/s² on the surface.

Normal Force

The force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it, always perpendicular to the surface.

Tension Force

The force exerted through a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends.

Friction Force

A resistance force that opposes the motion of an object when it is in contact with a surface.

Hooke's Law

States that the force exerted by a spring is proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed.

Action-Reaction Pair

According to Newton's Third Law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Net Force

The vector sum of all the forces acting on an object.

Inertia

The property of matter that causes it to resist changes in motion.

Energy

The ability to do work or produce change, existing in various forms like kinetic and potential energy.

Work

The transfer of energy that occurs when a force is applied over a distance; measured in Joules.

Conservative Force

A force that does work that is independent of the path taken, and is only dependent on the initial and final positions.

Non-Conservative Force

A force whose work depends on the path taken, such as friction.

Potential Energy

The energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of an object due to its motion; given by the formula KE = 1/2 mv².

Velocity

The speed of an object in a specified direction.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity of an object over time.