AQA GCSE Physics Topic 5 Forces Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards related to forces from physics lecture notes.

Vector

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Scalar

A quantity that has only magnitude.

Force

A push or pull that acts on an object due to the interaction with another object.

Non-Contact Force

Forces where objects are physically separated.

Contact Force

Forces where objects are physically touching.

Weight

The force exerted on a mass by a gravitational field.

Resultant Force

A single force representing the sum of all forces acting on an object.

Deformation

Changing shape of an object.

Elastic Deformation

Object returns to its original shape when the load has been removed.

Inelastic Deformation

Object does not return to its original shape when the load has been removed.

Hooke's Law

The extension of an elastic object is directly proportional to the force applied, provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded.

Pivot Point

A point which an object can rotate about but cannot move away from.

Moment of a Force

Force multiplied by perpendicular distance.

Equilibrium

When the sum of anticlockwise moments equals the sum of clockwise moments.

Pressure

Force per unit area, measured in Pascals (Pa).

Buoyancy Force

The upwards force on a submerged object, counteracting its weight.

Height

The height of a column of liquid.

Density

Mass per unit volume of a substance.

Gravitational Field Strength

The acceleration due to gravity.

Upthrust

An upward force experienced by a submerged object, due to greater pressure on the bottom surface.

Distance

How far an object moves; a scalar quantity.

Displacement

Distance in a straight line from start to finish point, including direction; a vector quantity.

Speed

Distance travelled per unit time; a scalar quantity.

Velocity

Speed in a given direction; a vector quantity.

Acceleration

Change in velocity per unit time.

Terminal Velocity

The constant velocity of a falling object when the drag force equals the weight.

Newton's First Law

An object has a constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force.

Newton's Second Law

The acceleration of an object is proportional to the resultant force and inversely proportional to its mass.

Inertia

The tendency for objects to continue in uniform velocity (or stay at rest).

Newton's Third Law

Whenever two objects interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal and opposite.

Thinking Distance

Distance traveled during the driver's reaction time.

Braking Distance

Distance required to stop the vehicle once the brakes are applied.

Momentum

The product of mass and velocity.