Resultant force

Physics Edexcel higher tier

What is a resultant force?

The resultant force is the single force that represents the vector sum of all individual forces acting on an object.

How is resultant force calculated?

Resultant force can be calculated by adding up all the forces acting on an object, taking into account their direction.

What happens when the resultant force is zero?

When the resultant force is zero, the object is in a state of equilibrium, meaning it remains at rest or moves with constant velocity.

What is Newton's first law of motion?

An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by a net external force.

Define weight in relation to resultant force.

Weight is the force acting on an object due to gravity and it contributes to the resultant force when calculating motion.

What is the formula for calculating weight?

Weight can be calculated using the formula: Weight (W) = mass (m) × gravitational field strength (g).

How can you determine the direction of resultant force?

The direction of the resultant force is determined by the direction of the larger force when forces of unequal magnitude are acting in opposite directions.

What is friction and how does it affect resultant force?

Friction is a force that opposes motion; it reduces the resultant force acting on an object and can prevent it from moving.

What are the units of force?

The unit of force in the International System of Units (SI) is the Newton (N).

How does mass affect the resultant force?

A larger mass requires a greater resultant force to achieve the same acceleration, according to Newton's second law of motion (F = ma).