Motion and Forces/Law & Theory Vocab

Flashcards for vocabulary terms related to motion, forces, and Newton's laws.

Motion

When an object changes its position. Dependent on the reference point.

Reference Point

An indicator that orients you; the place from where you measure, record, or witness an event.

Distance

How far an object has moved.

Displacement

Distance and direction of an object's change in position; difference from starting to ending point.

Speed

The distance an object travels per unit of time.

Average Speed

Total distance traveled divided by total time traveled.

Instantaneous Speed

The speed at any given point.

Velocity

The speed of an object and the direction of its motion.

Acceleration

Rate of change of velocity over time.

Force

Push or pull one object exerts on another. Measured in Newtons.

Net Force

The combining of forces when two or more forces act on an object.

Balanced Forces

Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction.

Unbalanced Forces

Forces that are not equal in size and opposite in direction.

Newton's First Law

An object will move at a constant velocity until a net force acts on it.

Inertia

The tendency of an object to resist a change in motion.

Newton's 2nd Law

A net force acting on an object causes the object to accelerate in the direction of the net force.

Friction

Resistance to motion when two objects are in contact with one another.

Air Resistance

Resistance an object feels when traveling through the air.

Gravity

The attraction two objects have on one another.

Law of Universal Gravitation

Any two masses exert an attractive force on each other.

Weight

The force of gravity on an object.

Newton's Third Law

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Law of Conservation of Momentum

Mass in motion: transferred between objects in a collision.