Physics: Forces, Motion, and Free Body Diagrams

What is a force?

A push or pull exerted on an object that causes a change in its motion.

How is force measured?

Measured in Newtons (N).

What is net force?

The sum of all forces acting on an object.

What is the purpose of free body diagrams?

Diagrams are used to show the relative magnitude and direction of all forces acting upon an object in a given situation and to calculate net force.

What is a field force?

Refers to forces exerted on an object without contact, such as gravity.

What is weight?

The measure of the pull of gravity on a mass.

What is static friction?

The force needed to overcome to get something moving.

What is kinetic friction?

Kinetic friction is the friction associated with moving objects.

Scalar

quantity has magnitude only (e.g., speed, distance),

Vector

vector quantity has both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, acceleration, force).

What is Mass?

the amount of matter something is composed of​

Contact Force

Anything touching an object will exert a force on it.

Applied Force (Fa)

Force that is applied to an object by a person or another object.

Friction (Ff)

Force exerted by a surface as an object moves across it.

Normal (FN)

A force any time two bodies are in direct contact with one another; always acts perpendicular to the body that applies the force.

Spring Forces (Fsp)

Force exerted by a compressed or stretched spring upon any object that is attached to it.

Air Resistance

Drag force = the resistance force caused by the motion of a body through a fluid, such as water or air.