Magnetic and Electrostatic Forces

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary and concepts related to magnetic forces, electrostatic forces, gravitational force, and general forces.

Magnetic Force

The force that magnets exert on magnetic materials that contain iron, steel, cobalt, and nickel.

Magnetic Materials

Objects that are attracted by a magnet.

Nonmagnetic Materials

Objects that are not attracted by a magnet.

Magnetic Field

The area around a magnet in which magnetic forces are exerted.

Magnetic Field Lines

Lines that represent the magnetic field, showing the path a N-pole would move along.

Magnetic Poles

At each end of a magnet, they are dissimilar and called the north pole (N) and the south pole (S).

Attraction and Repulsion

The principle that similar poles repel each other and dissimilar poles attract each other.

Static Electricity

Electricity that is generated through friction.

Frictional Process

The process where electrons move from one material to another, creating charged surfaces.

Repel

Objects with a similar charge (+ and + or - and -).

Attract

Objects with opposite charges (+ and -).

Lightning

A giant discharge (spark) of electricity between charged areas in clouds, or between clouds and the ground.

Charge Objects Through Friction

The rubbing on or rubbing off of electrons to charge objects.

Contact Force

Exerted when two objects are in contact with one another.

Non-Contact Force (Field Force)

Exerted over a distance between two objects, without them touching.

Force

Push and pull exerted on an object.

Newton (N)

The unit in which force is measured.

Net Force (Resultant Force)

When two or more forces act on an object, the forces combine to form a net force.

Balanced Forces

The amount and direction in which each force acts.

Gravitational Force (Force of Gravity)

An attraction between the ball and the Earth.

Weight (Fa)

The gravitational force that is exerted by the Earth (or the Moon, or another planet) on the object.

Mass (m)

The amount of matter in the object.