Lab Aids Force and Motion Vocabulary

Accelerate

To change speed and/or direction per unit time

Acceleration

The change in speed and/or direction per unit of time

Balanced Force

When the magnitude and direction of more than one force acting on an object results in zero net force

Braking Distance

The distance a vehicle travels from the moment the driver applies the brakes until the vehicle comes to a complete stop

Constraint

Something that limits the solution to a problem

Criteria

A minimum requirement for how the design must function

Engineer

Someone who uses science and tools to build a product that solves a practical problem

Evidence

Information that supports or refutes a claim

Force

A push or pull on an object that can cause a change in motion

Friction

A force that exerts at the boundary between any two pieces of matter that are in contact with each other.

Kinetic Energy

energy of motion

Newton (N)

SI unit of force

Reaction Distance

The distance your vehicle travels between the time you recognize a problem and the time you apply the brakes

Reaction Time

the amount of time taken between the moment a driver realizes a problem and when the driver applies the breaks

Speed

The rate at which an object moves, equal to the distance traveled per time interval

Stopping Distance

The distance it takes to stop after the brakes are applied

System

A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements or parts that function together as a whole to accomplish a goal.

Trade-offs

A desirable outcome given up to gain another desirable outcome.

Unbalanced Force

When the magnitude and direction of more than one force acting on an object give a net force unequal to zero