Unit 6.4 - Forces and Motion

Force

A push or a pull on an object, or from one object to another.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object.

System

A group of related parts that make up a whole and can carry out functions its individual parts cannot.

Component

One of the essential parts found within a system.

Constraints

The "must-have" parts of a solution to a problem.

Criteria

The "like-to-have" parts of a solution to a problem.

Magnitude

The amount of something; how large or small something is.

Force Pair

The equal and opposite forces always present when two objects interact.

Data

The observations or measurements made during a scientific investigation.

Analysis

The process of studying and/or organizing data.

Frame of Reference

An agreed-upon set of units or scales to allow comparisons of investigation procedures and results.

Independent Variable

Variable/condition that is purposely changed in the investigation.

Dependent Variable

The measured results of the investigation.

Constants

The material, process, or condition that is purposely kept the same in the investigation.

Sum of Forces

When forces on an object are added up.

Balanced Forces

When the sum of all the forces on an object are equal and opposite.

Unbalanced Forces

When the sum of all the forces on an object are NOT equal and/or opposite.

Change in Motion

When an object changes its speed or direction.

Cushioning

Material that is designed to cause the amount of force in a collision to act over a larger area, reducing the damaging effects of the collision forces on an object.

Distribution of Forces

How a total force may be divided into multiple smaller forces.