Physics Revision: Forces and Motion

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, units, formulas, and concepts from the Physics revision worksheet.

Force

A push or pull.

Drag

A force that opposes motion through a fluid.

Friction

A force that opposes motion between surfaces.

Weight

The force of gravity acting on an object.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity.

Balanced forces

Forces that have a net force of zero ($0\,\text{N}$).

Net force

The overall force acting on an object.

Air resistance

A drag force acting on an object moving through air, such as a parachutist.

Normal support force

An upward force supporting an object resting on a surface, such as a book resting on a table.

Driving force

A forward force that propels an object, such as a car engine pushing a car forwards.

Newton ($\text{N}$)

The standard unit of measurement for force and weight.

Kilogram ($\text{kg}$)

The standard unit of measurement for mass.

Meters per second squared ($\text{m/s}^2$)

The standard unit of measurement for acceleration.

Weight formula

$W = mg$, where $W$ is weight in Newtons ($\text{N}$), $m$ is mass in kilograms ($\text{kg}$), and $g$ is gravitational field strength in Newtons per kilogram ($\text{N/kg}$).

Force formula

$F = ma$, where $F$ is net force in Newtons ($\text{N}$), $m$ is mass in kilograms ($\text{kg}$), and $a$ is acceleration in meters per second squared ($\text{m/s}^2$).

Acceleration formula

$a = \frac{F}{m}$, where $a$ is acceleration in meters per second squared ($\text{m/s}^2$), $F$ is net force in Newtons ($\text{N}$), and $m$ is mass in kilograms ($\text{kg}$).

Speed formula

$v = \frac{d}{t}$, where $v$ is speed in meters per second ($\text{m/s}$), $d$ is distance in meters ($\text{m}$), and $t$ is time in seconds ($\text{s}$).

Distance formula

$d = vt$, where $d$ is distance in meters ($\text{m}$), $v$ is speed in meters per second ($\text{m/s}$), and $t$ is time in seconds ($\text{s}$).

Time formula

$t = \frac{d}{v}$, where $t$ is time in seconds ($\text{s}$), $d$ is distance in meters ($\text{m}$), and $v$ is speed in meters per second ($\text{m/s}$).

Earth gravitational field strength

$10\,\text{N/kg}$ near the surface of the Earth.

Moon gravitational field strength

$1.6\,\text{N/kg}$ on the surface of the Moon.

Unbalanced forces

Forces acting on an object where the net force is not zero, causing the object to accelerate.