Describing Changes in Motion

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts of motion, forces, and scientific observations based on the motion lecture notes.

Motion

A change in an object's position over time.

At rest

The state of an object when its position is not changing relative to a chosen reference point.

Speed

How fast an object changes position.

Direction

The way an object is moving.

Change in motion

Starting, stopping, speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

Force

A push or a pull on an object.

Push

A force that acts to move an object away from the source of the push.

Pull

A force that acts to draw an object toward the source of the pull.

Gravity

A force that pulls a dropped object, such as a marble, downward.

Friction

A force between an object and a surface that often slows a rolling ball on a table.

Thrusters

Devices that fire to stop an approaching space pod or push it in a direction.

Observation

A statement that describes what happened rather than explaining what caused it.

Explanation

A proposed reason for why an event occurred that requires evidence to test and prove.