2026 Unit 2 - Physics

Year 7 2026 Unit 2 - Physics/Forces Flashcard Set

Force

A push, pull or twist

Contact Force

A force that requires contact to act on the object.

Non-Contact Force

A force that acts on an object without physically touching it.

Frictional Force

A type of contact force that resists motion when two surfaces rub against each other.

Spring Force

A contact force exerted by a compressed or stretched spring.

Tension Force

A pulling force transmitted through a string, rope, or wire.

Air Resistance

A contact force that opposes the motion of objects through the air.

Normal Force

The support force exerted upon an object that is in contact with another stable object.

Applied Force

A contact force that is applied to an object by a person or another object.

Electrical Force

A type of non-contact force that occurs between charged objects.

Magnetic Force

A non-contact force that can attract or repel magnetic materials.

Gravitational Force

The attractive force between objects due to their mass.

Balanced Force

Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.

Unbalanced Force

Forces that are not equal and opposite, resulting in a change of motion.

Weight

The gravitational force with which the Earth attracts masses toward its center.

Net Force

The sum of all forces acting on an object.

Work

Motion caused by a force, calculated as Work = Force x Distance.

Simple Machine

A mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force.

Inclined Plane

A flat supporting surface tilted at an angle, used to raise or lower heavy objects.

Wedge

A simple machine that changes the magnitude or direction of a force.

Lever

A stiff bar that moves about a fixed point, allowing mechanical advantage.

Fulcrum

The support or turning point of a lever.

Load

The object to be moved by the lever.

Effort

The applied force acting on the lever.

Mechanical Advantage (MA)

The factor by which a machine multiplies the force.

Density

The quantity of something per unit volume, area, or length.

Buoyancy

The tendency of an object to float or rise in a fluid.

Archimedes' Principle

The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the displaced water.

Drag

A force that opposes an object's motion through a fluid.

Speed

How fast something moves, calculated as Speed = Distance ÷ Time.

Velocity

Speed in a specific direction.

Acceleration

How quickly an object's velocity changes.

Newton's 1st Law of Motion

An object at rest or in motion stays that way unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

Newton's 2nd Law of Motion

Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass, with Force = Mass x Acceleration.

Newton's 3rd Law of Motion

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.