Contact Forces

Collision

An instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another

Damage

Physical harm caused to something in such a way as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function

Independent Variable

The variable the experimenter manipulates or changes, and is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable

Dependent Variable

The variable being tested and measured in an experiment

Kinetic Energy

The energy an object has because of its motion. All moving objects have kinetic energy

Potential Energy

The energy that is stored in an object due to its position. All non moving objects have potential energy

Force

A push or a pull

Deform/Deformation

When an object bends or changes shape

Compression

Size reduction due to force

Causes deformation and a change in pressure

Pressure

The action of a force acting on an opposing force
P = force / area
The smaller the area the greater the pressure becomes

Peak Force

The most force that is exerted by movement (one specific moment in time that has the greatest force)

Elastic Force

The force that allows some materials to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed

Free Body Diagram

Simple drawing of an object (moving or stationary) showing all of the forces acting on the object.
Arrows (or Vectors) are used to show the direction of the force
The larger/longer arrow shows more force, and the smaller arrow shows less force

Net Force

The sum of all forces acting on an object

Normal Force

The force that any surface exerts on another object
Its is always a contact force (objects must be touching for there to be a normal force)
Normal force usually is opposite to gravity

Air Resistance

The forces of air that is opposite of an object's motion as it is moving through the air
Air that is pushing against an object
Different surface areas produce different amounts of air resistance
Basically “air friction”

Terminal Velocity

The constant speed of a freely falling object
As an object falls through the air it gains speed, when the object can't gain anymore speed, it moves at a constant rate (terminal velocity)
Drag force and gravity are equal

Friction

The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.
Friction and Air resistance always slow a moving object down