Topic 1: Forces and Gravitational Force

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, types of forces, units of measurement, and force principles from the provided notes.

Force

A push or a pull exerted on an object that can change its speed, direction of movement, and shape.

Newton

The unit used to measure forces.

Isaac Newton

A scientist who helped people to understand forces, after whom the unit of force is named.

Forces acting in pairs

The principle that objects exert forces on each other that are equal in size but act in opposite directions.

Net force

The force present when forces are not in balance and one force is greater than another force.

Gravity

A non-contact force that attracts objects towards each other and pulls objects towards the centre of the Earth.

Contact forces

Forces in which objects touch each other.

Frictional force

A contact force that acts against objects sliding past each other and tries to stop things sliding past one another.

Tension

A type of contact force that consists of pulling forces.

Compression

A type of contact force that consists of pushing forces.

Non-contact forces

Also known as field forces, these are forces between objects that are not touching each other, such as gravity, magnetic forces, and electrostatic forces.