scalars and vectors

What are scalar quantities defined by?

Scalar quantities have magnitude only.

What are vector quantities defined by?

Vector quantities have magnitude and an associated direction.

How is a vector quantity visually represented?

A vector quantity may be represented by an arrow where the length represents magnitude and the direction indicates direction.

What is a force?

A force is a push or pull that acts on an object due to interaction with another object.

What are the two types of forces based on contact?

Contact forces (objects physically touching) and non-contact forces (objects physically separated).

Give three examples of contact forces.

Friction, air resistance, and tension.

Give three examples of non-contact forces.

Gravitational force, electrostatic force, and magnetic force.

What type of quantity is force classified as?

Force is a vector quantity.

What does weight represent in physics?

Weight is the force acting on an object due to gravity.

How is weight calculated?

Weight can be calculated using the equation W = mg, where W is weight, m is mass, and g is gravitational field strength.

What is the unit for weight in the SI system?

The weight is measured in newtons (N).

What does the weight of an object depend on?

The weight of an object depends on the gravitational field strength at the point where the object is located.

What is the center of mass?

The center of mass is the single point where the weight of an object may be considered to act.

How do weight and mass relate to each other?

Weight and mass are directly proportional.

What is the resultant force?

The resultant force is a single force that can replace a number of forces acting on an object with the same effect as all original forces.

How can you calculate the resultant of two forces?

You can calculate the resultant of two forces that act in a straight line.

What is a free body diagram used for?

Free body diagrams are used to qualitatively describe examples where several forces lead to a resultant force on an object.

What can a single force be resolved into?

A single force can be resolved into two components acting at right angles to each other.

What is needed to illustrate resolution of forces?

Vector diagrams are used to illustrate resolution of forces, equilibrium situations, and to determine the resultant of two forces.