Forces and Free Body Diagrams - Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from the lecture on forces, acceleration, and inclined planes.

Net force

The vector sum of all forces acting on an object; determines the object's acceleration (F_net = m a).

Newton's second law

F_net = m a; the net force on an object equals its mass times its acceleration.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity; caused by net forces acting on an object.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object; relates to inertia and affects acceleration under a given net force.

Weight

The gravitational force acting on a mass; W = m g.

Gravitational acceleration (g)

Acceleration due to gravity near Earth's surface, approximately 9.8 m/s^2 (often approximated as 10 m/s^2).

Free body diagram

A sketch showing all forces acting on a single object with vectors indicating direction and relative magnitude.

Normal force

The contact force exerted by a surface perpendicular to that surface.

Inclined plane

A plane tilted relative to the horizontal; gravity has components parallel and perpendicular to the plane; the normal force is perpendicular to the plane.

Components of a force (x and y components)

Resolving a force into its projections along chosen axes (typically horizontal x and vertical y) for analysis.

Parallel and perpendicular components on an inclined plane

Gravity can be split into a component parallel to the plane (driving motion) and a component perpendicular to the plane (balanced by the normal force).

Axis orientation / sign convention

Choosing positive and negative directions for axes to consistently sum forces.

Vector addition / Sum of forces

Combining forces along chosen axes to obtain the net force acting on the object.

Equilibrium

A state where the net force is zero, resulting in no acceleration.