Forces and Motion Study Guide

A vocabulary flashcard deck covering major concepts, laws, and definitions from the Forces and Motion study guide.

Speed

The distance traveled by an object divided by the time the object takes to travel that distance (e.g., $\text{m/sec}$ or $\text{m/hr}$).

Velocity

Speed in a given direction.

Acceleration

The rate at which velocity changes.

Newton’s first law of motion

States that the motion of an object will not change if no unbalanced forces act on it (Inertia law).

Newton’s second law of motion

States that the acceleration of an object depends on its mass and on the force exerted on it.

Newton’s third law of motion

States that whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object.

Force

Any push or pull in science, which is represented by Newtons ($\text{N}$).

Friction

A force that opposes motion, caused by hills and valleys on the surfaces of two objects touching each other.

Kinetic friction

One of the two kinds of friction identified in the study guide.

Static friction

One of the two kinds of friction identified in the study guide.

Inertia

The tendency of matter to resist a change in motion.

Mass

A measure of inertia.

Net Force

The overall force determined by adding and subtracting the forces present in a diagram, showing if there will be a change in motion.

Balanced forces

Occur when all forces in a diagram cancel out to zero net force, causing no change in motion.

Unbalanced forces

Occur when there is force remaining in a diagram in a particular direction, causing a change in motion.

Fluid

Any non-solid material that flows and takes the shape of its container, including all gasses and liquids such as water and air.

Pressure

Force exerted on a given area, measured in pascals.

Buoyant force

An upward force exerted by all fluids, caused by the differences in fluid pressure at depth.

Archimedes’ principle

States that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Bernoulli’s principle

States that fluid pressure decreases as the speed of the fluid increases.

Drag

Opposes motion through fluids and is ultimately a form of friction.

Pascal’s principle

States that a change in pressure in an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally to all parts of the fluid.