High school forces

What is an applied force (Fa)

Force that one object or person exerts on another object

Can be push or pull

What is a friction force (Ff)

A force that opposes the applied force

Pull

What is a tension force (Ft)

A force that is transmitted through an object when it is stretched tight by forces acting from opposite ends

Pull

What is a gravitational force (Fg)

The force of gravity pulling the object to earth

Pull

What is a normal force (Fn)

The support force exerted by a surface on an object that is resting on it

Acts perpendicular to the surface

Normal in maths or physics means perpendicular

Push

What is thrust (Ft)

Force generated when you push something in the opposite direction

Push

What is drag (Fd)

Force generated due to the atoms/molecules/particles of the fluid hitting objects (push)

Similar to friction as it opposes motion

Also called air resistance, if the fluid is air

What is buoyant force (Fb)

Force generated when an object is submerged in fluid

Pushes against gravity

Also generated in the air but often too weak to affect objects

What is lift (Fl)

Force that is generated by the speed at which air flows over/under it

The faster the air, the higher the lift

Push

What are free body diagrams used for?

Conveying all the forces acting upon an object

What is the unit of force?

Newton (N)

Sum of force/net force = nonzero

Unbalanced forces, object will accelerate

Sum of force/net force = zero

Balanced forces, object will remain at rest

What is the law on inertia

Objects at rest will remain at rest until acted upon by an unbalanced force

Objects in motion will remain in motion at the same velocity until acted upon by an unbalanced force

Equation for Acceleration

Net force/Mass