Forces and Motion Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about forces, terminal velocity, drag, and center of mass.

Fluid

A category of substance which includes gases and liquids where the particles are free to move around.

Drag

Friction experienced by an object moving through a fluid.

Air resistance

A specific type of drag experienced by objects moving through air.

Terminal Velocity

The constant velocity reached when the drag force equals the weight force.

Streamlining

Reducing drag forces on an object, therefore increasing the maximum (terminal) velocity.

Centre of Mass

The point in an object at which the mass can be thought to be concentrated.

Suspension (Centre of Mass)

When an object is suspended from a point, the object will always settle with its centre of mass directly below the point of suspension

Centre of Mass Location

Located at the point where all three lines cross (after using a plumb line).

Stable Object

An object when its centre of mass lies above its base.