Review Guide - Topic 2 Test - Newton's 1st Law & Forces

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and examples related to Newton's 1st Law and forces, derived from the student's lecture notes.

What is the first law of motion according to Newton?

An object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a force.

Define inertia.

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

What experiment did Galileo use to demonstrate the concept of inertia?

The rolling ball on a plane experiment.

Who proposed that the Sun is the center of the universe?

Copernicus.

What unit is used to measure force?

Newton (N).

What is mechanical equilibrium?

A state where the net force is zero, meaning the object can be at rest or moving with constant speed.

What happens to an object in mechanical equilibrium when at rest?

The normal force (FN) equals the gravitational force (Fg).

What happens to an object in mechanical equilibrium when in motion?

The applied force (FA) equals the frictional force (F) in the horizontal direction, and the normal force (FN) equals the gravitational force (Fg) in the vertical direction.

Define net force.

The sum of all forces acting on an object.

What is the significance of inertia in the 'tablecloth trick'?

Inertia of the mug keeps it at rest while the silk scarf is pulled out.

How does Newton's 1st Law differ from Aristotle's view of motion?

Newton's law states an object stays in motion/rest until a force acts, whereas Aristotle believed all things were naturally at rest.

Name a non-contact force.

Gravity (Fg).

What is tension in the context of forces?

A contact force that is transmitted through a string, rope, or wire.

What is air resistance and its symbol?

A contact force that opposes the motion of an object through air, denoted as Fair.

What does the symbol FA represent?

Applied force.

What is the result of a positive net force?

The object will accelerate in the direction of the net force.

What does a free-body diagram illustrate?

All the forces acting on an object.

Calculate the net force when an applied force of 26 N left and a frictional force of 4 N right act on an object.

Net Force = 26 N (left) - 4 N (right) = 22 N left.

What are the forces acting on a curling stone being pushed down a lane?

Applied force (FA = 26 N left), frictional force (Ff = 4 N right), gravitational force (Fg = 14 N down), and normal force (Fn = 14 N up).

What is the net force if a falling object has a gravitational force of 595 N and an air resistance of 3 N?

Net Force = 595 N (down) - 3 N (up) = 592 N down.

What happens to an object's motion if it is subject to zero net force?

The object either remains at rest or continues to move at constant speed.

What is a contact force?

A force that acts on an object through physical contact.

Define friction in terms of forces.

A contact force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in contact.

Identify one force acting on an object that is at rest on a table.

Normal force (FN).

Describe the effect of an unbalanced force on an object.

It causes the object to accelerate in the direction of the net force.

What do we call forces that act at a distance?

Non-contact forces.

How can you determine if an object is in equilibrium?

If the net force acting on it is zero.

What is the relationship between mass and inertia?

An object with more mass has more inertia.

Describe a situation in which an object has zero net force but is in motion.

An object moving at a constant speed in a straight line.