oral definitions

normal force

support force that one surface exerts on another surface in contact with it. It acts perpendicular to the contact surface.

friction

a force that opposes intended motion between two touching surfaces, caused by the molecular roughness of the surfaces.

static friction

force that acts on a stationary object to prevent it from starting to move

kinetic friction

the force that opposes motion when two touching surfaces are sliding against each other

tension

a pulling force transmitted through a rope, cord, cable, or elastic band trying to go back to its original shape. Tension can pull, but it cannot push because a flexible material goes slack when pushed.

spring force

a force exerted by a stretched or compressed material that tends to return to its original shape

torque

a twisting effect caused by a force that causes angular acceleration around an axis or a pivot point

air resistance

a type of fluid friction that opposes an object’s motion through air.

linear acceleration

rate at which an object’s velocity changes. It tells us how quickly the ball speeds up, slows down, or changes direction as it moves in a straight line

angular acceleration

rate at which angular velocity changes. it tells us how quickly an objects rotation speeds up, slows down, or changes direction

potential energy

the stored ability to do work based on the position of an object in a system

gravitational potential energy

the ability to do work based on the locations of two masses attracted to each other by gravity.

spring potential energy

the energy stored in an elastic object when it is stretched or compressed

kinetic energy

the ability to do work based on the object’s motion

translational kinetic energy

when the center of mass of the object moves through space

rotational kinetic energy

the object rotates around an axel inside the body of the object