1.4 - Effects of Forces

Flashcards covering Forces, Newton's Laws, Hooke's Law, Circular Motion, and Friction based on IGCSE Physics notes.

Resultant Force

A single force that describes all of the forces operating on a body.

Balanced Forces

Forces are this if multiple forces act in opposing directions with an equal magnitude in each direction. The effects of the forces then cancel out.

Newton's First Law of Motion

An object will remain at rest, or move with a constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force.

Newton's Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object is proportional to the resultant force acting on it and inversely proportional to the object's mass.

Newton's Second Law Equation

F = ma, where F is the resultant force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration.

Clamp stand, boss and clamp

To apply an upward force on the spring during investigation of force and extension.

Ruler

To measure the extension of the spring.

Calculating Force Applied to a Spring

The weight is calculated using the equation W = mg.

Hooke's Law

The extension of an elastic object is directly proportional to the force applied, up to the limit of proportionality.

Hooke's Law Equation

F = kx, where F is the force applied, k is the spring constant, and x is the extension of the spring.

Spring Constant

The force per unit extension; it measures how stiff a spring is.

Circular Motion and Velocity

Velocity is always changing, even if speed is constant, because direction is always changing.

Friction

A force that works in opposition to the motion of an object, causing energy transfer by heating.

Friction

Occurs when energy is transferred by heating, causing an increase in temperature ofthe object and its surroundings.

Air Resistance

A type of friction that slows the motion of an object moving through air.