Science Study Guide: Forces and Motion

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts in forces and motion, including definitions of key terms and laws related to the topic.

Net Force

The overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces acting on it are combined.

Balanced Forces

Forces that are equal in size but opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.

Inertia

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

Momentum

The quantity of motion an object has, which depends on its mass and velocity.

Newton's Second Law

The law stating that the acceleration of an object is equal to the net force acting on it divided by its mass (F = ma).

Centripetal Force

A force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed toward the center around which the object is moving.

Reference Direction

A specified direction used to define other directions and forces.

Unbalanced Force

Forces that are not equal and opposite, resulting in a change in motion.

Circular Motion

The motion of an object moving in a circular path, requiring a centripetal force.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms.