Forces and Motion

These flashcards cover key concepts about forces and motion from the lecture notes.

What is a force?

A force is a push or a pull that is applied by one object on another.

How is force measured?

Forces are measured in NEWTONS (N).

What are balanced forces?

Balanced forces are forces acting at the same size but in opposite directions, cancelling each other out.

What is Newton's first law of motion?

An object will remain stationary if no external force is acting on it, or it will keep moving at a steady speed in a straight line if it is moving.

What happens when the resultant force is zero?

The object will stay stationary or continue at a constant speed.

What happens when there is an unbalanced force acting on an object?

The object will change speed, either accelerating or decelerating.

What type of force is drag?

Drag is a force that opposes the motion of an object moving through a gas or liquid.

What is upthrust?

Upthrust is a force that keeps things afloat.

What is air resistance?

Air resistance is the drag force caused when an object moves through air.

What are the two categories of forces?

Contact forces and non-contact forces.

Can forces be acting in opposite directions at the same time?

Yes, forces can act in opposite directions and will create a resultant force depending on their magnitudes.

What is an example of a non-contact force?

Weight, magnetism, or electrostatic forces are examples of non-contact forces.