Chapter 1 Flashcards
motion
an object’s change in position relative to a reference point
speed
the distance traveled divided by the time interval during which the motion occured
velocity
the speed of an object in a particular direction
acceleration
the rate at which velocity changes over time; an object accelerates if its speed, direction, or both change
force
a push or a pull exerted on an object in order to change the motion of the object; force has the size and direction
newton
the SI unit of force
net force
the combination of all of the forces acting on an object
friction
a force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact
gravity
a force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses
weight
a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object; its value can change with the location of the object in the universe
mass
a measure of the amount of matter in an object