Forces Flashcards
What is a vector
It has magnitude and direction
What is a scalar
Only has magnitude
What are examples of a vector quantity
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Pressure
Momentum
What are examples of scalar quantities
Distance
Speed
Time
Mass
Power
What are the 2 catagories forces can be split into
Contact forces-when 2 objects are touching
Non contact forces-when 2 objects are seperated
3 examples of contact forces
Friction
Air resistance
Tension
3 examples of non contact forces
Gravitational forces
Electrostatic forces
Magnetic forces
What happens during friction and air resistance
Friction-whenever 2 surfaces are touching and try to move against eachother, tiny bumps in the surface interlock. Creates a friction force
Air resistance-when an object moves through air it collided with air molecules. This created a force which slows the object down
What is meant by an objects centre of mass
The single point where an objects weight can be considered to act through
What piece of equipment can be used to measure an objects weight
A calibrated spring balance or Newton metre
What are examples of centre of mass used
Toppling over-an object falls if it’s centre of mass is outside its base.
Hanging objects-if an object is hung from a string it’ll hang with its centre of mass directly below the point it’s hung from
Why shouldn’t lots of people stand on the top deck of a bus
More people on the top deck of buses means the centre of mass will be higher
Therefore a smaller tilt of the bus is required to place the buses centre of mass outside of its wheeled causing the bus to tip
What is the equation for weight
Mass x gravitational field strength
What does it mean if a force is said to do work
The force causes an object to be displaced through a distance
What is the equation for work done
Force x distance
What occurs when work is done agaisnt frictional forces
A rise in temperature of the object occurs
Kinetic energy is converted to heat
Why does air resistance slow down a projectile
The object does work against the air resistance so kinetic energy is converted into heat slowing down the object
What is inertia
An objects mass is also a measure of how different it is to change the objects motion
What is a resultant force
The sum of all force acting on an object. If the forces acting on an object are unbalanced it means a resultant force is acting on it