forces Flashcards
define tension
A force experienced by a cable, rope , or strung when pulled, hung, rotated or supported.
define compression
a decrease in the length of an object when a compressive force is exerted on it
define friction
a resitive force on an object that is caused by two surfaces being in contact, acting in the opposite direction to motion
define fluid
a substance that can flow, including liquids or gases
define lift
a force caused by the flow of a fluid around an object, which acts perpendicular to the fluid flow
most often in the upwards direction
define normal contact force
a reaction force exerted by a surface on an object which acts perpendicular to the surface
define upthrust
force acting on an object submerged or partially submerged in fluids
What is the special equation from Newton’s 2nd Law?
What is the definition of one Newton?
The force required to accelerate the mass of 1kg by 1ms^-2 in the direction of the force
Define Weight
The gravitational force acting on an object, proportional to its mass. On Earth W=mg
What is the centre of mass?
The point through which any externally applied force produces straight line motion but no rotation
What is the difference between the centre of mass and then centre of gravity?
Centre of mass is not dependant on the gravitational field.
What is the centre of gravity?
An imaginary point where the entire weight of an object appear to act
When do the centre of gravity and centre of mass act in the same place?
When there is a uniform gravitational field
How do you find the centre of mass for a realistic body?
- suspend the body from a position near it’s edge
- allowing it to come to rest
- drawing a line vertically down, use a plumb line to guide
- suspend it from another point and repeat
- Centre of Mass lays where the lines intersect
if body comes to rest—>weight acts through centre of mass = 0 momentum
what are the factors affecting drag?
- speed
- cross sectional area
- density of fluid
what factors affect air resistance?
- cross sectional area
- altitude
- temperature/humididty
what is terminal velocity?
when there is a zero resultant force
how does mass affect terminal velocity?
the higher the mass, the
higher the terminal velocity, because the object with a heavier mass will reach eqilibrium at a higher terminal velocity
what is a moment?
- the turning effect of a force
- causing objects to rotate about a pivot point
- force times perpendicular distance from pivot to line of action
what is the principle of moments?
when in equlibrium, the sum of clockwise moments= the sum of anti clockwise moments
what is a couple?
a pair of equal and opposite co-planar forces that act to produce a rotation only, no translational force
distance between the forces must be perpendicular
produce a Resultant force of 0 but a resultant moment