Forces Flashcards
what is a scalar quantity?
something that only has magnitude (size)
three examples of scalar quantities
- mass
- temperature
- speed
what is a vector quantity?
something that has both direction and magnitude
three examples of vector quantities
- velocity
- weight
- force !!
define what a force is
a push, pull, or twist that acts on an object due to interaction with other objects
what is force measured in?
newtons (N)
three examples of a contact force
- friction
- air resistance
- reaction
three examples of non-contact forces
- gravity
- magnetism
- electrostatic
define what weight is
a force due to gravity
what is weight measured in?
newtons (N)
what is the equation for weight?
weight = mass x gravitational field strength
what is the connection between weight and mass?
they are directly proportional to one another
define resultant force
a single force that is used to represent a number of forces acting on an object
what is the connection between work done and energy transfer?
whenever work is done, energy is transferred
key fact about elastic materials
they will always return to their original shape if we take away the forces acting on them
define elastic limit
the point at which a spring does not go back to it’s original shape
what’s the connection between work done and elastic potential energy?
the work done is equal to the elastic potential energy
describe the differences between distance and displacement (2)
DISTANCE
- only shows how far
- scalar quantity (only has magnitude)
DISPLACEMENT
- shows how far an object travels in a given direction
- vector quantity (has both magnitude and direction)
what is the typical walking speed?
1.5 m/s
what is the typical running speed?
3 m/s
what is the typical cycling speed?
6 m/s
what is the speed of sound in air?
330 m/s
how can you work out the speed of sound? (5)
- stand near a wall in a place that echoes (hall, sports hall)
- two people: one holds the stopwatch, one claps their hands
- measure your distance from the wall
- time how long from clapping that the echo is heard for
- use the speed equation
define velocity
speed in a given direction