Forces Flashcards
what are the types of forces (contact and non-contact)
Contact Forces: These forces occur when two objects are physically touching each other. The effect of contact forces can be felt directly through the interaction of the objects. Examples include:
Friction: The force that opposes the motion of an object sliding or rolling over a surface.
Tension: The pulling force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends.
Normal Force: The support force exerted by a surface perpendicular to the object resting on it.
Applied Force: A force that is applied to an object by a person or another object.
Non-Contact Forces: These forces act on objects without physical contact. They can exert influence over a distance. Examples include:
Gravitational Force: The attractive force between two masses, such as the Earth and an object, which pulls the object toward the center of the Earth.
Electromagnetic Force: The force that occurs between charged particles, which can be attractive or repulsive.
Nuclear Force: The force that holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom.
What are forces
Forces are fundamental interactions that can cause an object to change its motion, shape, or state. They are vector quantities, meaning they have both magnitude and direction.
Difference between balanced and unbalanced forces
Balanced Forces:
When the net force acting on an object is zero, the forces are said to be balanced.
Balanced forces do not cause a change in the object’s motion. If the object is at rest, it remains at rest; if it is moving, it continues to move at a constant velocity.
Example: If two people push a stationary box with equal force in opposite directions, the forces are balanced, and the box does not move.
Unbalanced Forces:
When the net force acting on an object is not zero, the forces are unbalanced.
Unbalanced forces cause a change in the object’s motion, such as starting to move, stopping, or changing direction.
Example: If one person pushes a box with a greater force than another person pushes it in the opposite direction, the box will move in the direction of the greater force.
