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GCSE Physics (P2) > Forces > Flashcards

Forces Flashcards

1
Q

What is a force?

A

Something that can change the motion of an object

It is measured in Newtons (N)

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2
Q

What 3 ‘laws’ can be used to describe all forces?

A
  1. An object will remain at rest or travelling at a constant speed unless a resultant force acts on it.
  2. F = MA
  3. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
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3
Q

What is a resultant force?

A

The combined effect/overall effect of the forces acting on an object

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4
Q

What does it mean when the resultant force of an object is 0?

A
  • If the object is at rest, it will stay at rest
  • If the object is moving, it will continue doing so at the same speed and in the same direction
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5
Q

What does it mean if the resultant force on an object is not 0?

A

The object is accelerating

Therefore:

  • If the object is at rest, it will accelerate in the direction of the resultant force
  • If the object is moving in the same direction as the resultant force, it will accelerate in that direction
  • If the object is moving in the opposite direction to the resultant force, it will decelerate
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6
Q

If an object is accelerating, what can it be doing?

A
  • Speeding up
  • Slowing down
  • Chaning direction
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7
Q

What is acceleration?

A

Change in velocity per second (m/s2)

The can be changed by the object chaning either speed or direction

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8
Q

What is stopping distance?

A

Thinking distance + braking distance

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9
Q

What is thinking distance?

A

The distance traveled by a vehicle in the time it takes the driver to react to a stimulus

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10
Q

What is braking distance?

A

The distance traveled by the vehicle in the time between the brakes being applied and the vehicle actually stopping

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11
Q

What affects thinking distance?

A
  • Tiredness
  • Drugs
  • Reaction time
  • Speed at which the car is traveling
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12
Q

What affects braking distance?

A
  • Poorly maintained roads
  • Bad weather conditions
  • The conditions of the car (e.g. worn brakes)
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13
Q

What is weight?

A

The force of gravity acting upon an object

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14
Q

What is the extension of a spring?

A

The difference between the length of the spring and its original length

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15
Q

What happens when an object falls through a fluid?

A
  • Drag force is exerted on the object, resisting its motion
  • The faster the object falls, the bigger the drag force becomes
  • Eventually it will be equal to the weight of the object
  • The resultant force on the object is now 0, so it stops accelerating
  • It moves at a constant velocity so has reached its terminal velocity
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16
Q

What is an elastic object?

A

An object that regains its original shape when the forces deforming it are removed

17
Q

What is the relationship between the extension of a spring/elastic object and the force applied to it?

A

They are directly proportional until the limit of proportionality is reached/exceeded

18
Q

What is the limit of proportionality?

A

The limit of Hooke’s law applied to the extension of a spring

19
Q

What is Hooke’s law?

A

The extension of an elastic object/spring is directly proportional to the force applied provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded

20
Q

What is the spring constant (k) measured in?

A

N/m

21
Q

What happens to an elastic object/spring when the stretching force is removed?

A

The stored elastic potential energy is released as another type of energy

22
Q

Complete the sentence:

The stiffer the spring…

A

…the greater its spring constant

23
Q

What is fuel economy?

A

Reducing the amount of fuel a vehicle uses to travel a particular distance

24
Q

Why does reducing air resistance improve fuel economy and how can this be done?

A
  • By making a car more streamlined
  • Means less energy and power is needed to maintain a certain speed
  • Therefore less fuel is used
25
Q

What causes skidding?

A
  • When the brakes on a vehicle are applied too harshly
  • When a vehicle skids, the wheels lock and slide along the road surface
  • This increases stopping distance
26
Q

What can be done to reduce skidding?

A
  • Use anti-skid road surfaces
  • These are rougher than normal surfaces
  • This increases the friciton between tyres and the road
  • They are used in places where drivers are likely to brake, such as near traffic lights and road junctions
27
Q

What are speed cameras used for and how do they work?

A
  • Used to discourage motorists from speeding
  • Can determine the speed of a motorist at a particular point
  • Can also be used in pairs to determine the speed at two points, and so can calculate an average speed
  • Motorists going above the speed limit will be fined and may lose their licence

GCSE Physics (P2) (6 decks)

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