Forces and their Effects Flashcards
What is an alternative name for the turning effect of a force?
A moment
What is the equation used to calculate the moment of a force?
Moment of force = force x distance
What distance measurement is used when calculating a moment?
The perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the force
If an object is in equilibrium, what can be said about the moments acting on the object?
The clockwise moments are equal to the anti-clockwise moments
How do levers make use of moments?
They increase the perpendicular distance of the force from the pivot, so decrease the force needed to produce the same moment
How are levers used to decrease the force required to lift something?
Levers use a pivot point and the concept of moments to reduce the force, the further you are away from the pivot point, the less force you need to lift the object up
How does lubricating levers/gears improve efficiency?
There is less resistance, less energy is wasted overcoming frictional forces
What is a force?
A push or pull acting on an object due to an interaction with another object
What are the two categories that all forces can be split into?
Contact and non-contact forces
What are some examples of contact forces?
Friction, air-resistance and tension
What are some examples of non-contact forces?
Gravitational, electrostatic and magnetic forces