Forces and their effects Flashcards
What is a force
A push or a pull that acts on an object due to the interaction with another object
What is a non-contact force
a force which acts on an object without coming physically in contact with it
Name the three non-contact forces
Gravitational attraction
Electrostatic attraction/repulsion
Magnetic attraction/repulsion
What is a contact force
A force which acts between objects that are physically touching
Name 3 contact forces
- Friction
- Tension
- Normal contact force (the force that pushes touching objects apart)
What is the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector quantity
Scalar: a quantity with ONLY magnitude
Vector: a quantity with magnitude and direction
What does a free body diagram represent
Shows the direction of the forces present within a situation
What does it mean when one arrow is large than the other within a scale drawing
The bigger the arrow the bigger the force that is acting upon it
What is resultant force
a single force that describes all of the forces operating on a body
What is a balanced force
forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
What is an isolated system
An isolated system in physics is a system that has no net external force.
What is a vector component
A resolved force split into two components at right angels to each other
When does rotation occur
If an object is attached to a pivot point
What is a pivot point
A point an object can move around but can’t move away from
How do you calculate moments
Force x direction
when does equilibrium occur
sum of anticlockwise moments = sum of clockwise moments
How do you achieve the maximum moment
Pushing at right angles (perpendicular) to the object
How to levers make it easier to do work upon a pivot
increase the distance from the pivot so less force is needed
What is the role of gears
Can change speed, force or direction by rotation by transmitting a rotational effect
What is impact is made using a smaller gear
Second gear will turn faster with less force
What is impact is made using a larger gear
Second gear will turn slower with more force
What is the impact of lubrication when using gears
reduces friction, so reduces unwanted energy transfer and increases efficiency
