Forces and their interactions Flashcards
What is a scalar quantity?
A quantity that only has a magnitude.
What is a vector quantity?
A quantity that has both a magnitude and an associated direction.
How can a vector quantity be drawn and what does it show?
- As an arrow.
- The length of the arrow represents the magnitude.
- The arrow points in the associated direction.
What is a force?
A push or pull acting on an object due to an interaction with another object.
What are the 2 categories that all forcers can be split into?
- Contact forces (objects touching).
- Non-contact forces (objects separated).
Give 3 examples of contact forces
- Friction.
- Air resistance.
- Tension.
Give 3 examples of non-contact forces
- Gravitational forces.
- Electrostatic forces.
- Magnetic forces.
Is force a vector or a scalar quantity?
- Vector.
- It has a both magnitude and associated direction.
Give 3 examples of vector quantities
- Velocity.
- Displacement.
- Force.
Give examples of scalar quantities
- Temperature.
- Time.
- Mass.
- Speed.
- Distance.
- Energy.
What is weight?
The force that acts on an object due to gravity and the object’s mass.
What quantities does weight depend on?
Weight = mass x gravitational field strength
- The object’s mass.
- The gravitational field strength at the given position in the field.
What is the unit used for weight?
Newton (N).
What is the unit for gravitational field strength?
N/kg
What is meant by an object’s centre of mass?
The single point where an object’s weight can be considered to act through.
