Forces and their Interactions Flashcards
What is a scalar quantity?
- only has a magnitude
- isn’t direction dependent
What is a vector quantity?
both a magnitude and 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 the interactions with another object
What are the two categories that all forces can be split into?
- contact (objects touching)
- non-contact (objects not touching)
Give three 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 scalar quantity?
vector (it has both a magnitude and associated direction)
Give 3 examples of vector quantities
- velocity
- displacement
- force
Give 3 examples of scalar quantities
- speed
- distance
- energy
What is weight?
the force that acts on an object due to gravity and the object’s weight
What quantities does weight depend on?
- mass
- gravitational field strength
What is the unit used for weight?
Newtons (N)
What is the unit used for gravitational field strength?
N/kg
What is meant by an object’s centre of mass?
the single point where an object’s mass can be considered to act through
