L2: Forces - Terms & Definitions Flashcards
Acceleration
Change in Velocity
Coefficient of Friction
The coefficient of friction is a dimensionless value that represents the ratio of the force of friction between two objects to the normal force pressing them together.
Contact Force
The force between objects that are physically touching.
Fluid Contact Forces = Air & water
Deformation
Change in Shape due to an applied force
Dynamic Friction
Resistance to motion between two objects, that are moving relative to each other
Dynamography
Measuring and Recording of Forces and Pressure exerted by muscles
External Force
A force applied to an object outside a system
Force
A push or pull that creates a change
Force Platform
A force platform is a measurement device used to quantify ground reaction forces generated by a body standing or moving on it, often used in biomechanics and gait analysis.
Free-Body Diagram
A free-body diagram is a simplified illustration used in physics to show all the forces acting on an isolated object or system, representing their directions and magnitudes.
Friction
A resistive force that opposes motion
Gravitational Acceleration
Gravitational acceleration is the rate at which an object accelerates toward the Earth due to the force of gravity, typically measured as 9.8 m/s² near the Earth’s surface.
Gravity
Gravity is the natural force of attraction that pulls objects with mass toward each other, most notably causing objects to fall toward the Earth.
Ground Reaction Force
Ground reaction force is the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force the body applies to the ground.
Impulse
Impulse is the product of force and the time interval over which it is applied, resulting in a change in an object’s momentum.
Internal Force
Impulse is the product of force and the time interval over which it is applied, resulting in a change in an object’s momentum.
Load Cell
A load cell is a transducer that converts a force into an electrical signal, commonly used to measure weight or load.
Mass
Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms or grams, and is independent of gravity.
Noncontact Force
Noncontact force is a force that acts on an object without physical contact, such as gravitational, magnetic, or electrostatic forces.
Reaction (Normal) Force
Reaction (normal) force is the perpendicular force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it, balancing the object’s weight and preventing it from passing through the surface.
Static Friction
Static friction is the force that resists the initiation of motion between two objects in contact that are at rest relative to each other.
Strain Gauge
A strain gauge is a sensor that measures the amount of strain or deformation in an object by detecting changes in electrical resistance when the object is stretched or compressed.
Vector
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction, typically used to represent physical quantities like velocity, force, or displacement.
Weight
Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity, calculated as the product of its mass and the gravitational acceleration.
