Midterm Physics Flashcards
Use Free Body Diagrams to determine net force
Used to show all forces acting on an object to determine net force (all forces acting on an object)
Identify all the forces acting on the object, draw them as vectors on the diagram, and then add all the vectors together (taking into account their directions) to find the resultant force, which is the net force acting on the object;
essentially, you are adding up all the individual forces, considering their magnitudes and directions, to find the overall force acting on the object.
If it is not zero then the object will move
Balanced Forces
No movement or constant speed.
Unbalanced Forces
Change in motion (acceleration or deceleration).
Describe acceleration due to gravity
Objects fall due to gravitational pull, but their speed varies on different planets due to varying gravity strength.
How do you calculate speed?
Speed = Distance / Time.
How do you interpret position-time on a graph?
Speed of the object at a specific time interval: Slope shows speed. Steeper slope means faster speed.
When and for how long the object is stopped: Flat line means stopped.
Direction the object is moving: Direction changes if slope switches signs
The position of the object and how far it has traveled
How is acceleration related to speed?
Acceleration is a change in speed or direction.
What is Newton’s 1st Law?
Objects stay at rest or in motion unless acted on by an external force. More mass = more inertia.
What is Newton’s 2nd Law?
Mass × Acceleration (F = ma). More force means more acceleration.
What is Newton’s 3rd Law?
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction (thrust propels rockets).
Define thrust
Action: A force is exerted in one direction (e.g., a rocket expels gas downward). Reaction: The object moves in the opposite direction (the rocket moves upward).
How do balanced and unbalanced forces impact an object’s motion?
When forces acting on an object are balanced, the object’s motion remains unchanged, meaning it will stay at rest if it was stationary or continue moving at a constant speed and direction if it was already in motion;
However, when forces are unbalanced, the object’s motion will change, causing it to accelerate, change direction, or both, depending on the net force acting on it.
