P5: Forces Flashcards
What do vector quantities have?
Magnitude and direction.
What do scalar quantities have?
Just magnitude.
Give 5 examples of vector quantities.
Force, volocity, displacement, acceleration, momentum.
Give 5 examples of scalar quantities.
Speed, distance, mass, temperature, time.
What are the two categories of forces?
Contact and non-contact.
How are weight and mass different?
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, so remains the same everywhere. Weight is a force which acts on an object due to gravity. A measurement of weight could change with location.
Mass and weight are directly proportional. What formula links them?
Weight = mass x gravitational field strength
What is the unit for weight?
Newtons (N).
What is the unit for mass?
Kg.
Work done =
energy transferred (and force x distance).
What formula relates work done, force and distance?
Work done = force x distance
What is elastic deformation?
Where an object returns to its prior shape after the force deforming it is removed.
What is inelastic deformation?
Where an object doesn’t return to its prior shape after the force deforming it is removed.
What is meant by the limit of proportionality (in the context of springs)?
The point where a spring’s extension stops being proportional to the force applied to it. A plotted graph would become non-linear at this point.
What equation is used to find the force applied to a spring when stretching/compressing it?
F = ke (force = spring constant [N/m] x extension [m])
Practical:
Plan an investigation to show the relationship between force and extension for a spring.
- Use a stand to suspend a spring. Clamp a mm ruler in line with the spring.
- Record the natural length of the spring, taking the reading at eye level.
- Hang a mass on the spring and measure its length. Calculate the extension by substracting the initial length.
- Repeat this process, adding one identical mass each time, until you have 6 measurements.
- If one extension is larger than the previous, the limit of proportionality has been succeeded. You’ll need to repeat the experiment, with a new spring and lighter masses.
- Calculate the force exerted on the spring per mass (weight = mass x gravitational field strength).
- Plot force exerted on the spring (x axis) against spring extension. You should see a directly proportional / linear relationship.
- You could find the spring constant using the equation F = ke.
What is the moment (or torque) of a force?
Known as the turning effect of a force, it is the rotational equivalent of linear force, i.e. a twisting force.