science - forces and newtons laws Flashcards
define reference point
the starting point you choose to describe the location, or the position, of an object.
define position
an object’s distance and direction from a reference point.
define motion
the process of changing position.
define displacement
the difference between the initial (first) position and the final position of an object.
define speed
a measure of the distance an object travels per unit of time.
define velocity
the speed and the direction of a moving object.
define acceleration
a measure of the change in velocity during a period of time.
define force
a push or a pull on an object.
define contact force
a push or a pull on one object by another object that is touching it.
define non-contact force
a force that one object can apply to another object without touching.
define mass
the amount matter in an object.
define gravity
an attractive force that exists between all objects that have mass.
define friction
a force that resists the motion of two surface’s that are touching.
define a unbalanced force
forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force that is not zero.
define a balanced force
forces acting on an object that combine and form a net force of zero.
define newton’s 1st law of motion
law that states that if the net force acting on an object is zero, the motion of the object doesn’t change.
define inertia
the tendency of an object to resists it’s change in motion.
define net force
the combination of all forces acting on an object.
define newton’s 2nd law of motion
law that states the acceleration of an object is equal to the net force exerted on the object divided by the objects mass.
define centripetal force
in circular motion, a force that acts perpendicular to the direction of motion, toward the center of the curve.
define newton’s 3rd law of motion
the law that states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
define force pair
the forces two objects apply to each other.
define momentum
a measure of how hard it is to stop a moving object.
define law of conservation of momentum
a principle stating that the total momentum of a group of objects stays the same unless outside forces act on the objects.
