Science Mrs. Nash

Question 1

air resistance The force on an object moving through the air that
causes it to slow down (also known as drag).

balanced Forces acting on an object that are the same size but

act in opposite directions.
compress To squash into a smaller space.
contact force A force that acts when an object is in contact with a

surface, air, or water.
deform To change shape.
drag force The force acting on an object moving through air or

water that causes it to slow down.

driving force The force that is pushing or pulling something.
elastic limit The point beyond which a spring will not return to its

original length when the force is removed.
electrostatic force The force acting between two charged objects.
equilibrium Balanced.
extension The amount by which an object gets longer when a

force is applied.

field A region where something feels a force.
friction The force that resists movement because of contact

between surfaces.

gravity A non-contact force that acts between two masses.
Hooke’s Law The law that says that if you double the force on an

object the extension will double.

interaction pair When two objects interact there is a force on each
one that is the same size but in opposing directions.

kilogram (kg) A unit of mass, symbol kg.
lubrication A substance that reduces friction between surfaces

when they rub together.

magnetic force The force between two magnets, or a magnet and a

magnetic material.

mass The amount of matter (stuff) a thing is made up of.
newton (N) The unit of force, symbol N.

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This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.

Glossary
Chapter 1
P1

newtonmeter A piece of equipment used to measure weight in

newtons.

non-contact force A magnetic, electrostatic, or gravitational force that

acts between objects not in contact.

pull A type of force.
push A type of force.
reaction The support force provided by a solid surface like a

floor.

resistive forces Any forces that act to slow down a moving object.
streamlined Shaped to reduce resistance to motion from air or

water.

tension A stretching force.
unbalanced Opposing forces on an object that are unequal.
water resistance The force on an object moving through water that
causes it to slow down (also known as drag).
weight The force of the Earth on an object due to its mass.