Forces and Motion Vocabulary

Front

Applied force

Back

Force that is applied on an object by a person or another object

Front

Balanced forces

Back

Equal and opposite forces on an object that result in no change in motion; calculated net force is zero

Front

Friction

Back

A force that acts in an opposite direction to movement

Front

Gravity

Back

A force that pulls objects toward each other

Front

Magnetism

Back

A force that pushes or pulls a magnetic material across a distance

Front

Net force

Back

Measurement of the total forces exerted on an object, measured in Newtons (N)

Front

Newton's Third Law of Motion

Back

For every force applied to an object, there is a simultaneous force applied that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction

Front

Normal force

Back

A force exerted on an object that is in contact with another object

Front

Simultaneous force pairs

Back

Forces that occur in opposite directions and equal strengths at the point of contact between objects

Front

Unbalanced forces

Back

Unequal forces on an object that may result in a change in motion; calculated net force is not equal to zero