AP Physics 1 Forces

Front

What is a Free Body Diagram (FBD)?

Back

A Free Body Diagram (FBD) is a graphical representation used to visualize the forces acting on an object. It shows all the external forces acting on the object, allowing for the analysis of the object's motion.

Front

What does it mean for an object to be in equilibrium?

Back

An object is in equilibrium when the net force acting on it is zero, meaning all the forces are balanced and the object is either at rest or moving with a constant velocity.

Front

What is the relationship between frictional force and applied force when an object moves at constant velocity?

Back

When an object moves at constant velocity, the frictional force is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the applied force, resulting in a net force of zero.

Front

How do you calculate the net force acting on an object?

Back

The net force acting on an object is calculated by vectorially adding all the individual forces acting on the object. If the forces are balanced, the net force is zero.

Front

What is the formula for calculating weight?

Back

Weight is calculated using the formula: Weight (W) = mass (m) × acceleration due to gravity (g), where g is approximately 9.81 m/s² on the surface of the Earth.

Front

What happens to the net force when an object is in free fall?

Back

When an object is in free fall, the net force acting on it is equal to its weight, which is the force of gravity acting on the object.

Front

What is the significance of acceleration in relation to forces?

Back

Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on an object and inversely proportional to its mass, as described by Newton's second law: F = ma.

Front

What is Newton's first law of motion?

Back

Newton's first law states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by a net external force.

Front

What is the difference between static and kinetic friction?

Back

Static friction is the force that resists the initiation of sliding motion between two surfaces in contact, while kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of two surfaces sliding past each other.

Front

How does mass affect the gravitational force on an object?

Back

The gravitational force on an object increases with its mass. The greater the mass, the stronger the gravitational pull it experiences.