Flashcard: Forces

Front

What is drag in the context of forces?

Back

Drag is a type of frictional force that opposes the motion of an object through a fluid (like air or water). It acts in the opposite direction to the object's velocity.

Front

What causes a person to stop accelerating when jumping from a plane?

Back

Drag (air resistance) is the force that opposes the motion of the person falling, eventually balancing the force of gravity and stopping acceleration.

Front

What is an example of a contact force?

Back

Sitting in a chair is an example of a contact force, as it involves direct contact between the person and the chair.

Front

What is the scientific unit for measuring force?

Back

The scientific unit for force is the Newton (N).

Front

What can be said about the net force if an object is not accelerating?

Back

If an object is not accelerating, the net force acting on it is zero.

Front

What is the definition of a force?

Back

A force is a push or pull acting upon an object as a result of its interaction with another object.

Front

What are the two main types of forces?

Back

The two main types of forces are contact forces (forces that require physical contact) and non-contact forces (forces that act at a distance, like gravity).

Front

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Back

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms, while weight is the force exerted by gravity on that mass, measured in Newtons.

Front

What is gravitational force?

Back

Gravitational force is the attractive force between two masses, such as the Earth and an object, which pulls the object towards the center of the Earth.

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a net force.