Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Front

What is a balanced force?

Back

A balanced force occurs when two forces acting on an object are equal in size but opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.

Front

What is an unbalanced force?

Back

An unbalanced force occurs when two forces acting on an object are not equal, causing the object to accelerate in the direction of the greater force.

Front

What is the net force?

Back

The net force is the overall force acting on an object after all the individual forces are combined.

Front

What is mass?

Back

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms.

Front

What is weight?

Back

Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object, calculated as mass times the acceleration due to gravity (W = mg).

Front

How do you calculate net force when forces are in the same direction?

Back

Add the magnitudes of the forces together.

Front

How do you calculate net force when forces are in opposite directions?

Back

Subtract the smaller force from the larger force and take the direction of the larger force.

Front

What happens when two forces of equal magnitude act in opposite directions?

Back

The object remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity; the net force is zero.

Front

What is the effect of an unbalanced force on an object?

Back

An unbalanced force causes an object to accelerate, change direction, or change shape.

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.