Newton's Second Law

Front

Force Noun

---

[fors]

Back

Force

---

A push or pull exerted on an object that can cause it to change its state of motion.

---

Example: This diagram shows Newton's Second Law, F=ma, where Force (a vector) equals mass (a scalar) multiplied by acceleration (a vector), including their units.

Front

Mass Noun

---

[mas]

Back

Mass

---

The measure of an object's inertia, representing the amount of matter in the object.

---

Example: This image shows a balance scale where a rock outweighs a feather, visually demonstrating that the rock has more mass.

Front

Acceleration Noun

---

[ak-sel-uh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Acceleration

---

The rate of change of an object's velocity, occurring when it speeds up, slows down, or changes direction.

---

Example: This image shows the three ways an object can accelerate: by speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction, which are all changes in velocity.

Front

Inertia Noun

---

[in-ur-shuh]

Back

Inertia

---

The property of an object to resist any change in its state of motion; mass is its measure.

---

Example: When the car suddenly stops, the box on top continues to move forward due to its inertia, which is its resistance to a change in motion.

Front

Velocity Noun

---

[vuh-los-i-tee]

Back

Velocity

---

The speed of an object in a given direction, where a change in velocity results in acceleration.

---

Example: This image shows that velocity includes speed (covering a distance of 8 km in 15 minutes) and a specific direction (from home to school).

Front

Net Force Noun

---

[net fors]

Back

Net Force

---

The overall or total force acting on an object when all individual forces are considered together.

---

Example: Two opposing forces act on a soccer ball; the stronger force (125 N) overcomes the weaker one (75 N), creating a net force.

Front

Newton Noun

---

[noo-tn]

Back

Newton

---

The SI unit of force, equal to the force that gives a one-kilogram mass an acceleration of one meter per second squared.

---

Example: This diagram compares balanced forces (zero net force) with an unbalanced force (net force from weight), illustrating the condition for Newton's Second Law.

Front

Unbalanced Force Noun

---

[uhn-bal-uhnst fors]

Back

Unbalanced Force

---

A force that is not opposed by an equal and opposite force, causing a change in an object's motion.

---

Example: When two forces pull an object in the same direction, they add together to create a larger net force, causing the object to accelerate.

Front

Direct Relationship Noun

---

[di-rekt ri-ley-shuhn-ship]

Back

Direct Relationship

---

A relationship where two variables change in the same direction; if one increases, the other increases.

---

Example: This diagram shows that when mass is constant, doubling the force applied to an object (from 15 N to 30 N) also doubles its acceleration.

Front

Inverse Relationship Noun

---

[in-vurs ri-ley-shuhn-ship]

Back

Inverse Relationship

---

A relationship between two variables where an increase in one variable causes a decrease in the other variable.

---

Example: This image uses a seesaw to show an inverse relationship: as one quantity (A) increases, the other quantity (B) must decrease.