Introduction to Gravity and Friction

Introduction to Gravity and Friction

Noncontact Forces

• A contact force is a push or a pull on one object by an object that is touching it

• Contact forces can be strong or weak

  • weak: pressing buttons on a game controller

  • strong: tectonic plates shifting and causing earthquakes

Contact Forces

Types of Forces

• A noncontact force is a force that one object can apply to another object without touching it

• Gravity is a noncontact force

• Magnetic forces and electric forces are also noncontact forces

Multiple Choice

If you push a book down and push another book across your desk with the same amount of force, is the outcome the same?

• Yes

• No

Forces

• Arrows can be used to show which direction and how strong a force is

• The SI unit for force is the newton (N)

  • To lift a 2-liter bottle of water, you would exert 20 N of force

What is Gravity?

An attractive force that exists between all objects that have mass

Gravity:

Multiple Choice

A force that one object can apply to another object without touching is?

• Gravity

• Noncontact Force

• Friction

• Contact Force

The Law of Universal Gravitation

• The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed in the late 1600s by scientist/mathematician Sir Isaac Newton

• This law states that all objects are attracted to each other by a gravitational force and the strength of the force depends on mass and distance

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When the distance between objects increases, the gravitational force decreases

Gravitational Force and Distance

When the mass of one or both objects increases, so does the gravitational force

Gravitational Force and Mass

Mass and Distance

Multiple Choice

Does attraction increase or decrease if the mass increases?

• Decreases if one or both masses increase

• Increases if only one mass increases

• Decreases if only one mass increases

• Increase if one or both masses increase

Multiple Choice

Does attraction between objects increase or decrease with increasing distance?

• Increase

• Decrease

Fill in the Blanks

Is gravity a contact or noncontact force?

What is Friction?

Friction:

A force that resists the motion of two surfaces that are touching

• Prevents surfaces from sliding past each other

• Balances applied force

• Static friction increases as applied force increases

Static Friction

Types of Friction

Fluid Friction

Sliding Friction

• Opposes the motion of surfaces sliding past each other

• Sliding force does not change

• Friction between a surface and any fluid that flows

• More surface area=greater resistance

Poll

How well did you understand this lesson?

• Complete Understanding

• Moderate Understanding

• Low Understanding

• Didn't Understand