Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

Front

What is a force?

Back

A force is a push or a pull on an object.

Front

What type of force is acting on a gymnast doing a back flip on a balance beam?

Back

Unbalanced Force

Front

What type of force is acting on a book sitting on a shelf?

Back

Balanced Force

Front

What is an unbalanced force?

Back

An unbalanced force occurs when two forces acting on an object are not equal in size, causing a change in motion.

Front

What type of force is experienced by cars speeding around a NASCAR track?

Back

Unbalanced Force

Front

What is a balanced force?

Back

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

Front

What is net force?

Back

Net force is the overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces are combined.

Front

Give an example of balanced forces in everyday life.

Back

A book resting on a table experiences balanced forces: the force of gravity pulling it down and the normal force from the table pushing it up.

Front

What happens to an object when unbalanced forces act on it?

Back

The object will accelerate in the direction of the greater force.

Front

What is friction?

Back

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object, acting between surfaces in contact.