Forces INV 1 Vocab

Balanced forces

• when forces are equal and act in opposite directions.

• when forces are unequal and act in the same direction.

• when forces are acting at an angle to each other.

• when forces are completely unopposed.

Weight

• the force of gravity on an object or substance.

• the mass of an object regardless of gravity.

• the total amount of matter in an object.

• the resistance of an object to changes in motion.

Gravity

• the force that exists between all objects and tends to pull them together.

• a type of energy that can be created and destroyed.

• the speed at which an object falls to the ground.

• a measure of the weight of an object in space.

Force

• a push or pull on an object.

• a type of energy that can be converted into work.

• the mass of an object multiplied by its velocity.

• the resistance an object has to a change in its state of motion.

Normal contact force

• the force that occurs between two objects in contact, and is perpendicular to the surfaces.

• the force that acts at a distance without physical contact between objects.

• the force that opposes the motion of an object in contact with a surface.

• the force that is always directed towards the center of the Earth.

Motion

• how an object is moving.

• the speed of an object.

• the direction of an object.

• the distance covered by an object.

Unbalanced force

• when a force has an equal force acting in the opposite direction on the same object.

• when a force does not have an equal force acting in the opposite direction on the same object.

• when multiple forces act on an object in the same direction.

• when no forces are acting on an object.

Mass

• the quantity of matter in an object or substance.

• the force exerted by gravity on an object.

• the volume of an object measured in cubic units.

• the density of an object calculated by mass divided by volume.

Acceleration

• speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

• maintaining a constant speed in a straight line.

• moving at a constant speed in a circular path.

• only increasing speed without changing direction.

Speed

• how quickly an object is moving.

• the distance covered by an object in a given time.

• the rate at which an object accelerates.

• the maximum velocity an object can achieve.