Forces and Motion: Key Terms and Definitions

Fill in the blank: A push or pull on an object is called _______. Example: Pushing a door open.

• Force

• Friction

• Energy

• Weight

Fill in the blank: When forces acting on an object are equal and opposite, so the object does not move or keeps moving at the same speed, it is called _______. Example: Two people pushing a box with the same strength from opposite sides.

• Balanced Force

• Unbalanced Force

• Frictional Force

• Gravitational Force

Fill in the blank: When the forces on an object are not equal, causing the object to start moving, stop, or change direction, it is called _______. Example: One person pushes harder than another, and the box moves.

• Unbalanced Force

• Balanced Force

• Frictional Force

• Gravitational Force

Fill in the blank: A change in the position of an object over time is called _______. Example: A bicycle moving down the street.

• Motion

• Friction

• Gravity

• Energy

Fill in the blank: A force that pulls things toward each other, like toward the Earth, is called _______. Example: An apple falling from a tree.

• Gravity

• Friction

• Magnetism

• Electricity

Fill in the blank: The speed of something in a specific direction is called _______. Example: A car moving at 50 kilometers per hour to the east.

• Velocity

• Acceleration

• Distance

• Force

What is acceleration?

• A change in velocity – speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

• A constant speed in a straight line.

• The force that keeps objects at rest.

• The distance covered in a given time.

What is the formula for speed?

• Speed = Distance ÷ Time

• Speed = Time ÷ Distance

• Speed = Distance × Time

• Speed = Time × Distance

What is distance?

• How far something moves.

• The amount of time taken to move.

• The speed at which something moves.

• The direction in which something moves.

What is time?

• How long something takes to happen.

• A type of food.

• A kind of animal.

• A place to visit.