Force and Motion Terms for the 4 th and 5 th grade

Force Force is something that changes the movement or shape of an object—the greater the force, the greater the effect. Force is something that changes the movement or shape of an object—the greater the force, the greater the effect.

Force Gravity: Gravity: the force of attraction between two objects with mass. the force of attraction between two objects with mass.

Force Mass: Mass: amount of material in an object. amount of material in an object.

Force Weight: Weight: force exerted on object’s mass by gravity. force exerted on object’s mass by gravity.

Force Friction: Friction: is the force that slows down or stops the move­ment of one object in contact with another. is the force that slows down or stops the move­ment of one object in contact with another. creates heat—the greater the friction, the greater the heat. creates heat—the greater the friction, the greater the heat. friction experienced by objects traveling through the air is called air resistance. friction experienced by objects traveling through the air is called air resistance.

Force Centrifugal force: Centrifugal force: causes an object traveling in a straight line to follow a curved path. causes an object traveling in a straight line to follow a curved path. usually creates circular motions that move outward toward the center of rotation. usually creates circular motions that move outward toward the center of rotation.

Force Centripetal force: Centripetal force: causes an object traveling in a straight line to follow a curved path. causes an object traveling in a straight line to follow a curved path. usually creates circular motions that move inward toward the center of rotation. usually creates circular motions that move inward toward the center of rotation.

Motion MOTION: MOTION: is directly related to the influence of forces. is directly related to the influence of forces. movement of objects have measurable and observable properties. movement of objects have measurable and observable properties.

Motion Inertia: Inertia: the tendency of objects to remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line until influenced by a force— the tendency of objects to remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line until influenced by a force— the greater the mass, the greater the inertia. the greater the mass, the greater the inertia.

Motion Momentum: Momentum: the tendency of moving objects to remain in motion until slowed or stopped by a force the tendency of moving objects to remain in motion until slowed or stopped by a force the greater the mass and velocity, the greater the momentum. the greater the mass and velocity, the greater the momentum.

Motion Speed: Speed: the magnitude of movement, independent of direction. the magnitude of movement, independent of direction.

Motion Velocity: Velocity: the speed in a particular direction. the speed in a particular direction.

Motion Acceleration: Acceleration: the measure of how quickly speed and/or velocity changes. the measure of how quickly speed and/or velocity changes.

Motion Center of gravity: Center of gravity: the specific point at which an object’s mass appears to be concentrated. the specific point at which an object’s mass appears to be concentrated.