1. PHYSICS Vocab Squares FORCE & MOTION

2. FORCE WORD: PICTURE: DEFINITION: FORMULA: Force = mass x acceleration
A PUSH OR A PULL ON AN OBJECT.
ANYTHING THAT CAUSES THE SHAPE OR MOTION OF AN OBJECT TO CHANGE.
FORCES CAUSE OBJECTS TO SPEED UP, SLOW DOWN, OR CHANGE DIRECTION.
FORMULA:
Force =
mass x acceleration

3. BALANCED FORCE WORD: PICTURE: DEFINITION: FORMULA: N/A
OPPOSING FORCES ARE EQUAL SO THAT NO CHANGE IN MOTION OCCURS.
WHEN FORCES ARE BALANCED THE NET FORCE IS ZERO.
FORMULA:
N/A

4. N/A PRODUCE A CHANGE IN MOTION.
WORD:
PICTURE:
UNBALANCED FORCE
DEFINITION:
PRODUCE A CHANGE IN MOTION.
THE NET FORCE ON AN OBJECT IS NOT ZERO.
FORMULA:
N/A

5. The tendency of all objects to resist any change in motion
WORD:
PICTURE:
INERTIA
DEFINITION:
The tendency of all objects to resist any change in motion
(based on mass)
FORMULA:
Big Mass Small Mass
Big Inertia Small Inertia
N/A

6. WORD:
PICTURE:
NEWTON
DEFINITION:
THE SI UNIT FOR FORCE.
FORMULA:
N/A

7. NET FORCE PICTURE: WORD: DEFINITION: FORMULA:
THE FORCE THAT RESULTS FROM COMBINING ALL THE FORCES EXERTED ON AN OBJECT.
25 N 10 N
FORMULA:
*Add if in same direction.
*Subtract if opposite directions

8. N/A GRAVITY WORD: PICTURE: DEFINITION: FORMULA:
THE FORCE OF ATTRACTION BETWEEN OBJECTS DUE TO THEIR MASSES.
The larger the mass the greater the gravity.
FORMULA:
N/A

9. N/A WEIGHT A MEASURE OF THE GRAVATIONAL FORCE ON AN OBJECT.
WORD:
PICTURE:
WEIGHT
DEFINITION:
A MEASURE OF THE GRAVATIONAL FORCE ON AN OBJECT.
ITS VALUE CAN CHANGE WITH THE LOCATION OF THE OBJECT IN THE UNIVERSE.
FORMULA:
N/A

10. N/A MASS THE AMOUNT OF MATTER IN AN OBJECT.
WORD:
PICTURE:
MASS
DEFINITION:
THE AMOUNT OF MATTER IN AN OBJECT.
ITS VALUE DOES NOT CHANGE WITH THE OBJECT’S LOCATION IN THE UNIVERSE.
FORMULA:
N/A

11. WORD:
PICTURE:
INCLINED PLANE
DEFINITION:
A SIMPLE MACHINE MADE OF A FLAT SURFACE SET AT AN ANGLE THAT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF FORCE REQUIRED TO MOVE AN OBJECT
FORMULA:
N/A

12. WORD:
PICTURE:
PULLEY
DEFINITION:
A SIMPLE MACHINE MADE OF A WHEEL AND ROPE USED TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE FORCE
FORMULA:
N/A

13. FRICTION WORD: PICTURE: DEFINITION: Types of friction:
A force that appears whenever two objects touch each other.
Friction opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.
Causes heat, wear & tear, and slows object down.
Types of friction:
Sliding, rolling, fluid, static, wind resistance/drag

14. WORD:
PICTURE:
Motion
DEFINITION:
an object’s change in position relative to a reference point over a period of time
Reference Point:
stays still while object moves past it

15. WORD:
PICTURE:
Speed
DEFINITION:
the numeric relationship between a distance…and the time needed to move that distance -or-
Distance divided by Time
FORMULA: S= d t

16. Velocity The speed of an object in a particular direction
WORD:
PICTURE:
Velocity
DEFINITION:
The speed of an object in a particular direction
Speed + Direction
- or -
Synonyms:
Distance
Time
+ Direction
rapidity, swiftness

17. Acceleration WORD: PICTURE: DEFINITION: Formula: (don’t memorize)
the rate at which velocity changes;
an object accelerates if its speed, direction or both change
Formula: (don’t memorize)