Physics Concepts

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Force

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A force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. It can cause an object to accelerate, slow down, or change direction. Measured in Newtons (N).

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Friction

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A force that opposes the motion of an object as it moves along a surface. It arises from the interactions between the microscopic roughness of surfaces in contact.

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Sliding Friction

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The type of friction that occurs when one object slides over another. It generally acts opposite to the direction of motion and is weaker than static friction.

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Static Friction

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The frictional force that resists the initiation of sliding motion between two surfaces in contact. Static friction is usually greater than sliding friction.

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Free Fall

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The motion of an object when it is falling solely under the influence of gravity, with no air resistance or other forces acting on it.

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Gravity

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A force that attracts objects toward the center of the Earth (or any massive body). Gravity gives weight to physical objects and causes them to fall toward the ground when dropped.

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Inertia

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The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. An object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

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Air Resistance

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A type of frictional force that opposes the motion of an object through air. Air resistance increases with the speed of the object and the surface area in contact with the air.

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Momentum

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The product of an object's mass and its velocity. Momentum is a vector quantity and represents the quantity of motion an object has. Formula: momentum = mass × velocity.

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Net Force

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The vector sum of all the forces acting on an object. It determines the object's acceleration according to Newton’s Second Law of Motion.