Forces

Front

What is a force?

Back

A force is a PUSH or PULL on an object.

Front

What happens when a force is applied to an object?

Back

The object may start moving, stop moving, or change direction.

Front

What is the unit of force?

Back

The unit of force is Newton (N).

Front

What are balanced forces?

Back

Balanced forces are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.

Front

What are unbalanced forces?

Back

Unbalanced forces are not equal and can cause an object to accelerate.

Front

How do forces interact?

Back

Forces always come in pairs; when one object exerts a force on another, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force back.

Front

What is friction?

Back

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object.

Front

What is gravity?

Back

Gravity is a force that pulls objects toward each other, such as the Earth pulling objects toward its center.

Front

What is the effect of mass on force?

Back

The greater the mass of an object, the greater the force needed to change its motion.

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.