Forces Review

Front

What is a net force?

Back

The net force is the overall force acting on an object when all the individual forces are combined. It determines the object's acceleration.

Front

What does a positive net force indicate about an object's motion?

Back

A positive net force indicates that the object is accelerating in the direction of the net force.

Front

What does a negative net force indicate about an object's motion?

Back

A negative net force indicates that the object is accelerating in the opposite direction of the net force.

Front

What does a net force of zero mean for an object's motion?

Back

A net force of zero means that the object is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity.

Front

How can you determine the net force from a motion diagram?

Back

In a motion diagram, the spacing of the dots indicates the object's speed. If the spacing is consistent, the net force is zero; if it increases, the net force is positive; if it decreases, the net force is negative.

Front

What is the relationship between net force and acceleration?

Back

According to Newton's second law, the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma).

Front

What is the formula to calculate weight?

Back

Weight is calculated using the formula: Weight (W) = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g). For Earth, g is approximately 9.8 m/s².

Front

If a 3 kg possum is hanging at rest, what is the net force acting on it?

Back

The net force acting on the 3 kg possum is 0 N, as it is in equilibrium.

Front

What does a velocity versus time graph show?

Back

A velocity versus time graph shows how an object's velocity changes over time. The slope of the graph represents acceleration.

Front

How can you tell if an object is accelerating from a velocity versus time graph?

Back

If the slope of the velocity versus time graph is not zero (i.e., the line is slanted), the object is accelerating.