Net Forces & Newton's Laws

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 happens to an object when the net force acting on it is zero?

Back

When the net force is zero, the object is in a state of equilibrium, meaning it will either remain at rest or continue to move at a constant velocity.

Front

What is Newton's 1st Law of Motion?

Back

Newton's 1st Law states that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay in motion at a constant speed and in a straight line unless acted upon by a net external force.

Front

What is Newton's 2nd Law of Motion?

Back

Newton's 2nd Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F=ma).

Front

What is Newton's 3rd Law of Motion?

Back

Newton's 3rd Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Front

What is an example of balanced forces?

Back

An example of balanced forces is a book resting on a table; the force of gravity pulling it down is balanced by the normal force from the table pushing it up.

Front

What is an example of unbalanced forces?

Back

An example of unbalanced forces is when a person pushes a shopping cart; the force applied causes the cart to accelerate.

Front

How does mass affect acceleration?

Back

According to Newton's 2nd Law, as mass increases, acceleration decreases for a given force. This means heavier objects require more force to accelerate.

Front

What is friction?

Back

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object. It acts in the opposite direction to the movement.

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. It is directly related to the mass of the object.