GCSE Physics > forces > Flashcards

forces Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a scalar quantity?

A

A quantity with magnitude only.

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2
Q

What is a vector quantity?

A

A quantity with magnitude and direction.

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3
Q

How can a vector quantity be represented?

A

By an arrow.

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4
Q

What does the length of a vector arrow represent?

A

The magnitude of the vector.

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5
Q

What does the direction of a vector arrow represent?

A

The direction of the vector.

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6
Q

What is a force?

A

A push or pull acting on an object due to an interaction with another object.

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7
Q

What are the two categories of forces?

A

Contact forces and non-contact forces.

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8
Q

What are contact forces?

A

Forces that occur when objects are touching.

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9
Q

Give examples of contact forces.

A

Friction, air resistance, tension, and normal contact force.

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10
Q

What are non-contact forces?

A

Forces that act between objects that are not touching.

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11
Q

Give examples of non-contact forces.

A

Gravitational force, magnetic force, and electrostatic force.

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12
Q

Is force a scalar or vector quantity?

A

Vector quantity.

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13
Q

Why is force a vector quantity?

A

Because it has both magnitude and direction.

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14
Q

What is weight?

A

The force acting on an object due to gravity.

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15
Q

What causes the force of gravity near Earth?

A

The gravitational field around Earth.

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16
Q

What does the weight of an object depend on?

A

The gravitational field strength at that point.

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17
Q

How is weight measured?

A

Using a calibrated spring balance or newtonmeter.

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18
Q

What is the equation for weight?

A

Weight = mass × gravitational field strength.

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19
Q

What is the symbol for weight?

A

W

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20
Q

What is the symbol for mass?

A

m

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21
Q

What is the symbol for gravitational field strength?

A

g

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22
Q

What is gravitational field strength on Earth?

A

About 9.8 N/kg (often approximated as 10 N/kg).

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23
Q

Give three examples of vector quantities.

A

Velocity, displacement and force.

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24
Q

Give examples of scalar quantities.

A

Temperature, time, mass, speed, distance and energy.

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25
What quantities does weight depend on?
The object's mass and the gravitational field strength at that position.
26
What is the unit used for weight?
The Newton (N).
27
What is the unit used for gravitational field strength?
N/kg.
28
What is meant by an object's centre of mass?
The single point where the object's weight can be considered to act.
29
What piece of equipment can be used to measure an object's weight?
A calibrated spring balance or newtonmeter.
30
What is the name given to the single force that is equivalent to all the other forces acting on an object?
The resultant force.
31
What is a moment?
The turning effect of a force about a pivot.
32
What is the equation for moment?
Moment = Force × Perpendicular distance from pivot.
33
What is the unit for moment?
Newton metres (Nm).
34
What is meant by the pivot?
The point about which an object rotates.
35
What is the principle of moments?
For an object in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments equals the sum of anticlockwise moments.
36
What does equilibrium mean?
A state where there is no resultant force and no resultant moment acting on an object.
37
What is a lever?
A rigid bar that rotates around a pivot to move a load.
38
What are the three main parts of a lever?
Effort, load and pivot.
39
What does a lever do to a force?
It can increase the size of a force.
40
What is a gear?
A rotating wheel with teeth that mesh with another gear.
41
What happens when a small gear drives a large gear?
The output rotates slower but with greater force.
42
What happens when a large gear drives a small gear?
The output rotates faster but with less force.
43
What is pressure?
The force acting per unit area.
44
What is the equation for pressure?
Pressure = Force ÷ Area.
45
What is the unit of pressure?
Pascals (Pa).
46
What happens to pressure if the same force acts on a smaller area?
The pressure increases.
47
What is a fluid?
A substance that can flow, such as liquids and gases.
48
What causes pressure in a fluid?
The weight of the fluid above a point.
49
What happens to pressure as depth in a fluid increases?
Pressure increases.
50
What is the equation for pressure in a fluid?
Pressure = height × density × gravitational field strength.
51
What happens if there is a pressure difference in a fluid?
The fluid will flow from high pressure to low pressure.
52
What causes upthrust?
Pressure in a fluid increases with depth, producing a resultant upward force.
53
What is the resultant force?
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object combined.
54
What happens if the resultant force on an object is zero?
The object remains at rest or continues moving at constant velocity.
55
What happens if the resultant force on an object is not zero?
The object accelerates in the direction of the resultant force.
56
What is Newton’s First Law?
If the resultant force is zero, an object remains at rest or moves at constant velocity.
57
What is inertia?
The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion.
58
What does Newton’s Second Law state?
Acceleration is proportional to the resultant force and inversely proportional to mass.
59
What is the equation for Newton’s Second Law?
Force = mass × acceleration.
60
What is the unit of acceleration?
Metres per second squared (m/s²).
61
What happens to acceleration if the force increases but mass stays constant?
Acceleration increases.
62
What happens to acceleration if mass increases but force stays constant?
Acceleration decreases.
63
What is Newton’s Third Law?
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
64
What is momentum?
The quantity of motion an object has.
65
What is the equation for momentum?
Momentum = mass × velocity.
66
What is the unit of momentum?
kg m/s.
67
What happens to momentum if velocity increases?
Momentum increases.
68
What happens to momentum if mass increases?
Momentum increases.
69
What is the principle of conservation of momentum?
The total momentum before an event equals the total momentum after the event in a closed system.
70
What happens during a collision in terms of momentum?
Momentum is transferred between objects.
71
What is meant by a closed system?
A system where no external forces act.
72
What does it mean when a force does work on an object?
The force causes the object to move through a distance.
73
What is the equation for work done?
Work done = force × distance.
74
What distance is used in the work done equation?
The distance moved in the direction of the force.
75
What is the unit of work done?
Joules (J).
76
When is 1 joule of work done?
When a force of 1 N moves an object 1 m in the direction of the force.
77
What is the relationship between a joule and a newton metre?
1 joule is equal to 1 newton metre.
78
What happens when work is done against friction?
Energy is transferred to thermal energy, heating the object and surroundings.
79
What happens to a projectile when it works against air resistance?
Its kinetic energy decreases and is transferred to thermal energy.
80
What happens when a force is applied to an elastic object?
The object stretches or compresses.
81
What is extension?
The increase in length of an object.
82
What is the equation linking force, spring constant and extension?
Force = spring constant × extension.
83
What is the unit of the spring constant?
Newtons per metre (N/m).
84
What is Hooke’s Law?
The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied, provided the limit of proportionality is not exceeded.
85
What is the limit of proportionality?
The point beyond which extension is no longer proportional to force.
86
What happens if the limit of proportionality is exceeded?
The object may no longer return to its original shape.
87
What is elastic deformation?
A deformation where the object returns to its original shape when the force is removed.
88
What is inelastic deformation?
A deformation where the object does not return to its original shape.
89
What type of energy is stored in a stretched or compressed spring?
Elastic potential energy.
90
What is the equation for elastic potential energy?
Elastic potential energy = ½ × spring constant × extension².
91
What are the units of elastic potential energy?
Joules (J).
GCSE Physics
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