| Term | Definition |
|
free fall |
the motion of a falling object when the only force acting on it is gravity. |
|
net force |
the overall force on an object when all the individual forces acting on it are added together |
|
friction |
the force that one surface exerts on another when the two surfaces rub against each other. |
|
law of conservation of momentum |
the rule that in the absence of outside forces the total momentum of objects that interact does not change. |
|
projectile |
an object that is thrown |
|
air resistance |
the fluid friction experienced by objects through the air |
|
force |
a push or pull exerted on an object |
|
Newton |
the SI unit used for the magnitude, or strength of a force |
|
unbalanced forces |
forces that cause an object's velocity changes |
|
rolling friction |
friction that occurs when an object rolls over a surface |
|
fluid friction |
friction that occurs as an object moves through a fluid |
|
gravity |
the force that pulls objects towards each other |
|
mass |
a measure of how much matter is in an object |
|
compression |
an elastic force that squeezes or pushes the molecules in matter together |
|
tension |
an elastic force that stretches or pulls on the molecules in matter |
|
weight |
a measure of the force of gravity on an object |
|
centripetal force |
a force that causes an object to move in a circle |
|
momentum |
the product of an object's mass and velocity |
|
inertia |
the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion |
|
satellite |
any object that orbits around another object in space |
|
balanced forces |
equal forces acting on an object in opposite directions |
|
sliding friction |
friction that occurs when one solid surface slides on another |
|
static friction |
friction that acts on objects that are not moving |