Forces Vocabulary

Force

A Push or Pull exerted on an object.

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Balanced ForcesForces on an object that are equal in size and opposite in direction.

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Net Force

Sum of the forces that are acting on an object.

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Unbalanced ForceForces that combine to produce a net force that is not equal to zero and cause the velocity of an object to change.

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Friction

The force that opposes the relative motion between two surfaces.

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Static Friction

The frictional force that prevents two surfaces in contact from sliding past each other.

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Kinetic Friction

The friction between moving surfaces.

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Sliding FrictionThe force that acts in the opposite direction to the motion of a surface sliding on another surface.

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Rolling Friction

The resistance that occurs when a round object rolls on a flat surface.

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Air ResistanceAKA “drag.” The force that opposes the relative motion of an object moving through air.

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Vacuum

A space entirely devoid “empty” of matter.

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Terminal VelocityThe constant maximum velocity reached by a body falling through the atmosphere under the attraction of gravity.

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