Mechanics Flashcards
What is a scalar
Physical quantity with a magnitude, but no direction.
Eg: time, mass, length, area, volume, energy, charge, pressure, charge
What’s a vector
Physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Eg: force, velocity and electric field
Define resultant
A single vector that indicates magnitude and direction of the combine effect of two or more vectors
Bearing
Direction given as angle relative to north in clockwise direction
Define force
Any kind of push or pull on an object in an attempt to change object’s state of rest or motion
Contact force
Force exerted by objects on each other when they touch or connect with one another
Applied force
Force externally applied to an object
Normal force
contact force exerted by a surface on an object perpendicular to that surface
Tension
Force exerted by an object that can stretch
Friction
contact force that a surface exerts on an object parallel to the surface and opposite to the direction of motion or attempted motion
Static frictional force
Friction force exerted on an object that is not being set in motion.
Kinetic frictional force
Friction force that an object experiences when it moves over a surface
Non-contact force
Forces that objects exert on each other over a distance without touching each other
Magnetic force
attractive or repulsive force between magnetic objects
Electrostatic force
attractive or repulsive force between charges (charged objects)