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Physics: Unit 3 (Forces) Key Notes or Ideas

This document provides key notes on physics unit 3 which covers forces. It defines a force as a push or pull between objects and lists several common types of forces. It also defines scalar and vector quantities, with examples given for each. Newton's three laws of motion are summarized, including how forces cause changes in an object's motion based on whether the forces are balanced or unbalanced.

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Rana Muhammad Umar
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241 views

Physics: Unit 3 (Forces) Key Notes or Ideas

This document provides key notes on physics unit 3 which covers forces. It defines a force as a push or pull between objects and lists several common types of forces. It also defines scalar and vector quantities, with examples given for each. Newton's three laws of motion are summarized, including how forces cause changes in an object's motion based on whether the forces are balanced or unbalanced.

Uploaded by

Rana Muhammad Umar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics

Unit 3 (Forces)
Key Notes or Ideas
 A force is a push or pull that one object exerts on another.
 There are many types of forces, e.g. friction, weight, tension,
magnetic force, and electric force.
 The SI unit of force is the newton (N).
 A scalar quantity has a magnitude only.
 A vector quantity has a magnitude and direction;
 Scalar Quantities:
Distance, speed, energy, time, volume, density, power.

 Vector Quantities:
Displacement, velocity, force, acceleration.

 When there are two or more forces acting on an object, the


resultant force is found by adding the forces together.
(a) For parallel forces, the resultant force can be found by taking one direction as positive
and the opposite as negative, and then adding up the forces to find the resultant force.
(b) For non-parallel forces, the resultant force can be found by adding the vectors using the
parallelogram method or the tip-to-tail method.
 The change in motion of an object is caused by unbalanced
forces acting on it.
 Forces acting on an object are balanced if the resultant force is
zero.
 Forces acting on an object are unbalanced if the resultant force
is not zero.
 Newton’s first law states that every object will continue in its
state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless a
resultant force acts on it to change its state.
 Newton’s second law states that when a resultant force acts
on an object of constant mass, the object will accelerate and
move in the directions of the resultant force. The product of
the mass and acceleration of the object is equal to the resultant
force. In equation form, this is represented as:
F=ma

 Newton’s third law states that for every action, there is an


equal and opposite reaction, and these forces act on mutually
opposite bodies.
 A resultant force is 1 N if the acceleration it produces on a mass
of 1 Kg is 1 m s-2.
 Friction opposes motion between two surfaces in contact.
 A non-zero resultant frictional force will cause a moving object
to slow down to a complete stop.
 There are both positive and negative effects of friction in our

daily lives.

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