Forces

Air resistance

The force that opposes objects moving through the air. Air resistance. Air resistance is a type of friction that slows down objects as they move through the air.

Balanced force

Forces that are equal but in opposite directions. Balanced force. In simple terms, balanced forces occur when two forces acting on an object cancel each other out, so the object stays still or continues moving at the same speed.

Centripetal force

The force that causes an object to move in a circle. Centripetal force. It is the inward force that keeps an object moving in a circular path.

Compression

Part of a wave where particles are pushed together. Compression. In simple terms, compression is when particles in a wave are squeezed tightly together.

Force

The push or pull exerted on an object. Force. Force makes things move or change direction.

Free fall

The motion of a falling object when the only force acting on it is gravity. Free fall. In science, free fall is when an object falls solely under the influence of gravity, with no air resistance.

Friction

The force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are touching. Friction. Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.

Gravity

The attractive force between all objects that have mass. Gravity is the invisible pull that draws objects toward each other, like how we stay on the ground.

Inertia

The tendency of objects to resist any change in motion. Inertia. Inertia means that an object will keep moving at the same speed or stay still unless a force acts on it.

Mass

The amount of matter in an object. Mass. Mass is the measure of how much "stuff" or matter is inside an object, making it resistant to being moved.

Momentum

The product of an object's mass and velocity. Momentum. Momentum is a measure of how much motion an object has and how hard it is to stop.

Net force

The sum of all forces acting on an object is called the net force. Net force is the overall force that determines how an object moves.

Sliding friction

The friction that occurs when one solid surface slides over another. Sliding friction. Sliding friction is the resistance you feel when you push an object over a surface.

Static friction

Friction that acts on objects that are not moving. Static friction. Static friction is the force that keeps an object at rest and prevents it from moving against a surface.

Unbalanced force

Forces acting on an object to cause a change in motion unbalanced force. An unbalanced force occurs when the total forces on an object do not equal zero, causing it to accelerate.

Weight

Measure of the force of gravity on an object. Weight. Weight is how heavy something feels because of gravity pulling it down.