Cheat Sheet
5 sections
•
20 key points
1
Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia)
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force.
Inertia is the resistance of an object to changes in its state of motion.
Mass is a measure of an object's inertia.
No net force implies no acceleration.
2
Newton's Second Law (F=ma)
The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
Equation: F_net = ma (Force = mass × acceleration).
Units: Force in Newtons (N), mass in kilograms (kg), acceleration in meters/second² (m/s²).
A net force causes a change in motion (acceleration).
3
Newton's Third Law (Action-Reaction)
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Forces always occur in pairs; these forces act on different objects.
Example: When you push against a wall, the wall pushes back on you with an equal and opposite force.
These forces do not cancel each other out because they act on different objects.
4
Key Concepts: Force & Friction
Force: A push or a pull that can cause an object to accelerate.
Types of forces: Applied, normal, gravitational, tensional, frictional.
Friction: A force that opposes motion between surfaces in contact.
Static friction (prevents motion) vs. Kinetic friction (opposes motion once started).
5
Momentum & Free Body Diagrams
Momentum (p) = mass (m) × velocity (v). It's a measure of an object's motion.
Conservation of Momentum: In a closed system, total momentum remains constant.
Free Body Diagram: A diagram showing all forces acting on a single object.
Used to analyze forces and apply Newton's Second Law.
Sample Flashcards
Card 1 of 6
Question
What is the SI unit of force?
Answer
Newton (N)
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Quick Quiz
1. Which of Newton's laws states that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force?
2. A force of 10 N is applied to a 2 kg object. What is the acceleration of the object?
3. According to Newton's Third Law, if you push a shopping cart forward, the cart simultaneously pushes back on you with:
4. Which of the following would increase the kinetic friction between a block and a surface?
5. What does a free body diagram primarily help you visualize?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Newton's First Law of Motion?
Newton's First Law, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
How is force calculated according to Newton's Second Law?
Newton's Second Law states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object times its acceleration (F = ma). This means a greater force is needed to accelerate a more massive object.
What is the principle of Newton's Third Law?
Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object simultaneously exerts a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction on the first object.
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