Physics: Forces and Motion
Forces and Motion – What makes objects move the way they do?
8.1 - An object’s inertia causes it to continue moving the way it is moving unless it is acted upon by a force to change its motion.
- The motion of an object can be described by its position, direction of motion and speed.
- An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed and/or direction of motion.
- Objects moving in circles must experience force acting toward the center.
C 22. Calculate the average speed of a moving object and illustrate the motion of objects in graphs of distance over time.
C 23. Describe the qualitative relationships among force, mass and changes in motion.
C 24. Describe the forces acting on an object moving in a circular path.
The Three Laws of Motion by Sir Isaac Newton explain motion:
Newton's First Law describes motion produced by balanced forces.
- The ball will not move unless a force is applied to it, as illustrated in the picture above. Once in motion, the ball will continue to move until the forces of gravity and friction cause the ball to stop moving.
An object at rest will remain at rest, and a moving object will remain at a constant velocity unless unbalanced forces act on it
The box is not belted onto the truck. The truck moves forward, but the box stays in place and falls to the ground as the truck drives away.
- Newton was first to use the term inertia to describe the tendency of objects to remain in motion or stay at rest. Inertia comes from the Latin word iners, which means "lazy".
NEWTON'S FIRST LAW:
Newton's Second Law:
Newton's Second Law describes motion produced by unbalanced forces.
This law is best stated using the equation:
Force = mass X acceleration
- Acceleration is always in the direction of the unbalanced force.
- The units of force are "Newtons"
1 N = 1 kg X 1 m/s/s
Newton's Third Law
Newton's Third Law explains why forces act in pairs.
- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- Forces always act in pairs.
- Action force, object putting a force on a second object. Reaction force, second object putting force back on the first object.
Action force: man jumping off the boat.
Reaction force: the boat pushing off the man and moving backwards
Newton's Third law can be seen in animals in the ocean, like the squid, the jelly fish, the nautilus, and the octopus:
Squid takes water into the mantle cavity.
Action force: Squid pushes water out of mantle cavity
Reaction force: water pushing squid in the opposite direction as the water
Jelly fish takes water in through the mouth (between the oral arms)
Action force: Jelly fish pushes water out of the mouth
Reaction force: water pushes jelly fish in the opposite direction
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To study physics:
Speed and Velocity