Force, Mass and Acceleration, Physical Science Game
What is force? Force is a physical input or influence which causes an object to accelerate or move in the direction from which it was applied. Mass is the amount of matter in an object, expressed in kilograms. Can you work out the relationship between force, mass and acceleration from these clues? Well, if you can’t, do not worry. Play this physical science game to practice the relationship between force, mass and acceleration.
Understanding the Concept of Force
Force is the push or pull that an object experiences from another entity. A force can be contact or noncontact, and can result in the displacement of two or more entities. An object can gain acceleration by being subjected to a force that is continuous. It is impossible to measure how much acceleration an object will gain if the force is continuous in one direction, but it will increase dramatically in the other. Here is a diagram of the concept of force.
Force is the push or pull on an object with mass that causes it to change velocity
Force is the force applied to an object that changes its motion. It is defined as a push or pull that changes the object's velocity. It has a magnitude and direction, and is measured in Newtons (N). In simple terms, force can slow or stop an object's motion, or it can change its shape. Let's explore some examples of force.
Newton's three laws of motion
Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion are the basis of classical mechanics. They explain how the movement of matter is determined by forces and their effects on a body. The first law states that a body at rest will remain at rest unless it is acted upon by a force. The second law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. The third law states that no isolated force exists.
Contact forces
In Physics, contact forces are generated by the interaction of two bodies. They are produced by interatomic electric forces, and include friction, tension, normal force, and buoyant force. To describe contact forces, we need to understand their directions. Tension, for example, is always applied downwards, while friction is always applied in the opposite direction of motion. A normal force, on the other hand, is always perpendicular to the surface of an object. This equation explains the relationship between the weight and the amount of stretching.
Noncontact forces
When two objects are far apart, non-contact forces act. These forces are different from contact forces because they do not involve the two objects coming into direct contact with each other. Gravity and electromagnetism are examples of non-contact forces. They happen when one object is in the force field created by another object. For example, if we throw an apple upwards, it will fall toward the ground. A similar effect occurs when a raindrop falls onto a paper, which can be seen as a non-contact force.
Electromagnetism
Essentially, electromagnetism is the physical interaction between two electrical charges or magnetic moments. This interaction can either be static or continually changing. In addition to this, the electromagnetic field also produces waves of energy that are referred to as light. We are constantly exposed to these electromagnetic phenomena, including the constant presence of electronic devices in our everyday lives. For example, most of the devices we use to communicate with each other are based on electromagnetism.
Gravitational force
The gravitational force exists between all objects and its intensity depends on the masses of the objects. Similarly, the mass of a planet must be large enough to detect gravitational forces. For instance, the Earth's pull on a kilogram mass is 10 newtons, while the same force acts on a two kilogram mass. It works towards the centre of the Earth. The intensity of gravitational forces varies between different objects, and they're more noticeable when the mass of an object is large.
