Resultant forces and their effects
I can determine the change of motion caused by one dimensional forces acting on an object.
Resultant forces and their effects
I can determine the change of motion caused by one dimensional forces acting on an object.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A single resultant force has the same effect as several forces acting on an object
- If there is no resultant force on an object, it remains still or continues to move at a steady speed in a straight line
- If there is a resultant force on an object, it will accelerate in the direction of the force
- A resultant force acting in the opposite direction to movement will decelerate (slow down) an object
Common misconception
A common belief is that a resultant force is needed to keep an object in motion, and if no resultant force acts on an object then it must be stationary.
Discuss examples in which friction is very low or absent, such as a puck sliding across an ice rink or an object being dropped during a space walk and extrapolate to what would happen if friction disappeared entirely.
Keywords
Resultant force - the effect of a set of forces on an object
Newton’s First Law of motion - an object will remain at rest, or in motion in a straight line at constant speed, unless there is a resultant force acting on it
Velocity - the rate of change of displacement of an object, measured in metres per second (m/s)
Accelerate - a change in the speed and/or direction of an object
Decelerate - a decrease in the speed of an object
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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