FORCE/MOTION/ENERGY GLOSSARY

Name: _______________________________

ACCELERATION: change in an

AIR RESISTANCE: the fluid

BALANCED FORCES: when

DECELERATION: negative

objects speed or direction

friction experienced by

the total of all forces on an

acceleration, or slowing down

(velocity) over time

objects falling through air

object equals zero and its

motion does not change

ENERGY: the ability to do

FORCE: a push or pull exerted

FREE FALL: the motion of a

FRICTION: the force that

work or cause change, such as

on an object

falling object when the only

opposes motion between two

force acting on it is gravity

surfaces that are in contact

moving an object some

distance

with each other.

GRAPH: a diagram that shows

INERTIA: the tendency of an

ISAAC NEWTON: 17th

KINETIC ENERGY: energy an

how two variables are related,

object in motion to stay in

century English physicist,

object has because of its

such as a line graph

motion and an object at rest

astronomer, mathematician,

motion

to stay at rest

theologian, philosopher

MASS: a measure of how

MOMENTUM: the product of

MOTION: the state in which

NET FORCE: sum of all forces

much matter is in an object

an objects mass and its

one objects distance from

acting on an object

velocity

another is changing

NEWTON (N): unit of

POTENTIAL ENERGY: stored

REFERENCE POINT: a place

SPEED: the distance an object

measure that equals the force

energy an object has because

or object used for comparison

travels in one unit of time

required to accelerate one

of its position or shape

to know if an object is in

kilogram of mass at a rate of

1 m/s/s (m/s )
2

motion

FORCE/MOTION/ENERGY GLOSSARY

Name: _______________________________

UNBALANCED FORCES: when

VELOCITY: an objects speed

WEIGHT: a measure of the

WORK: occurs when a force is

the net force on an object

and direction at a given

force of gravity on an object

used to move an object

does not equal zero; results in

instant

the object changing its motion

through a distance; measured

in joules (J)