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Forces as Vectors
Forces as Vectors
Forces can be seen as a measurement of any interaction that causes an object to move and change its velocity.
Measurements used in science can be categorised as scalar or vector quantities. A scalar quantity has only magnitude (size). A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
Do you think speed is a scalar or vector quantity?
Speed is a scalar quantity.
500 mph does not have an associated direction, so speed is a scalar quantity.
Do you think distance is a scalar or vector quantity?
Distance is a scalar quantity.
5000 metres does not have an associated direction.
Do you think acceleration is a scalar or vector quantity?
Acceleration is a vector quantity.
Acceleration is a change in speed - either positive (speeding up) or negative (slowing down). That is what we think of as the "direction" of acceleration.
If scalar quantities have only magnitude, and vector quantities have both magnitude and direction, which category would you choose to describe forces?
A force is a push or a pull resulting from the interaction between two objects, for example when a football is pushed towards the net because your foot is kicking it. Try to select all the options below that describe the effect forces can have on objects.
You can select multiple answers
An object will remain either at rest or at a constant speed, unless it is acted on by an unbalanced force. This is why a ball will stay at rest on the ground until you kick it.
Balanced forces are equal in size, but act in opposite directions. If the forces acting on a moving car are balanced, the car would ...