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Magnitude: 5N
5N, north (up)
Direction: north (up)
Force Measurement and Units
• SI unit for force is the Newton (the international unit )
• A Newton is a force that causes a 1kg mass to accelerate
at a rate of m/s2. (1N = 1 kg m s-2, or 1 kg m/s2) - One
newton is equal to 1 kilogram meter per second squared.
• We use a spring scale
to measure force.
Force and motion units
This is a full listing of the units used in the lesson sequence.
Combining Forces
• Net Force – The overall force acting on an object after all
forces are combined.
- Forces in the same direction we add them.
10N 10N Net Force = 10N
+ =
- Forces in opposite directions you subtract them.
10N 7N Net Force = 3N
- =
Forces in the Same Direction
a
Combining Forces at Right Angles
• Use the Pythagorean Theorem - a2 + b2 = c2.
- ex. What is the resultant force if you have a force 3N
South and another force 4N West and show the diagram.
a2 + b 2 = c2
4N West c2 = 42 + 32
c2 = 16 + 9
3N c2 = 25
South
5N c2 = 25
South c = 5 N SW
West
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Ground pushes up
5N 5N
• Direction
–Direction of the largest force
Unbalanced Forces
5N
Object 5N
5N
Balanced
No Acceleration
Push
10N 10N
or change in Net Force = 0
i.e. Pushing a motion
Car
Balanced No Acceleration
10N 10N Pull or change in Net Force = 0
i.e. Tug-o-war motion
Review Un-Balanced Forces
Add Together
10N Un-Balanced Faster
10N Net Force > 0
Same Direction Acceleration