Forces and Motion

Force- a push or pull upon an object’s
interaction with another object
# a vector quantity
SI unit: Newton (N)
2 – Types:
1. long-range force/action-at-a
distance (ex. magnetic force)
2. contact force(ex. friction)
Friction–a force that acts parallel to the
surfaces of 2 – objects in contact with each
other; slows down a moving object
Gravity - the force that causes things to fall
toward the Earth
Types of Forces:
A.Balanced Force
- equal force; no movement
B. Unbalanced Force/net external force
- unequal force; movement is to the
direction of the net external force;
the cause to have any change in
object’s state of motion
Sir Isaac Newton 2. Law of Acceleration
- inspired by Galileo’s works, he “The acceleration of an object is directly
proposed the Laws of Motions proportional to the magnitude of the net
 physicist, mathematician, force acting on it & inversely proportional to
astronomer & natural philosopher its mass.”
Inertia - a measure of the resistance of the
object to the changes in the state of motion 3. Law of Interaction
Mass – measure of inertia “For every action, there is an equal &
opposite reaction.”
Constant velocity - uniform(unchanging)
speed along a straight path
Velocity - speed with direction
Acceleration - change of speed / velocity
over time
SI unit: m/s2
3 – Laws of Motion

Motion- is a change in position with

respect to the reference object
# An object is said to be moving when it
traveled a certain distance or displaced
from the reference

Early Postulates on Motion:

“An object needs a continuous force to keep
moving. If the force is removed, it will stop.”
- Aristotle

“Unless a moving body is disturbed, it 1. Law of Inertia

would forever be moving in a straight line. “A body will remain at rest
No force is necessary.” or move at constant velocity
- Galileo Galilei unless acted upon by a net external or
unbalanced force.”