Formula Sheet: Exploring Forces

F represents force (newtons, N), m is mass (kilograms, kg), and a is acceleration (m/s²). This formula, known as Newton's Second Law of Motion, describes how the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration.

W is weight (newtons, N), m is mass (kg), and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² on Earth). This formula calculates the weight of an object based on its mass and the gravitational pull it experiences.

f is the force of friction (N), μ is the coefficient of friction (dimensionless), and N is the normal force (N). This relationship shows how frictional force is affected by the surface interaction between two objects.

E represents work done (joules, J), F is the force applied (N), d is the distance moved in the direction of the force (m), and θ is the angle between the force and the direction of movement. It accounts for direction when calculating work.

P is pressure (pascals, Pa), F is force (N), and A is the area over which the force is applied (m²). This formula defines how pressure is the ratio of force applied to the area it acts on.

F_gravity is the gravitational force (N), G is the gravitational constant (6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²), m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects (kg), and r is the distance between their centers (m). This equation represents Newton's law of universal gravitation.

F_net is the net force (N), F_applied is the force applied (N), and F_friction is the frictional force opposing the motion (N). This formula is used to calculate the effective force acting on an object.

V is velocity (m/s), d is distance traveled (m), and t is time taken (s). This formula calculates the velocity of an object based on the distance it covers over a specific time.

a is acceleration (m/s²), V_f is the final velocity (m/s), V_i is the initial velocity (m/s), and t is the time (s). This equation defines how acceleration changes the velocity of an object over time.

F_net is the net force (N), m is mass (kg), V_f is the final velocity (m/s), V_i is the initial velocity (m/s), and t is time in seconds (s). This formula combines Newton's second law with the concepts of change in velocity.

This law articulates the concept of inertia, stating that an object's motion is changed only when a net external force acts upon it.

V is voltage (volts), I is current (amperes), and R is resistance (ohms). It describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits.

KE is kinetic energy (joules, J), m is mass (kg), and v is velocity (m/s). It calculates the energy an object possesses due to its motion.

PE is gravitational potential energy (joules, J), m is mass (kg), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²), and h is height (m). This formula gives the potential energy an object possesses based on its height above ground.

W represents work done (J), ΔKE is change in kinetic energy (J), and ΔPE is change in potential energy (J). This principle indicates that work done on an object results in changes in its energy.

It states that an immersed body experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. This principle helps explain why some objects float while others sink.

F_friction is the frictional force (N), μ is the coefficient of friction, and N is the normal force (N). This relationship indicates that the frictional force depends on the nature of the surfaces in contact.

Explains the potential energy due to an object's height in a gravitational field, showing how it relates to mass, gravity, and height.

Contrast with vector quantities which include direction. Understanding this helps clarify the nature of different physical quantities.

Emphasizes the difference between speed and velocity by including direction, clarifying concepts in physics.