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Forces and their interactions key terms
Use these key terms for Forces and their interactions in AQA Physics 8463. The page is built from approved learning objectives for this topic and links back to the wider unit, topic hub, and related revision assets.
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key terms
Resource type
Topic
Forces and their interactions
Key terms
Scalar Quantity
A quantity that has magnitude only and no direction.
Magnitude
The size or amount of a quantity, expressed as a numerical value.
Vector Quantity
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Magnitude
The size or amount of a quantity, without regard to its direction.
Scalar Quantity
A quantity that has magnitude only, without direction.
Vector Quantity
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Vector Quantity
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as displacement, velocity, and force.
Displacement
A vector quantity that refers to the change in position of an object, measured in a straight line from the starting point to the endpoint.
Speed
A scalar quantity that measures the rate of distance traveled over time, without regard to direction.
Velocity
A vector quantity that measures the rate of displacement over time, including both speed and direction.
Vector quantity
A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as force.
Direction
The orientation in which a vector quantity acts, distinguishing it from a scalar.
Vector arrow
A graphical representation of a vector quantity, showing both its direction and relative magnitude through the arrow’s orientation and length.
Relative magnitude
The comparative size of a vector expressed by the length of its arrow relative to other vectors in the same diagram.
scalar quantity
A quantity that has magnitude only, without direction.
vector quantity
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
Force
A push or pull that arises from an interaction between objects.
Interaction
The mutual influence between two or more objects that results in a force.
force
A push or pull that arises from an interaction between objects.
interaction
The action that occurs when two or more objects exert forces on each other.
Contact force
A force that requires physical contact between two objects to act.
Non-contact force
A force that acts on an object without physical contact, such as gravitational or magnetic force.
Non-contact force
A force that acts on an object without physical contact, such as gravitational, electrostatic, or magnetic forces.
Contact force
A force that requires physical contact between two objects, such as friction, tension, and normal contact force.
Contact Force
A force that requires objects to be in physical contact with each other to exert an influence.
Non-Contact Force
A force that can act on an object without physical contact, such as gravitational or magnetic forces.
non-contact force
A force that acts on an object without physical contact, such as gravitational, electrostatic, or magnetic forces.
field
A region in which a non-contact force can act on an object, influencing its motion or shape.
force pair
A pair of forces that are equal in size, opposite in direction, and act on two interacting objects.
interaction
The action that occurs when two objects exert forces on each other, resulting in a force pair.
Force Diagram
A graphical representation showing all the forces acting on an object, including their magnitudes and directions.
Contact Force
A force that occurs when two objects are in physical contact with each other, such as friction or tension.
Force Arrow
A graphical representation of a force, indicating its magnitude and direction.
Direction of Force
The orientation in which a force is applied, crucial for understanding the effect of the force on an object.
Exerting Force
The force applied by one object onto another, causing an interaction.
Experiencing Force
The force felt by an object as a result of an interaction with another object.
Weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Gravity
The attractive force between two masses, which causes weight.
Weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Vector Quantity
A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
mass
A scalar quantity that represents the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms.
kilogram
The SI unit of mass, defined as the mass of the International Prototype of the Kilogram.
Mass
A scalar quantity representing the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms.
Weight
A vector quantity representing the force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Centre of Mass
The point in an object where its mass is evenly distributed and where weight acts.
gravitational field strength
The force experienced by a mass of one kilogram in a gravitational field, measured in newtons per kilogram (N/kg).
newton
The SI unit of force, defined as the force required to accelerate a one-kilogram mass by one meter per second squared (1 N = 1 kg·m/s²).
Weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Gravitational Field Strength
The force per unit mass experienced by an object in a gravitational field, measured in newtons per kilogram.
Weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Gravitational Field Strength
The force per unit mass experienced by an object in a gravitational field, measured in newtons per kilogram.
weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
mass
The amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms.
Weight
The force acting on an object due to gravity, measured in newtons.
Mass
The amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms.
gravitational field strength
The force acting on a unit mass due to gravity, measured in newtons per kilogram (N/kg).
kilogram
The base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to 1000 grams.
Resultant Force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
Balanced Forces
Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in a zero resultant force.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
forces in the same direction
When multiple forces act on an object in the same direction, their magnitudes can be added to find the resultant force.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
opposite directions
When two forces act in contrary directions, affecting the overall resultant force.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
force diagram
A visual representation showing all the forces acting on an object, typically using arrows to indicate direction and magnitude.
balanced forces
Forces acting on an object that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in a resultant force of zero.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
unbalanced forces
Forces that do not cancel each other out, resulting in a non-zero resultant force.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
balanced forces
Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in a zero resultant force.
Resultant Force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
Free-Body Diagram
A graphical representation showing all the forces acting on an object.
Force Arrow
A graphical representation of a force, showing its magnitude and direction.
Scale Drawing
A drawing that represents objects in proportion to their actual size, used to accurately depict force arrows.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
balanced forces
Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in a zero resultant force.
resultant force
The single force that has the same effect as all the forces acting on an object.
vector reasoning
The process of using vectors to analyze and combine forces, taking into account their magnitude and direction.