Study resource
Forces and their interactions key terms
Study Forces and their interactions with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
At a glance
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.
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