"The most beautiful thing
we can experience
is the mysterious...
It is the source
of all true art
and all science."

- Einstein

 

 

 

 

Unit 1 - FORCES

 

 

 

 

 

Crushing a Pop Can with Air

St. Mary's U. Astronomy and Physics

 

 

 

 

Forces - any straight-line push or pull

 

 

 

 

 

A. Representing Forces

 

 

1. Units of force

 

 

a)  lb. (English)

 

 

b) Newton (metric) (weight of 1 apple)

 

 

2. Forces are VECTORS

              

 

- described using:

 

 

- magnitude (size)

 

 

 

 - direction 

 

 

 

Review - Scalar (magnitude only) time, distance 

 

 

Solving problems with vectors require
 a special branch of mathematics

 

 

 

 

3. When solving problems and drawing pictures, forces are represented as arrows drawn to some selected scale

 

 

 

 
(know your directions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scale          1 cm = 10 N 

 

 

*Length shows magnitude (size)   

**arrow shows direction

 

 

 

 

 

Combining Forces


 

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