6th Grade Forces and Motion

Force

A push or pull that causes an object to move
* change in speed
* change in direction
* change its shape

Motion

An object's change in position over time

Newton

The unit used to measure force

Balanced forces

Forces that cancel each other because they are equal and opposite; no change in motion

Unbalanced forces

A force that is stronger in one direction than the opposite force; produces a change in motion

Net force

The total amount of force acting on an object

Friction

A force that resists motion between two surfaces that are touching

Mass

The amount of matter in an object

Distance

The amount of space between two things

Simple Machine

Device that makes work easier by changing the direction or size of the force that is applied

Inclined Plane

A flat surface with a slope ( tilt ) that is used to move an object from a lower place to a higher place or vice versa; ramp

Pulley

A wheel with a groove in the middle of its rim; changes the direction of the force needed to move an object

Acceleration

Any change in the speed or direction of an object
* speeding up
* slowing down
* changing direction

Velocity

The speed of an object in a particular direction; moves in a specified direction
* speed and direction
* 25 m/s to the south

Speed

The rate at which an object moves; the ratio of the distance an object travels compared to the time it takes to travel that distance
Speed = total distance / total time

Force

A push or pull that causes an object to move
* change in speed
* change in direction
* change its shape

Motion

An object's change in position over time

Newton

The unit used to measure force

Balanced forces

Forces that cancel each other because they are equal and opposite; no change in motion

Unbalanced forces

A force that is stronger in one direction than the opposite force; produces a change in motion

Net force

The total amount of force acting on an object

Friction

A force that resists motion between two surfaces that are touching

Mass

The amount of matter in an object

Distance

The amount of space between two things

Simple Machine

Device that makes work easier by changing the direction or size of the force that is applied

Inclined Plane

A flat surface with a slope ( tilt ) that is used to move an object from a lower place to a higher place or vice versa; ramp

Pulley

A wheel with a groove in the middle of its rim; changes the direction of the force needed to move an object

Acceleration

Any change in the speed or direction of an object
* speeding up
* slowing down
* changing direction

Velocity

The speed of an object in a particular direction; moves in a specified direction
* speed and direction
* 25 m/s to the south

Speed

The rate at which an object moves; the ratio of the distance an object travels compared to the time it takes to travel that distance
Speed = total distance / total time