Download Forces Word List

Physics Technical Word Lists
Forces
Read through the word list to become familiar with the meanings.
Word
Meaning
air resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving
through air. It is a type of friction.
contact force
A force that needs to touch an object before it can affect it
(e.g. friction).
drag
Air resistance and water resistance are both sometimes
called drag.
force
A push or a pull.
newton meter
Piece of equipment containing a spring, used to measure
forces.
friction
A force that tries to slow things down when two things rub
against each other.
gravity
The force of attraction between any two objects. The Earth
is very big and so has strong gravity that pulls everything
down towards it.
magnetism
A force that attracts objects made out of iron.
newton (N)
The unit of force.
newton meter
Another name for a force meter.
non-contact
force
A force that can affect something from a distance (e.g.
gravity).
speed
How fast something is moving. Often measured in metres
per second (m/s).
static electricity
A force which attracts things with extra electrical charges
on them.
upthrust
A force that pushes things up.
water resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving
through water. It is a type of friction.
density
The amount of mass that 1cm3 of a substance has.
Measured in g/cm3.
displacement
The volume of water pushed out of the way by an object.
upthrust
A force that pushes thing up.
balanced forces
When two forces are the same strength, but working in
opposite directions.
elastic
Any substance that will return to its original shape and size
after it has been stretched or squashed.
gram
A unit for measuring mass (g).
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gravity
The force of attraction between any two objects. The Earth
is very big and so has a large gravity pulling everything
down towards it.
kilogram
A unit for measuring mass (kg). There are 1000 g in 1 kg.
mass
The amount of matter that something is made of.
Measured in grams (g) and kilograms (kg). Your mass does
not change if you go into space or to another planet.
newton
The unit of force (N).
stationary
Not moving.
unbalanced
forces
When two forces working in opposite directions are not the
same strength.
weight
The amount of force with which gravity pulls something
towards the Earth. It is measured in newtons (N).
air resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving
through the air. It is a type of friction.
friction
A force that tries to slow things down when two things rub
against each other.
lubricant
A substance (normally a liquid) used to reduce friction.
lubrication
Adding a lubricant to something.
water resistance
A force that tries to slow things down that are moving
through water. It is a type of friction.
braking distance
The distance a car travels while the brakes are trying to
stop it.
distance/time
graph
A graph that shows how far and how fast something travels
during a journey.
kilometres per
hour (km/h)
Units for speed when the distance is measured in
kilometres and the time is measured in hours.
metres per
second (m/s)
Units for speed when the distance is measured in metres
and the time is measured in seconds.
miles per hour
(mph)
Units for speed when the distance is measured in miles and
the time is measured in hours.
speed
How fast something is moving. Often measured in metres
per second (m/s).
stopping distance The distance a car moves while it is stopping. The stopping
distance is equal to the thinking distance and the braking
distance added together.
thinking distance The distance a car travels while the driver is deciding to
press the brake pedal.
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Energy
Word
Meaning
chemical energy
The kind of energy stored in chemicals. Food, fuels and
cells (batteries) all contain chemical energy.
electrical energy
The kind of energy carried by electricity.
generate
Make electricity by turning a magnet inside coils of wire.
heat energy
The hotter something is, the more heat energy it has.
kinetic energy
The kind of energy in moving things.
law of
conservation of
energy
The idea that energy can never be created or destroyed,
only changed from one form into another.
light energy
The kind of energy given out by light bulbs, candles, etc.
nuclear energy
Energy stored inside the particles that things are made out
of.
sound energy
The kind of energy made by anything that is making a
noise.
uranium
A fuel used in nuclear power stations.
non-renewable
energy resource
Any energy resource that will run out and we cannot renew
our supplies of it (e.g. oil).
alternative
Another name for renewable energy resources.
energy resources
biomass
Any fuel that comes from plants, animals, or their wastes
(e.g. wood, methane from rotting plants, etc.).
generator
Large coil of wire with a magnet inside. When the magnet
is turned, electricity is produced in the coil of wire.
geothermal
power
Making electricity using heat from hot rocks underground.
hydroelectric
power
Making electricity by letting falling water (usually from a
reservoir) turn turbines and generators.
nuclear energy
Energy stored inside the particles that things are made out
of.
radiation
Dangerous particles and energy given off by uranium and
other radioactive materials.
renewable
energy resource
An energy resource that will never run out (e.g. solar
power).
solar cells
Flat plates that convert light energy into electrical energy.
solar panels
Flat plates that use the Sun's energy to heat water.
solar power
Making electricity by using light or heat energy from the
Sun.
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turbine
The machine in a power station that is pushed round by
water or steam and turns the generator.
uranium
A fuel used in nuclear power stations.
wind turbine
A kind of windmill that generates electricity using energy
from the wind.
joule (J)
The unit for measuring energy.
kilojoule (kJ)
There are 1000 joules in 1 kilojoule.
convection
current
A flow of liquid or gas caused by part of it being heated or
cooled more than the rest.
geothermal
power
Making electricity using heat from hot rocks underground.
hydroelectric
power
Making electricity by letting falling water (usually from a
reservoir) turn turbines and generators.
nuclear power
Making electricity by using the nuclear energy stored inside
uranium.
tidal power
Making electricity using the moving (kinetic) energy from
the tides.
Electricity
Word
Meaning
ammeter
Measures how much electricity is flowing around a circuit.
amp (A)
The unit for current.
cell
A source of electricity with a low ‘energy’. Cells push
electrons round a circuit.
circuit
A complete loop that electricity flows around.
component
Something in a circuit, like a bulb, switch or motor.
conductor
A material that lets electricity flow through it.
electric current
The flow of electricity around a circuit.
insulator
A material that does not let electricity flow through it.
mains
(electricity)
Alternating current at 230 V provided to houses, shops etc.
power pack
A source of electricity with a low energy (low voltage).
switch
Turns electricity on or off, by closing or opening a gap in a
circuit.
voltage
A way of saying how much energy is transferred by
electricity.
atom
The smallest part of an element.
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electric current
The flow of electrons around a circuit.
electrical energy
The kind of energy carried by electricity.
electron
Tiny particle that flows around a circuit.
filament
Thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when
electricity is flowing through it.
model
A scientific way of thinking about how things happen.
resistance
A way of saying how difficult it is for electricity to flow
through something.
resistor
A component that makes it difficult for electricity to flow –
resistors are used to control the size of the current in a
circuit.
variable resistor
A resistor that can be adjusted to change the amount of
resistance it has.
voltage
A way of saying how much energy is transferred by
electricity.
component
Something in a circuit, like a bulb, switch or motor.
parallel circuit
A circuit with two or more wires running next to each
other.
series circuit
A circuit where there is only one loop of wire.
cable grip
Part of a plug that holds the cable, and stops the wires
being pulled out of the pins.
earth wire
The green and yellow wire in a cable or plug.
filament
Thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when
electricity is flowing through it.
fuse
A piece of wire that melts if too much electricity flows
through it.
live wire
The brown wire in a cable or plug.
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