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Newton's laws of motion form the foundation of classical mechanics, describing the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, and its motion in response to those forces. These laws explain how objects move and interact, providing a framework for understanding everything from everyday phenomena to complex engineering systems.
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Force is a vector quantity that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, direction, or shape. It is described by Newton's laws of motion, which outline how forces interact with mass and acceleration.
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Dynamics is the branch of physics that studies the forces and their effects on the motion of objects. It is essential for understanding how and why objects move, encompassing both kinematics and the forces that cause motion changes.
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Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies under the action of forces, including the special case in which a body remains at rest. It is fundamental to understanding how forces affect the movement and behavior of objects, from the smallest particles to the largest celestial bodies.
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In thermodynamics, 'System and Surroundings' refers to the division of the universe into two parts: the system, which is the specific portion of matter or space being studied, and the surroundings, which is everything else outside the system. This distinction is crucial for analyzing energy and matter exchanges, as it allows scientists to focus on the interactions and changes within the system while considering the influence of the external environment.
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Momentum is a vector quantity that describes the quantity of motion an object has, calculated as the product of its mass and velocity. It is a conserved quantity in isolated systems, meaning the total momentum remains constant unless acted upon by external forces.
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Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time, and it is a vector quantity that has both magnitude and direction. It is a fundamental concept in physics that explains how the motion of objects changes due to forces acting upon them, often described by Newton's Second Law of Motion.
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Gravitational force is a fundamental interaction that causes objects with mass to be attracted toward each other, with its strength inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. It governs the motion of celestial bodies and plays a crucial role in the structure and behavior of the universe, from the formation of galaxies to the orbit of planets.
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Frictional force is a resistive force that acts opposite to the direction of motion when two surfaces are in contact. It is essential for everyday activities, providing the necessary grip for walking and driving, but also causes wear and energy loss in mechanical systems.
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Applied force refers to a force that is exerted on an object by a person or another object. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and is central to the principles of mechanics and dynamics in physics.
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Normal force is the perpendicular contact force exerted by a surface on an object resting upon it, counteracting the object's weight and preventing it from passing through the surface. It is a crucial component in understanding equilibrium and motion in physics, as it adjusts based on the angle and nature of the surface and the forces acting on the object.
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Tension force is the force that is transmitted through a string, rope, cable or any other form of a flexible connector when it is pulled tight by forces acting from opposite ends. It is a pulling force that acts along the length of the connector and is directed away from the object to which it is applied, ensuring equilibrium or motion in the system.
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Air resistance, also known as drag, is a force that opposes the motion of an object through the air, increasing with the object's speed and surface area. It plays a significant role in determining the terminal velocity of falling objects and affects the performance and efficiency of vehicles and projectiles.
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A Free Body Diagram is a graphical illustration used to visualize the forces acting on an object, simplifying complex physical systems into manageable components for analysis. It is an essential tool in physics and engineering for understanding equilibrium and dynamics by isolating a single body and representing all external forces and moments acting upon it.
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Work done by a system refers to the energy transferred by the system to its surroundings when it performs an action against an external force. It is a crucial concept in thermodynamics and physics, quantifying the energy exchange that occurs during processes such as expansion, compression, or movement.
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Violent motion is an Aristotelian concept that refers to motion resulting from an external force, contrasting with natural motion which occurs without external intervention. This idea was later replaced by Newtonian physics, which provides a more comprehensive understanding of motion through the laws of inertia and gravity.
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Natural motion refers to the inherent movement of objects as described in classical physics, particularly in the Aristotelian framework where it is contrasted with 'violent motion'. In modern physics, natural motion is understood through Newton's laws of motion, where an object remains in its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.
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Newton's First Law of Motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. This principle highlights the natural tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion.
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