Chapter 6: Applications of Newton's Laws Reference Tools & Resources

Reference Tools & Resources

I. Key Terms and Phrases

kinetic friction: the contact force between two sliding surfaces that opposes their motion.

static friction: the contact force between two nonsliding surfaces that opposes their attempt to slide.

tension: the force transmitted through a string or taut wire.

Hooke's law: the force law for an ideal spring.

force constant: the proportionality factor between the force and the deformation in Hooke's law.

translational equilibrium: the situation in which the net force on an object is zero.

centripetal acceleration: the center pointing acceleration of objects in circular motion.

centripetal force: the center pointing force on objects in circular motion.

II. Important Equations

Name/Topic	Equation	Explanation
kinetic friction		The force of kinetic friction is directly proportional to the normal force.
static friction		The force of static friction takes on a range of values up to a maximum.
Hooke's law	Fx = -kx	The force law for an ideal spring
centripetal acceleration		The magnitude of the acceleration for circular motion at a constant speed v.
centripetal force		The magnitude of force on mass m moving in circular motion at constant speed v.

III. Know Your Units

Quantity	Dimension	SI Unit
coefficient of friction	--	dimensionless

Reference Tools and Resources by David Reid, Eastern Michigan University. ©2002 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

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