Module 2 Forces in Action
What happens when several forces act on an object? This important question is of paramount importance to a civil engineer building a bridge or to a car designer aiming to break the world speed record. The material covered in this and the earlier module on motion is used to understand the safety features and navigation systems (GPS) used in modern cars. There are opportunities for you to appreciate societal benefits from scientific innovations. The work of Newton on the motion of objects is used to illustrate how scientific ideas need to be modified.
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Force
Based on the equation F = ma this describes the motion of objects (as long as they are well below the speed of light).
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Nonlinear MotionObjects often experience drag due to travelling in a fluid. This force causes a non-uniform acceleration leading to a terminal velocity.
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EquilibriumObjects with no net force and no resultant moment are said to be in equilibrium (forces and moments are equal in each direction). It's back to vectors again as
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Car safety and GPSWhat are the factors that affect the total stopping distance of a car, why are there crumple zone and how does a SatNav work?
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