- Resultant force
- The single force that has the same effect as two or more forces acting together on an object.
- Resolution of forces
- The process of splitting a single force into two components, usually perpendicular to each other.
- Forces in equilibrium
- The condition in which the resultant of all forces acting on an object is zero, so it stays at rest or moves with constant velocity.
- Free body diagram
- A diagram that shows all the forces acting on a single object, drawn as arrows from the object.
- Inclined plane
- A flat surface set at an angle to the horizontal, on which an object's weight can be resolved into components along and perpendicular to the surface.
- Elasticity
- The property of a material that allows it to return to its original shape and size after the force deforming it is removed.
- Hooke's law
- Within the elastic limit, the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied to it.
- Spring constant
- The force needed to produce unit extension in a spring, a measure of its stiffness; measured in newtons per metre (N m⁻¹).
- Elastic limit
- The maximum force or extension beyond which a spring or material no longer returns to its original length.
- Limit of proportionality
- The point up to which the extension of a spring stays directly proportional to the applied force.
- Elastic potential energy
- The energy stored in a spring or elastic object when it is stretched or compressed.
What "Force and Motion II" terms cover
This group collects the 11 SPM Physics terms in Force and Motion II. Getting these definitions exactly right is some of the cheapest marks in Paper 2, a "define" or "state" question wants one precise sentence with the correct unit.
The key terms to get right
- Resultant force, The single force that has the same effect as two or more forces acting together on an object.
- Resolution of forces, The process of splitting a single force into two components, usually perpendicular to each other.
- Forces in equilibrium, The condition in which the resultant of all forces acting on an object is zero, so it stays at rest or moves with constant velocity.
- Free body diagram, A diagram that shows all the forces acting on a single object, drawn as arrows from the object.
- Inclined plane, A flat surface set at an angle to the horizontal, on which an object's weight can be resolved into components along and perpendicular to the surface.
- Elasticity, The property of a material that allows it to return to its original shape and size after the force deforming it is removed.
- Hooke's law, Within the elastic limit, the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the force applied to it.
- Spring constant, The force needed to produce unit extension in a spring, a measure of its stiffness; measured in newtons per metre (N m⁻¹).
- Elastic limit, The maximum force or extension beyond which a spring or material no longer returns to its original length.
- Limit of proportionality, The point up to which the extension of a spring stays directly proportional to the applied force.
- Elastic potential energy, The energy stored in a spring or elastic object when it is stretched or compressed.
How this vocabulary is examined
These terms appear as define/state items in Paper 1 and Paper 2, and inside explain and calculate questions where using the wrong word costs marks. Learn each term with its unit and one example of correct use.
Source: DSKP KSSM Physics Form 4 and 5 (Versi English) (Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum (BPK), KPM)