What is Laws of Motion? | Definition, Types, Formula & Examples
What is Laws of Motion?
A force is anything that can change an object’s state of motion, such as a push or pull. You use force when you press a letter on a computer keyboard or when you kick a ball. Forces are everywhere. Gravity acts as a constant force on your body, keeping you safe on planet Earth so you don’t fly away.
To describe a force, we use direction and force. For example, when you kick a ball, you apply a force in a particular direction. This is the direction the ball will move. Also, the harder you kick the ball, the greater the force you exert on the ball and the farther the ball will travel.
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Laws of Motion
A scientist named Isaac Newton proposed three laws of motion to scientifically describe how things move. He also describes how gravity works, a strong force that affects everything.
First Law of Motion
The first law states that any moving object will continue to move in the same direction and at the same speed unless a force is applied to it.
This means that if you hit a ball, it will fly forever unless some kind of force acts on it! It sounds weird but it’s the truth. When you hit a ball, forces begin to act on it immediately. These include resistance or friction from the air and gravity. Gravity pulls the ball towards the ground and the air resistance slows it down.
Second Law of Motion
The second law states that the greater the mass of an object, the greater the force acting on the object. There’s even an equation that says Force = mass x acceleration or F=ma.
It also means that the harder you kick the ball, the farther it will go. It may seem pretty obvious to us, but having an equation to understand math and science is very helpful for scientists.
Third Law of Motion
The third law says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that there are always two identical forces. In the example you kick the ball, there is the force of your foot on the ball, but the same force that the ball exerts on your foot. This force is in the exact opposite direction.
Interesting facts about Forces and Motion
It is said that Isaac Newton got the idea of gravity when an apple fell from a tree and hit him on the head.
Forces are measured in Newtons. These are according to Isaac Newton, not newton figs, although they are delicious.
Gases and liquids push with equal forces in all directions. It is called Pascal’s Law because it was discovered by scientist Blaise Pascal.
When you go upside down on a roller coaster ride, a special force called “radial force” keeps you from falling on the chair.