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matter in motion
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| motion | an object's change in position relative to a reference point |
| speed | the distance traveled divided by the time interval during which the motion occurred |
| velocity | the speed of an object in a particular direction |
| acceleration | the rate at which velocity changes over time; an object accelerates if its speed, direction, or both change |
| force | a push or a pull exerted on an object in order to change the motion of the object; force has size and direction |
| newton | the SI unit for force (symbol, N) |
| net force | the combination of all of the forces acting on an object |
| friction | a force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact |
| gravity | a force of attraction between objects that is due to their masses |
| weight | a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object; its value can change with the location of the object in the universe |
| mass | a measure of the amount of matter in an object |
| inertia | a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. |