Thames & Kosmos Gumball Machine Maker User manual

Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizerstr. 5-7, 70184 Stuttgart, Germany | [phone] | www.kosmos.de
Thames & Kosmos, 301 Friendship St., Providence, RI, 02903, USA | 1-800-587-2872 | www.thamesandkosmos.com
EXPERIMENT MANUAL

› › › IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Dear Parents and Adult
Supervisors,
Physics is an exciting and expansive science
that is not hard to understand, especially when
you use fun models to demonstrate physics
principles in action. It can be a lot of fun to
figure out the astonishing physical phenomena
that we encounter every day and to put this
understanding to use — in a gumball machine,
no less!
This experiment kit and the working
models you can build with it introduce your
child to physics concepts including forces,
interactions, motion, and mechanical
advantage. With its hands-on models, your
child will gain basic insights into the world of
physics principles — which will help him or her
to understand and engage more deeply in the
lessons taught in school.
The gumball machine is assembled step by
step using reconfigurable parts. It will require a
little practice and patience to put it together
and to get the gumball to go exactly where you
want it to go. Your child will be particularly
happy to have your help with the parts that he
or she finds more difficult.
We wish you and your child lots of fun
experimenting, discovering, and learning!
Safety Information
››› Warning! Not suitable for children
under 3 years. Choking hazard — small
parts may be swallowed or inhaled.
Strangulation hazard — long cords may
become wrapped around the neck.
››› Keep the packaging and instructions as
they contain important information.
››› Store the experiment material and
assembled models out of the reach of
small children.
››› Clean the plastic parts before first use
and regularly in lukewarm water. Do not
clean in hot water. Dry thoroughly before
use.
››› Refer to the packaging for the
nutritional information and the
ingredients list for the gumballs.
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD — Small
parts. Toy contains a small ball. Not
for children under 3 yrs.

No. Description Qty.
1 Vertical tower support A 1
2 Vertical tower support B 1
3 Globe top 1
4 Globe bottom 1
5 Tip-over tube 1
6 Globe base with dispenser 1
7 Base 1
8 Leg 4
9 Globe funnel 1
10 Pulley cup 2
11 Pivot post, angled 2
12 Pivot post, straight 3
13 Tip-over tube clamp 1
14 Trampoline ring 1
15 Pulley wheel 1
16 Variable-slope track holder 1
17 Collection cup 1
18 Domino piece, beaker 2
Checklist: Find – Inspect – Check off
What’s inside your experiment kit:
Replacement gumballs: The gumball machine
uses standard small machine-sized gumballs,
which are 16 mm or 5/8 in (0.62 in) in diameter.
No. Description Qty.
19 Domino piece, erlenmeyer flask 2
20 Domino piece, florence flask 2
21 Pendulum 1
22 180-degree smooth track 1
23 Momentum trap track 1
24 Variable-slope track 1
25 Friction track 1
26 Centripetal force funnel 1
27 Pinball launcher 1
28 Domino track 1
29 Domino track post 1
30 Rubber bands for trampoline* 12
31 Piece of string for pulley cups* 1
32 Gumballs* 5.3 oz.
*Colors may vary.
550101- 0 2- 0 30 419
› › › KIT CONTENTS
Good to know!
If you are
missing any parts, please
contact Thames & Kosmos
customer service.
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Gumball Machine Maker
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First, assemble the gumball machine tower. All
of the setups use this tower.
HERE’S HOW
1Attach the four legs to the base. Slide them
down until they snap into place.
2Slide the two vertical tower supports
together all the way.
3Insert the tower into the base. The tabs on
the tower go into the holes in the base.
4Slide the globe base with dispenser and
knob onto the top of the tower.
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› › › TOWER ASSEMBLY
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4

5Put the bottom and top
halves of the globe onto
the globe base. Press them
in securely.
6Attach the globe funnel to
the top of the globe.
7Examine the tower assembly. The gumballs
are dispensed from the globe at the top and
gravity pulls them down the tracks, which
spiral around the tower.
The globe can be rotated around on the top
of the tower so that the knob and dispenser
can be positioned above any of the four
sides.
There are circular pegs on each of the
four sides of the tower. In the assembly
instructions, the pegs are referred to from
the top down. For example, this symbol
means the second peg from the top: 2. To
attach tracks and other parts to the tower,
first put the peg through the round part of
the hole in the track piece, then slide the
track piece down to lock it in place in the
narrower part of the hole.
The globe funnel allows you to return
gumballs to the globe after an experiment.
The next four pages teach you about how
each track and stunt work, and the physics
behind each one. Or proceed to the assembly
steps for the first setup on page 8.
Gumball Machine Maker
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› › › TOWER ASSEMBLY
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Done!
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› › › PHYSICS EXPLANATIONS
Gumball Physics
Here is an overview of the tracks and stunts included
in this kit. All of these parts attach to the pegs on the
sides of the tower, and each one can be used to
demonstrate physics principles.
1The 180-degree smooth track is the simplest
track segment. A gumball rolls from the top to the
bottom, 180 degrees around the tower. This simple
motion demonstrates many things. The gumball has
mass. Mass is the quantity of matter in an object or a
body, which is a physics term for a physical thing.
Matter is any physical substance that occupies
space. Mass can also be thought of as the ability of a
body to be heavy. Mass should not be confused with
weight though. Weight is a measure of the force that
gravity exerts on mass.
A force is the cause of a change in a body’s state
of movement. A force can be thought of as a push or a
pull on an object. A push of the gumball causing it to
roll across the table is a force.
Gravity is also a force. It is Earth’s force of
attraction on mass. Gravity is a fascinating thing: All
mass attracts each other. The larger the mass, the
greater its force of attraction. Earth has a huge mass:
5.9 trillion trillion kilograms, or 13 billion trillion
tons! The gumball has a very small mass: about two
grams. Therefore, Earth pulls the gumball toward it.
This is the force of gravity!
A gumball rolls down the track because gravity
is pulling it. On Earth, the gravity at the surface is a
downward force that causes an acceleration equal to
about 9.8 meters per second per second (m/s/s or m/
s2).
To understand acceleration, we have to
understand speed. Speed is the distance traveled by a
body in a certain amount of time. Velocity is a
physics term for speed that also takes into account
the direction of motion.
If a gumball travels five inches in one second, its
speed is five inches per second, or 5 in/s — which is
equal to about a quarter of a mile per hour.
Acceleration is the measure of the change in
speed (or more accurately, velocity) over a certain
amount of time. So, what is gravity again? Earth’s
gravity causes a body to accelerate to a speed of 9.8
meters per second for every second that gravity acts
on the body — regardless of the mass of the body. If
you drop a gumball and it falls for three seconds, by
the end of its fall, it is moving at a speed of 29.4
meters per second (9.8 m/s2x 3 s = 29.4 m/s).
As the gumball rolls down the track, gravity
accelerates it and it moves faster, unless it
encounters obstacles.
Amazing! This one simple segment of track has
allowed us to define all these physics terms.
2The momentum trap track demonstrates a few
more important physics principles. The momentum
trap looks like the 180-degree straight track, but with
one important difference. It has a little “speed bump”
in the middle of it. If you place a gumball on this
speed bump (or even in the little trough in front of the
bump) and release another gumball to roll down from
the top of the track, the rolling gumball will collide
with the stationary gumball. The stationary gumball
will then be knocked into motion and continue down
the track, while the previously moving gumball will
now be stuck in the trough. To understand what
happened here in terms of physics, you have to
understand momentum and inertia.
Inertia is the tendency of a body to remain at rest
or in motion. It can also be thought of as the amount
of resistance to a change in velocity. The more mass a
body has, the more inertia it has. Since both gumballs
have the same mass, they have the same inertia.
Momentum is the combined effect of the mass
and velocity of a body. All moving bodies have
momentum. A fundamental rule of physics says that
momentum is always conserved when two bodies
collide. When the gumballs collide, the momentum
from the moving gumball is transferred to the
stationary gumball, causing the latter to move. The
first gumball loses its momentum and slows down.
This describes a perfect elastic collision. If the bodies
were to deform, or change shape, on impact, the
result would be different. This is an inelastic collision.
The momentum trap can also be used to show
how a gumball must have a certain amount of
momentum if it is to make it over the hill. If it has too
little momentum, it will get stuck in the trap.
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› › › PHYSICS EXPLANATIONS
Low slope
High slope
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3The variable-slope track helps you perform
experiments on the force of gravity. The track can be
set at different slopes, or degrees of steepness. You
connect it to the tower with a straight pivot post and
the variable-slope track holder. The holder can be
attached to the tower with its arm up or down,
allowing you to position the variable-slope track at
two different angles.
At its less-steep setting, gumballs will roll down
it slower than at its more-steep setting. This is
because the slope prevents the full force of gravity
from pulling the gumball down the track. The steeper
the track, the more gravity can pull the gumball
along the direction of the track. The flatter the track,
the more gravity will try to pull the gumball into the
track itself, where it cannot go. This variable-slope
track is a simple machine called an inclined plane.
Every track and stunt also enables us to investigate
work and energy. Work is force exerted over a
distance. When you move a gumball from the bottom
of the tower up to the top with your hand, you
perform work. Moving a body requires work.
Energy is the capacity of a body to do work.
Energy is required to move a body over a distance.
Energy comes in many different forms, and it can be
converted from one form to another. This gumball
machine demonstrates two types of energy: potential
energy and kinetic energy.
Potential energy is stored energy. Kinetic energy
is the energy of motion. The gumballs at the top of
the machine have potential energy. When a gumball
starts rolling down the track, its potential energy is
converted into kinetic energy. At the bottom of the
track, it has less potential energy than at the top. You
must put energy back into it with your hand by
raising it back up to the top.
4The friction track has raised bumps on it. These
cause the gumball to slow down as it travels down
the track. They increase the friction between the
track and the gumball. Friction is the force resisting
the motion of objects sliding past each other. As the
gumball rolls down the track, it is releasing its
potential energy as always. It makes more noise than
on a smooth track. The increased friction is causing
energy to be lost to heat and sound. There is less
energy to convert into kinetic energy, so the gumball
moves slower.
5The centripetal force funnel demonstrates
rotational inertia, or moment of inertia, and
centripetal force. When a gumball enters the funnel,
the shape of the funnel causes the gumball to curve
around in a circular motion. As the gumball slows
down, it circles closer and closer to the center, and
then falls into the hole.
Centripetal force is the reason the gumball
doesn’t just roll straight into the hole. Centripetal
force is a force that makes a body follow a curved
path. Like inertia, the rotational inertia of the
gumball describes its tendency to remain in motion
and resist slowing down. But because friction and
gravity work to overcome its inertia, the gumball
slowly gets closer to the hole in the center.
Gumball Machine Maker
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› › › PHYSICS EXPLANATIONS
Track
without
dominos
Rubber band color may vary.
6The domino track offers another lesson in
transfer of momentum. To set up the domino track,
insert the six dominos and the domino track post, and
place a gumball on the post. A gumball drops into
the top of the domino track and knocks down the first
domino. A chain of collisions follows, in which each
domino knocks down the next. The final domino falls
over and collides with the gumball positioned on the
post, which falls out of the track. The momentum is
transferred from the gumballs through the dominos.
7You can also use the domino track without the
dominos and post as a simple 90-degree smooth track.
8The pendulum stunt is attached to the tower
using the angled pivot post. When a gumball enters
the cup at the top of the pendulum, it causes the
pendulum to turn on its axis and the gumball is
passed to a lower track.
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot
that can swing freely. It demonstrates center of mass
and stable equilibrium. Center of mass is a point on a
body representing the mean (or middle) position of
the mass of the body — mass on all sides of this point
balances out. When the pendulum is stationary, it is
said to be in stable equilibrium. Equilibrium is the
state of a body at rest or in unaccelerated motion in
which the result of all forces acting on it is zero. A body
is in stable equilibrium if its center of mass is located
vertically above its base of support. If its center of mass
lies vertically above its tipping line (the edge of the
base), then it will wobble or fall over. The slightest
movement will make it tip over. But its stability also
depends on the force needed to push it off balance.
The pendulum has been specifically designed with
a counterweight at the boom that offers just enough
inertia to keep the pendulum stable until the gumball
enters the cup and knocks it out of stable equilibrium.
9The trampoline is a window into two more huge
realms of physics: springs and projectiles. To set up the
trampoline, you must stretch the rubber bands around
the trampoline ring. The notches in the ring keep the
rubber bands from slipping off. Try to evenly space the
rubber bands around the surface of the ring. The
trampoline ring aaches to the tower with a straight
pivot post. Position the trampoline at an angle such
that when a gumball falls on it, the gumball bounces
into the next track segment.
The rubber bands in the trampoline work like a
spring. When a moving body stretches or compresses a
spring, it converts its kinetic energy into potential
energy stored in the spring. Then, the spring bounces
back and pushes back on the body. The amount of
force exerted on a spring is proportional to the amount,
or distance, that the spring stretches or compresses.
The more momentum a gumball has when it hits the
trampoline, the more the rubber bands will stretch.
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› › › PHYSICS EXPLANATIONS
The more the rubber bands stretch, the more force they
will have to push back on the gumball.
When the trampoline bounces the gumball into
the air, the gumball becomes a projectile. A projectile
is a body upon which only the force of gravity is
acting. The path that projectiles take as they move
through the air can be predicted based on the speed,
angle, and height at which it was launched.
10 The pinball launcher is similar to the trampoline in
that it demonstrates the principles of springs and
projectiles. When a gumball lands in the pinball
launcher, you can manually pull back on the trigger
and release to launch the gumball back up and out of
the track and down to another section of track.
In the pinball launcher, there is a metal spring. When
you pull the trigger back, the spring compresses and
stores energy. When you release the trigger, the stored
energy is released and converts into kinetic energy,
which is transferred to the gumball, pushing it along
the track. The gumball is a projectile that glides along
the track, like a ball inside a pinball machine.
11 The pulley cups and wheel demonstrate a simple
machine called a pulley. To set it up, first aach the
wheel to the tower with a straight pivot post. Then tie
the two ends of the string to the two handles on the
cups. Follow the instructions on the next pages for the
specific lengths of string you want for each setup.
Then, guide the string over the pulley wheel and
position one of the cups so that a track will deposit a
gumball into it.
The pulley demonstrates how a downward force
(the weight of a gumball) applied to one side is
transformed into an upward force of the cup on the
other side. Pulleys can change the direction of a force,
and also the amount of force needed, to perform work.
If you place two gumballs in the second pulley cup,
you probably will need two or more gumballs to fall
in the first pulley cup before it exerts enough weight to
lift up the second.
12 Finally, there is the tip-over tube. Like the
pendulum, this demonstrates center of mass and
stable equilibrium. Aach the tip-over tube to the
tower with the angled pivot post and the tip-over tube
clamp. The tip-over tube should be positioned high up
in the clamp. More of the tube should be above the
clamp than below the clamp. When gumballs fall into
the tube, they will stay in the tube until the center of
mass extends outside of the stable equilibrium point
and the tube tips over, dumping the gumballs into the
track below.
Now that you know how all the various tracks and
stunts work, follow the step-by-step assembly
instructions on the following pages to set up three
different gumball machines and use the parts together.
Gumball Machine Maker
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› › › SETUP 1
Follow these steps to build the first configuration of
the gumball machine. Beforehand, assemble the tower
according to the steps on pages 2 and 3. Refer to the
descriptions of the tracks and stunts on pages 4–7 for
important background information.
HERE’S HOW
1With the rubber bands wrapped around the
trampoline ring, and the trampoline attached to the
straight pivot post (as described on page 6), attach
the trampoline with the pivot post to the tower.
Attach it to the side of the tower under the dispenser
knob, on the second and third pegs from the top;
that is, pegs 2and 3.
2Rotate the model 180 degrees so the knob is facing
backward. Attach the pendulum with the angled
pivot post to pegs 3and 4on the side of the tower
opposite the knob.
2
3
3Rotate the model
180 degrees
so the knob is
facing forward
again. Attach the
centripetal force
funnel to peg 4
on the side of the
tower under the
knob, and peg 4
on the side to the
left of that, as
shown.
180°
3
4
180°
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› › › SETUP 1
8
7
90°
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7
90°
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90°
4Rotate the model 90 degrees clockwise.
Attach the variable-slope track holder to
peg 6on the side of the tower under the
knob. Attach the variable-slope track with
the straight pivot post to pegs 6and 7
on the side to the right of that, as shown.
Attach the variable-slope track to its holder
by putting the peg on the holder into the
hole in the track.
5Rotate the model 90 degrees clockwise
again. Attach the momentum trap track to
pegs 8, 8, and 9on the three sides of the
tower shown in the image.
6Rotate the model 90 degrees clockwise
again. Attach the pulley wheel with the
straight pivot post to pegs 7and 8on the
side of the tower to the left of the knob, as
shown.
Tie one end of the
string to the arm of one
pulley cup. With a ruler,
measure five inches
on the string starting
at the point where you
tied the string to the
first pulley cup. Tie
the other end of the
string to the arm of the
second cup. Now, there
should be five inches of
string between the two
cups.
Hang the string from
the wheel and position
the left pulley cup
at the bottom of the
momentum trap track.
5 inches
of string 9
Gumball Machine Maker
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› › › SETUP 1
Done!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
On the first side, the gumball drops out of the dispenser and onto the trampoline. It
bounces into the centripetal force funnel, where it spirals around. It falls through the hole
and into the variable-slope track. It rolls down and into the momentum trap. If a gumball
is already in the momentum trap, the first gumball will knock the gumball that is
already there down the track and into the pulley cup. Depending on how many
gumballs are in each pulley cup, the pulley cup may move down or it may not. On the
second side, the difference is that the gumball starts in the pendulum before it moves
into the centripetal force funnel. Refer to the physics explanations on pages 4–7.
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7Adjust all the tracks and stunts so that,
in your best estimation, a gumball will
travel all the way from the dispenser down
to the pulley cup. Place a gumball in the
momentum trap and in the pulley cup on the
right. The assembly is finished!
Now it’s time to test the setup!
8It’s a good idea to put the gumball machine
on a tray, in the lid of a box, or on a piece
of fabric like a tablecloth when you are
experimenting with it. The reason for this is
that it is normal for gumballs to fall off the
track or for a stunt to miss its target some
of the time. You must carefully adjust the
model to get the gumball to travel from the
top to the bottom without falling off course.
The tray, box lid, or tablecloth will help
keep the gumballs from rolling all over the
place when they fall out of the machine.
9Turn the knob clockwise to dispense one
gumball. What happens?
10 Segment by segment, make adjustments to
the model until the gumball makes it all the
way to the cup at the end.
11 Rotate the globe and dispenser to the other
side and try the second course.
12 Return the gumball to the globe each time
by taking the pulley cup and dumping it into
the globe funnel.

› › › SETUP 2
Now that you have built the first setup, try this
setup. It is a little more challenging.
HERE’S HOW
1Attach the momentum trap track to the
tower. Attach its left side to peg 1on the
side of the tower under the knob. Attach
the middle to peg 1on the next side of the
tower to the right, and its right side to peg
2on the side of the tower opposite the
knob.
2Rotate the model 180 degrees so the knob
is facing backward. Attach the 180-degree
straight track to pegs 1, 1, and 2on the
side of the tower opposite the momentum
trap track.
3Attach the pinball launcher to pegs 3
and 4on the sides under the 180-degree
straight track, as shown.
1
1
2
34
180°
112
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Gumball Machine Maker
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› › › SETUP 2
4Rotate the model 180 degrees. Attach the
domino track to the tower. Attach its left
side to peg 3on the side of the tower under
the knob. Attach its right side to peg 4on
the side of the tower to the right of the knob.
4a Insert the six dominos and the domino track
post into the domino track. The flat side of
each domino should be facing the higher end
of the domino track.
4b Make sure all the dominos are standing
straight up. They will probably fall over
during assembly. Set them back up again
before each gumball run.
5Rotate the model 90 degrees. Attach the
centripetal force funnel to the tower. Attach
its left side to peg 5and its right side to
peg 5as shown.
Post
180°
34
90°
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5
12
4
5
4b
4a

6Attach the tip-over tube with the angled
pivot post to pegs 8and 9as shown.
Make sure the tip-over tube is held high up in
the clamp, so that a gumball coming out of
the funnel will fall into the tube.
7Hang the collection cup on the edge of the
base, under the tip-over tube.
8Adjust all the tracks and stunts so that,
in your best estimation, a gumball will
travel all the way from the dispenser down
to the collection cup. Place a gumball in
the momentum trap and on the post in the
domino track. The assembly is finished!
Now it’s time to test the setup!
9Follow steps 8 through 11 on page 10 like
you did for the first setup.
12 When the gumball falls into the pinball
track, you have to launch it back out by
pulling the trigger back and releasing it.
After a run, return the gumball to the globe
each time by taking the collection cup and
dumping it into the globe funnel.
› › › SETUP 2 Done!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
On the first side, the gumball drops out of the
dispenser into the momentum trap track. The
gumball from the trap drops into the pinball
launcher, where you fire it back out and it falls
into the tip-over tube. On the second side, the
gumball rolls from the 180-degree smooth
track and knocks over the dominos. The
gumball from the domino track falls into the
centripetal force funnel and into the tip-over
tube, which tips over and empties into the
collection cup when it is full enough. Refer to
the physics explanations on pages 4–7.
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Gumball Machine Maker
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› › › SETUP 3
Now that you have built the first two setups, try
this setup. It is the most challenging.
HERE’S HOW
1Attach the 180-degree straight track to pegs
1, 1, and 2on the sides of the tower as
shown. Pay attention to the knob location.
2Rotate the model 180 degrees so the knob is
facing forward. Attach the momentum trap
track to the tower to pegs 1, 1, and 2on
the sides of the tower as shown.
3Attach the domino track to pegs 3and
4on the sides under the momentum trap
track, as shown.
3a Insert the six dominos and the domino track
post into the domino track.
1
2
1
180°
1
2
1
3
4
14
1
2 3
3a

4Rotate the model 90
degrees. Attach the tip-over
tube with the angled pivot
post to pegs 4and 5as
shown.
5Rotate the model 90
degrees. Attach the
variable-slope track with
the straight pivot post and
the holder to pegs 7, 6,
and 7as shown.
6Rotate the model 90
degrees. Attach the friction
track to pegs 8and 9as
shown.
7Attach the pulley wheel and
cups to pegs 4and 5as
shown. The string between
the pulley cups should be 8
inches long.
› › › SETUP 3
7
90°
4
5
90°
7
6
7
90°
89
4
5
8 inches
of string
15
Gumball Machine Maker
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6

8Rotate the model 90 degrees. Attach the
pendulum with the angled pivot post to pegs
7and 8as shown.
9Rotate the model 180 degrees. Attach the
centripetal force funnel to pegs 9and 9.
10 Hang the collection cup on the edge of the
base, under the centripetal force funnel.
Adjust all the tracks and stunts so that, in
your best estimation, a gumball will travel
all the way from the dispenser down to
the collection cup. Place a gumball in the
momentum trap. It is optional to start with
a gumball or two in the tip-over tube. The
assembly is finished!
Now it’s time to test the setup!
11 Follow steps 8 through 11 on page 10 like
you did for the first setup.
12 After a run, return the gumball to the globe
each time by taking the collection cup and
dumping it into the globe funnel.
› › › SETUP 3
9
10
8
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The tracks and stunts function similar to how
they did in the previous setups. The new elements
in this setup are the friction track and the
pendulum. The friction track slows the gumball
down. You might notice the gumball makes
more sound when it goes down the friction
track. The pendulum swings over and drops a
gumball into the centripetal force funnel. You
might also notice that gumballs don’t always
roll out of the variable-slope track after being
dumped there from the tip-over tube. This is
because the track has a low slope. Try raising
the track holder to peg 6to increase the
slope and observing what happens. Refer to
the physics explanations on pages 4–7.
Design your own!
Now that you know how all the
parts of the gumball machine system work, you can
design, build, and test your own configurations.
As a challenge, can you make a gumball machine in
which the gumballs make it to the bottom every single
time they are dispensed?
Done!
90°
7
8
180°
9
9
16

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550101- 0 3 - 03 0419
Glossary of Physics Terms
Acceleration: Acceleration is the measure of
the change in speed (or more accurately,
velocity) over a certain amount of time.
Body: A body is a physics term for a physical
thing or object; something with mass.
Center of mass: Center of mass is a point on a
body representing the mean (or middle)
position of the mass of the body — mass on all
sides of this point balances out.
Centripetal force: Centripetal force is a force
that makes a body follow a curved path.
Elastic collision: An elastic collision is an
interaction between two bodies in which the
total kinetic energy of the two bodies remains
the same. For example, they bounce off each
other perfectly.
Energy: Energy is the capacity of a body to do
work.
Equilibrium: Equilibrium is the state of a body
at rest or in unaccelerated motion in which the
result of all forces acting on it is zero.
Force: A force is the cause of a change in a
body’s state of movement.
Friction: Friction is the force resisting the
motion of objects sliding past each other.
Gravity: Gravity is Earth’s force of attraction
on mass.
Inclined plane: An inclined plane is a flat
surface tilted at an angle with one end higher
than the other, also called a ramp.
Inelastic collision: An inelastic collision is a
collision in which kinetic energy is not
conserved due to the action of internal friction.
For example, the bodies deform and the
collision releases heat and sound energy.
Inertia: Inertia is tendency of a body to remain
at rest or in motion.
Kinetic energy: Kinetic energy is the energy of
motion.
Mass: Mass is the quantity of matter in an
object or a body.
Matter: Matter is any physical substance that
occupies space.
Momentum: Momentum is the combined effect
of the mass and velocity of a body.
Pendulum: A pendulum is a weight suspended
from a pivot that can swing freely.
Potential energy: Potential energy is stored
energy.
Projectile: A projectile is a body upon which
only the force of gravity is acting.
Pulley: A pulley is a simple machine consisting
of a wheel on an axle with a rope or chain
running over it that changes the direction of the
force used for lifting a load.
Rotational inertia: Rotational inertia is the
tendency of a body to remain in motion along
a circular path around an axis and to resist
slowing down.
Slope: Slope is the degree of steepness; it is the
ratio of the difference in the vertical position
to the difference in the horizontal position of
two points on a line.
Speed: Speed is the distance traveled by a
body in a certain amount of time.
Spring: A spring is an elastic object that stores
mechanical energy.
Stable equilibrium: Stable equilibrium is the
state of a body when its center of mass is
located vertically above its base of support and
it won’t tip over.
Velocity: Velocity is the speed and direction of
motion of a body.
Weight: Weight is a measure of the force that
gravity exerts on mass.
Work: Work is force exerted over a distance.