A push or pull that changes an object's motion, measured in newtons, is called what?

A push or pull that changes an object's motion, measured in newtons, is called what?

• A. Velocity
• B. Friction
• C. Mass
• D. Force

Answer: (D)

A push or pull that changes an object's motion is called force. In physics, a force is anything that can cause an object to speed up, slow down, or change direction, and it’s measured in newtons. Newton’s second law, F = ma, ties this together: the acceleration an object experiences depends on the force applied and the object's mass. If the total (net) force on the object is zero, its motion stays the same; with a net force, the motion changes. Remember, velocity describes how fast and in what direction something is moving, not what makes it move. Friction is a resisting force, mass is the amount of matter, and force is the general term for the push or pull that drives motion.

A push or pull that changes an object's motion is called force. In physics, a force is anything that can cause an object to speed up, slow down, or change direction, and it’s measured in newtons. Newton’s second law, F = ma, ties this together: the acceleration an object experiences depends on the force applied and the object's mass. If the total (net) force on the object is zero, its motion stays the same; with a net force, the motion changes. Remember, velocity describes how fast and in what direction something is moving, not what makes it move. Friction is a resisting force, mass is the amount of matter, and force is the general term for the push or pull that drives motion.