Resultant force
What Resultant force means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Resultant force
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Reference: AQA
The vector sum of all forces acting on an object; if it is non-zero, the object accelerates in its direction.
Found by adding all forces as vectors, not any single applied force, and is the F in F = ma.
The vector sum of all forces acting on the object, which must be zero for equilibrium.
Topics that use Resultant force
- Newton’s laws of motion (AQA A-Level)
- Scalars and vectors (AQA A-Level)
- Equilibrium (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Equilibrium
- Equilibrium conditions
- Free-body diagrams
- Acceleration
- Action–reaction pairs
- Coplanar forces at a point
- Couple
- Displacement
Using Resultant force in the exam
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