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This lesson covers forces and Newton's three laws of motion as required by the Edexcel 9MA0 A-Level Mathematics specification. You need to be able to identify forces, draw force diagrams, and apply Newton's laws to solve problems.
| Force | Symbol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | W = mg | Gravitational force acting downwards; g ≈ 9.8 m s⁻² |
| Normal reaction | R or N | Perpendicular contact force from a surface |
| Tension | T | Pulling force in a taut string or rope |
| Friction | F | Opposes motion (or attempted motion) along a surface |
| Thrust/compression | T | Pushing force in a rigid rod |
| Driving force | D | Force propelling a vehicle |
| Resistance | R | Forces opposing motion (e.g. air resistance) |
A body remains at rest or moves with constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant (net) force.
In mathematical terms: If the resultant force is zero, the acceleration is zero (the body is in equilibrium).
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