GCSE›AQA GCSE Physics›Mind mapsScalars, Vectors and Resultant ForcesAQA GCSE Physics: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsScalar or vectorScalar: magnitude only (distance, speed, mass)Vector: magnitude and directionVectors: force, velocity, displacement, accelerationArrow length = size, arrow direction = direction10 m/s is speed, 10 m/s north is velocityTypes of forceA force is a push or pull, measured in newtonsContact: friction, air resistance, tensionNon-contact: gravity, electrostatic, magneticInteracting objects exert a pair of forcesResultant forceSingle force with the same overall effectSame direction: addOpposite directions: subtract15 N right, 6 N left: 9 N rightFree body diagram shows all forces on one objectVectors, forcesand resultantsNF→Balanced or notResultant zero = balanced forcesBalanced: still or constant velocityResultant not zero = unbalancedUnbalanced: object accelerates with the resultantAngled forcesResolve a force into two right-angled componentsCombine with a scale vector diagramDraw the parallelogram diagonal for the resultantHigher tier onlyExam tipsBalanced means resultant is zero, not no forcesDraw arrows to a stated scaleMeasure length with a ruler, angle with a protractor