Which term describes a push or pull that can change an object's motion?

Which term describes a push or pull that can change an object's motion?

• A. Friction
• B. Matter
• C. Speed
• D. Force

Answer: (D)

A push or pull that can change an object's motion is a force. A force is any interaction that can change an object's velocity or direction, and it can act through contact (like pushing a cart) or at a distance (like gravity pulling a falling object). Forces are vectors, meaning they have both magnitude and direction, and the net force on an object determines its acceleration according to F = ma. For example, pushing speeds up a cart, while friction is a force that opposes motion and can slow it down. Matter is just what something is made of, and speed is how fast something moves, not the action that changes motion. So the term that describes a push or pull capable of changing motion is force.

A push or pull that can change an object's motion is a force. A force is any interaction that can change an object's velocity or direction, and it can act through contact (like pushing a cart) or at a distance (like gravity pulling a falling object). Forces are vectors, meaning they have both magnitude and direction, and the net force on an object determines its acceleration according to F = ma. For example, pushing speeds up a cart, while friction is a force that opposes motion and can slow it down. Matter is just what something is made of, and speed is how fast something moves, not the action that changes motion. So the term that describes a push or pull capable of changing motion is force.