Force - October 7th 2024

*Rest in Physics is when an object is stationary (not moving)

A force is defined as that which changes or tends to change the state of rest or uniform motion of a body.

Examples of forces in our daily life:

• Force as a push

• Force as a pull

• Force as a stretch

• Force as a squeeze

Effects of force. Force can produce the following effects

• It can bring change in dimension

• It can start or stop motion

• It can change the speed or direction of the motion

SI unit of force
In the SI system, the absolute unit of force is Newton [N]

Force is a vector quantity

Types of Force
There are many different ways of producing force (push or pull) for example:

• Electrostatic Force

• Gravitational Force

• Magnetic Force

• Elastic Force

• Nuclear Force

• Tension Force

• Thrust Force

• Upthrust Force

• Normal Reaction Force

Contact & Non-Contact Forces
Forces can also be classified either as a contact or non-contact force.

Contact forces occur when two objects at a distance, they do not touch each other

Force Feilds
Gravitational, Electrostatic, Nuclear, and Magnetic Forces act in fields. This means that instead of just one line of force acting in one direction to affect the object. There are millions of lines of force, each acting in a slightly different direction. The effect is to form a “cloud or force field, which will affect any objects in it. It is most easily shown by the use of iron fillings around a bar magnet.