In this Lesson, The Physics Classroom differentiates between the various types of forces that an object could encounter. Some extra attention is given to the topic of friction and weight.

Forces can be described as a push or pull on an object. They can be due to phenomena such as gravity, magnetism, or anything that might cause a mass to accelerate.

A force is a push or a pull. Types of contact forces include the normal and friction forces. Types of non-contact forces include the gravitational, electric, and magnetic forces. When two or more forces act …

Dec 4, 2025 · force, in mechanics, any action that tends to maintain or alter the motion of a body or to distort it. The concept of force is commonly explained in terms of Isaac Newton ’s three laws of …

What is a force? A force is a push or pull on an object. It can make things move, stop, or change direction. For example, types of forces include gravity, friction, and magnetism. Forces are a key part …

Mar 30, 2022 · The four fundamental forces of nature are gravity, electromagnetism, the strong interaction, and the weak interaction. Gravity is the attractive force between two masses.

It is now time to expand our studies to include the quantities that affect motion — mass and force. The mathematical description of motion that includes these quantities is called dynamics. Many …

Force can change the state of motion of an object, making it a fundamental concept in mechanics. It can cause an object to start moving, stop moving, change direction, or change its shape. Forces are …

Forces are used to push or pull stationary objects, to stop moving objects, to change direction of moving objects. Forces always exist in pairs: a force of action and a force of reaction (third law of Newton).

Force is push or pull. Unbalanced forces make an object accelerate. Forces on an object are usually balanced: forces in one direction are equal to forces in the opposite direction: No acceleration. …