Physics: Force

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Force
Force is a vector quantity expressing how bodies act on each other. Force has a motion and deformation nature. If you, for example, kick something, you apply force on the given object. Such object may fly away due to the motion effect of the force applied by your leg. Or you can kick a hole in the object due to the deformation effect of the force applied by your leg.If you, for example, kick a stone, you can stub your toe due to the deformation effect of the stone force, for the stone acts on us as well (by the same force). The motion effect of the stone force is mostly not manifested because our weight is much greater than that of the stone and so the stone does not move us but we do move the stone. Force acts through direct contact or through fields (gravitation, electric, ). Force is demonstrated by means of vectors (arrows of different length). The arrow orientation shows the direction of the force action, and its length shows the amount of the force applied. The arrow begins at the place of the force effect point of force application. The figures show an example of pushing a box with a hand. In both cases, we touch the box at the same place (a dot on the figure) and push it in the same direction. However, the forces used are different (expressed by the different vector length).

The vectors can be moved. It is often advantageous to place the force vectors into one point not corresponding to the real point of force application, for example, in the centre of the body.It is then easier to sum the vectors up graphically and determine their resultant. The resultant (net force) is one vector showing the same motion consequences as all the vectors acting on the body in the given moment.

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Physics: Force

www.nablacognition.org

The figures show all forces acting on the box if we move it on the table. In the first figure, the vectors are drawn in their points of force application; the second figure shows the force vectors transferred to one point of application (the body centre is often used). Note: Vectors of some forces in the first figure are drawn in bold for better visibility.

In this case, the force resultant equals zero (the motion effects of the force are deducted one from another). The body is motionless, or according to the Newtons first law of motion, it is in a uniform motion in a straight line. Force must meet 3 conditions: It must have an originator (your hand if you push something; Earth attracting bodies, ). It must have a target. There must be something to act on. It must have a reaction forcethe force must be paired with a reaction force of the same magnitude acting in the opposite direction (paired forces have their origin and target swapped). If I lean against a wall, I exert a force on it (I am the originator of the force. The wall is the target). The wall will exert an equally large force of the opposite direction on me (The wall is the originator. Im the target.). Paired forces arise and vanish together.

Apparent forces Apparent forces are forces that do not meet all 3 conditions (they do not have an originator and the partner force). They are not forces in the real sense of the word. Such forces include, for example, centrifugal force and Coriolis force.

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