Types of Forces

You can split the types of forces you encounter in physics into two categories – those
that need to touch an object (contact forces) and those that can affect an object from
a distance (field forces). We’ll discuss both in-depth and give several common
examples of each type. It is possible that you’ll encounter more if you continue to
study physics through college and make a career out of it, but for the average high
school physics course, this article will be sufficient.

Types of Contact Forces

Contact forces are probably the most obvious ones. These are forces where an object
needs to be in direct contact with another (actually touching it) in order to experience
a force. The table below lists common types of contact forces:

Force Symbol Definition

The force applied to an object falling through the air by the

Air
Resistance \text{F}_{\text{air}}Fair molecules in the air. This is usually ignored in most high school
physics problems, but it is vital to how we operate in reality.

Applied \text{F}_{\text{app}}Fapp An applied force is one that an entity exerts on an object, typically
Force \text{F}_{\text{p}}Fp in the form of a push or pull.

Kinetic friction is the force that opposes motion. It works opposite

Kinetic \text{F}_{\text{k}}Fk the direction of motion and is only in play when the object in
Friction \text{F}_{\text{f}}Ff contact with it is sliding – not rolling or tumbling. This is the force
that stops something that’s sliding.

The normal force is an important one in everyday life as it’s the one
that prevents things from plummeting to the center of the Earth due
to gravity. The normal force is the one applied to the object by the
surface it is sitting on. The reason we call it the “normal” is that it is
always normal (perpendicular) to the surface the object is sitting on.
Normal
Force \text{F}_{\text{N}}FN

A spring force is exactly what it sounds like – the force applied to

an object by a spring. Note, this can mean anything that compresses
Spring and expands similar to how a spring would. You will usually only
Force \text{F}_{\text{s}}Fs see actual springs in physics, but know that if you’re working with
compressing something and then having it exert a force on another
object by expanding, you technically have a spring force.
Force Symbol Definition

Static friction is in play when something is stationary relative to the

surface it’s on. This will work opposite in direction to the applied
force that is attempting to move the object. It will have a magnitude
Static \text{F}_{\text{s}}Fs equal to the net force trying to move an object and the object cannot
Friction \text{F}_{\text{f}}Ff begin moving until the net force is greater than the maximum value
of static friction. It’s worth noting that static friction is greater than
kinetic friction. This is why it’s easier to keep something moving
than it is to get it moving.

Tension is reserved for the forces in ropes and strings, similar to

Tension how we talk about tension in ropes and strings in normal English.
Force \text{F}_{\text{T}}FT This mostly comes up with hanging masses or masses moving in a
circle attached to a central point.

Types of Forces at a Distance

A more abstract idea is that of a force at a distance. In terms of calculations, field
forces work similarly to contact forces, but understanding them takes a little more
imagination. Instead of being in direct contact with something, these forces create an
area around an object (the field) that can affect other objects around it. These fields
technically extend infinitely around the object creating them, but they grow weaker at
greater distances and become completely negligible at a given point. The table below
lists the most common types of field forces you’re likely to encounter. Depending on
the class, you may also encounter some nuclear forces, but we won’t cover those
here.

Force Symbol Definition

Electrical forces are those that exist

between electrically charged particles
Electrical and objects. These are the ones
Forces \text{F}_{\text{e}}Fe responsible for phenomena like
lightning and are one of the stronger
field forces you’ll study.

Gravitational forces are those that exist

due to the presence of mass – any mass.
A singular elementary particle even
creates a gravitational force. Gravity is
Gravitational
Forces \text{F}_{\text{g}}Fg the force responsible for keeping us on
Earth, keeping Earth in orbit around the
Sun, and even causing black holes to
form. This is the weakest of the field
forces.
 Force Symbol Definition

Magnet forces are somewhat similar to

electrical forces in that they are a
property of some but not all objects and
particles. You’re likely familiar with
Magnetic
Forces \text{F}_{\text{m}}Fm this force from several frustrating years
of trying and failing to force two
magnets together. This force is
equivalent in strength to electrical
forces and the two are often linked.

Conclusion
In conclusion, forces shape every aspect of the world we live in from how we walk, to
the way we talk, to how we can live on a giant rock orbiting a ball of plasma. We only
talked in-depth about gravity here, but as you continue your physics journey you’ll
learn about all of the other types of forces mentioned above. If you take your studies
far enough you may even learn about some that weren’t mentioned at all. Physics is
built on figuring out how the universe acts with itself, and learning about the types of
force and how we work with them is a major step in truly understanding the way our
universe works.