Ok, we've all heard the word force before, but the way we use it in everyday language isn't necessarily the way it is used in science. Let's break it down. In very simple terms, a force is a push or a pull that acts on an object. Forces are what cause all movement in the universe. They can cause objects to speed up, slow down, remain in place, or change direction.
When we measure forces, we measure them in units named after the famous scientist, Isaac Newton. We abbreviate these units, Newtons, as "N". One Newton is the amount of force needed to cause one gram of mass to accelerate one centimeter per second squared. We can shorten that into a nice, pretty formula:
When we measure forces, we measure them in units named after the famous scientist, Isaac Newton. We abbreviate these units, Newtons, as "N". One Newton is the amount of force needed to cause one gram of mass to accelerate one centimeter per second squared. We can shorten that into a nice, pretty formula:
We can use this formula in a variety of ways, as we will soon see. But first, let's finish defining forces. Newtons are a measure of a force's magnitude (basically how hard the push or pull is). If you barely pat someone on the arm, that is a small magnitude of force. However, if you shove someone across the room, that requires a much larger magnitude of force.
In addition to a magnitude, every force also has a direction. This makes every force a vector, which can be represented by an arrow. Look at the image below. That blue box has a force of 10 N acting upon it to the right. Since there are no other forces acting on the box, the box would begin to move to the right.
In addition to a magnitude, every force also has a direction. This makes every force a vector, which can be represented by an arrow. Look at the image below. That blue box has a force of 10 N acting upon it to the right. Since there are no other forces acting on the box, the box would begin to move to the right.
Combined Forces
In the real world, forces very rarely act alone. On any one object, there is usually a multitude of forces at work. For now though, let's just focus on the basics. Look at the box below.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/1/1/20114429/4006943.png?250)
The total force acting on an object is the sum of all the forces acting on it. The box to the left has two different forces acting upon it, one with a magnitude of 10 N and one with a magnitude of 6 N. Both are pushing to the right. The total force acting upon this box is 16 N right.
Now, lets take a look at another example.
Now, lets take a look at another example.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/1/1/20114429/9830937.png?250)
The total force acting on an object is the sum of all the forces acting on it. Now, you might think that means just add all the forces you see. "16 Newtons!" you might say proudly. Nope... sorry. Take a closer look. The arrows are pointing in opposite directions.
Think of it like a game of tug of war. One side is pulling with a force of 10 N and the other side pulls with a force of 6 N. We all know which side wins, right? But do they win by 16 N? No, because the forces are in opposite directions. So the total force magnitude is 4 N. Now to figure out the direction. The side with the larger magnitude always wins, so in this case the box would move right. To wrap up, the total force is 4 N right.
Think of it like a game of tug of war. One side is pulling with a force of 10 N and the other side pulls with a force of 6 N. We all know which side wins, right? But do they win by 16 N? No, because the forces are in opposite directions. So the total force magnitude is 4 N. Now to figure out the direction. The side with the larger magnitude always wins, so in this case the box would move right. To wrap up, the total force is 4 N right.