MOTION

3. FORCE

1.2 Definition

Force:

Force is an agent that produces acceleration in the body on which it acts.

Or it is a phenomenon that change or tends to change the position of the body at rest or in uniform motion.

Force is a vector quantity as it has both direction and magnitude.

For example,

(i)  To move a football, we have to exert a push i.e., kick on the football

(ii) To stop football or a body moving with same velocity, we have to apply push in a direction opposite to the direction of the body.

SI unit of force is Newton.

Dimension formula: [MLT^-2 ]

1.2.1 Types of force

1.  Contact force: These are forces that act on a body directly or through a medium. Examples are push, pull, friction, pressure etc.

2.  Non-Contact (Field) force: These are forces that act through spaces without making direct contact with the body. Examples are gravitational force, electrostatic force and magnetic force.