A list of some different types of forces that are encountered regularly in physics is shown below.
Normal force:
Definition: The normal force is the force exerted by a surface on an object.
Direction: Perpendicular to and away from the surface.
Symbol: FNExample: Put a book on a table. The table exerts a normal force on the book which prevents the book from falling down.
Frictional force:
Definition: The frictional force is the force that resists sliding motion between surfaces.
Direction: Parallel to the surface and opposite the direction of sliding.
Symbol: FfExample: You put a book on the floor and you kick it so it slides on the
floor. The book will eventually stop sliding because of the force of
friction.
Weight:
Definition: The weight is the force caused by the gravitational attraction between two objects. Generally this force happens between the earth and an object.
Direction: Straight down toward the center of the earth.
Symbol: FgExample: Every time you jump into the air, your weight is the force that keeps pulling you down.
Tension:
Definition: The tension is the pull exerted by a rope, cable, or string when attached to an object and stretched tight.
Direction: Away from the object or the point of attachment and parallel to the rope, cable, or string.
Symbol: FTExample: Wrap a rope around a box and using your hand to drag the box with the rope. A tensional force will be created along the rope.
Thrust:
Definition: The thrust is the force that can move objects such as air planes, rockets, cars, or people.
Direction: Same direction as the acceleration of the objects.
Symbol: FthrustSpring:
Definition: The push or pull a spring exerts on an object.
Direction: Opposite the displacement of the object.
Symbol: FspNov 18, 20 01:20 PM
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