What is a Force?

Chapter 5 Section 2
Objectives:
Describe forces, and explain how forces act
on objects.

Determine the net force when more than one

force is acting on an object.

Compare balanced and unbalanced forces.

Describe ways that unbalanced forces cause

changes in motion.
Basic Forces of Nature
Interaction of 4 basic forces can describe
all physical properties & relationships in
nature
◦ Gravitational Force

◦ Electromagnetic Force

◦ Strong Nuclear Force

◦ Weak Nuclear Force

 Forces of Nature

http://physics.uoregon.edu/~jimbrau/astr123/Notes/ch27/4forces.gif
What is Force?

A push or pull

Forces have both size and direction

Forces can change the acceleration of an

object

Units: (N) Newtons

Forces Acting on Objects
Justbecause force is applied to an object
doesn’t mean that motion will occur

Unseen Forces:
◦ You can’t always see forces that act around
you
 Gravity holding air near the Earth’s surface
 Magnets on a refrigerator
Determining Net Force

Net Force: the combination of all the

forces acting on an object
Forces in the same direction

Forces in different directions

Forces in the Same Direction
How do you determine the net force on an
object if all forces act in the same
direction?

If all forces act in the same direction, you

must add the forces to determine the net
force
 Calculating Net Force

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 Forces in Different Directions

The net force on the rope is found by

subtracting the smaller force from the
larger one

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Tug-of-War

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m
Balanced & Unbalanced Forces
The net force tells you whether the forces
on an object are balanced or unbalanced.

◦ If Net Force = 0, the forces on the object are

balanced (no change in object’s motion)

◦ If the Net Force ≠ 0, the forces on the object

are unbalanced (caused a change in motion)
Balanced & Unbalanced Forces

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Quick Quiz:

What is a net force?

Are the forces on a kicked soccer ball

balanced or unbalanced? How do you
know?