Science Common Sense

1151 - What force can change the speed of an object, what forces can keep an object in balance, and how can forces act without contact.

  1. Force to change speed: Any external force like friction, gravity, or 'push/pull' can change the speed of an object. This is according to Newton's First Law, also known as the law of inertia.

  2. Forces to keep an object in balance: Forces that keep an object in balance are known as 'balanced forces'. These include equal and opposite forces like:

  3. The force of the ground pushing up (normal force) and the force of gravity pulling down.

  4. The force of a magnet repelling or attracting another magnet with the same force in the opposite direction.

  5. Forces without contact: There are two forces that can act on an object without physical contact:

  6. Gravity: This is an invisible force that pulls objects towards each other, even if they're not touching. You don't need to touch the Earth to be pulled towards it, for example.
  7. Magnetic force: Magnetic fields can pull or push objects without touching them. Think of holding a magnet close to a paper clip. The magnet can move the paper clip without touching it.
  8. Electric force: Electric fields can also pull or push charged objects without touching them.

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