Science Common Sense
1660 - What is force composed of and how can it be broken down and combined.
Imagine force as an "action" that can cause an object to change its motion. Force is made up of a combination of two things: magnitude (or strength) and direction.
Main Types of Forces: There are four main types of forces:
- Gravity: The force that pulls you towards the ground and what keeps you on the Earth.
- Friction: The force that opposes movement when two objects rub against each other.
- Normal Force: The force that pushes an object away when it tries to touch or move through another object.
- Tension: The force that pulls or stretches an object.
Breaking Down Forces: Forces can be broken down into two ways:
- Vertical Forces: Forces that act up and down (like gravity or normal force).
- Horizontal Forces: Forces that act left and right or back and forth.
Combining Forces: When two or more forces act on an object, they combine to create a new force called the "Net Force". You can calculate the net force by adding up the forces in the same direction and subtracting forces in opposite directions.
Remember, forces can change the way an object moves, and by understanding how forces work, you can predict what will happen to an object in different situations.