Welcome to our exploration of forces! Forces are everywhere around us. They are pushes or pulls that can change how objects move. When you push a door open or pull a rope, you are applying force. Today we will learn about different types of forces that affect objects in our daily lives.
Contact forces are forces that act when objects physically touch each other. The normal force pushes perpendicular to surfaces, preventing objects from passing through. Friction opposes motion between surfaces. Applied force is when we push or pull objects directly. Weight is the gravitational force pulling objects downward.
Non-contact forces can act on objects even when they are not touching. Gravitational force pulls objects toward each other, like how Earth pulls an apple downward. Magnetic forces attract or repel magnetic materials without contact. Electric forces act between charged objects across distances.
Forces can be balanced or unbalanced. When forces are balanced, they are equal in strength but opposite in direction, so the object stays at rest or moves at constant speed. When forces are unbalanced, one force is stronger, causing the object to accelerate in the direction of the stronger force.