Force and Motion
Motion makes all the things go ‘round’. When we think of motion, we often think of cars, bicycles, kids running, basketball bouncing and airplanes flying. But motion is so much more. It is important to our lives and impacts so many things that we do. Motion can be defined as the changing of location or position but it requires a force to cause that change.
What is force?
Force is just a fancy word for pushing or pulling. If you push on something or pull on something, then a force is being applied on it. Force makes things move or makes thing change their motion. Two natural forces are the force of gravity and magnetic forces. These two forces can be applied from a distance and direct contact between the objects is not required to function. Gravity produces a force that pulls objects toward each other, like a person toward the ground. It is the force that keeps the earth revolving around the sun and it is what pulls you towards the ground when you trip.
Magnetism produces a force that can either pull opposite ends of two magnets together or push the similar ends apart. A magnet actually attracts objects that are made of metal.
Types of contact forces: –
A force is either a push or pull. There are 6 types of forces which act on objects when they come into contact with each other. These types are: –
- Normal force: – A book resting on a table has the force of gravity pulling it towards the Earth. But the book is not moving, so there must be opposing forces acting on the book. This forced is caused by the table and is known as the normal force.
- Applied force: – A force that is applied to an object such as when a person moves an object from one place to another or pushes a button on the remote control is called applied force.
- Frictional force: – A force caused by two surfaces that come into contact with each other, is called frictional force.
- Tension force: – A force applied to a cable or wire that is anchored on opposite ends to opposite walls or other objects, is called tension force.
- Spring force: – A force created by a compressed or stretched spring is called spring force.
- Resisting force: – This force is like air resistance or friction, change motion.
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