What is Force?
In physics, a force is a push or a pull that acts upon an object as a result of its interaction with another object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (i.e., to accelerate), or it can cause a flexible object to deform.
Forces are generally classified into two main categories: contact forces and non-contact forces.
Contact Forces
These are forces that act between two objects that are in direct physical contact with each other. For example, the friction between a car's tires and the road is a contact force that allows the car to move forward.
Non-Contact Forces
These are forces that can act over a distance without any physical contact between the objects. For example, a magnet attracting an iron clip is a non-contact magnetic force. The gravitational pull of the Earth on a falling object is another example.
Formula for Force
According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is defined by the formula:
$$F=m \times a$$
Where:
- Fis the net force acting on an object, measured in Newtons (N).
- mis the mass of the object, measured in kilograms (kg).
- ais the acceleration of the object, measured in meters per second squared (m/s²).
How to Calculate Force
To calculate the net force acting on an object, you can use the formula F=ma. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Determine the mass (m) of the object in kilograms.
- Determine the acceleration (a) of the object in m/s².
- Multiply the mass by the acceleration. The result is the force in Newtons (N).
Example Calculation
Imagine a bicycle with a mass of 150 kg is accelerating at a rate of 2 m/s². To calculate the net force acting on the bicycle, we use the formula:
$$F=150 \text{ kg} \times 2 \text{ m/s}^2=300 \text{ N}$$
Therefore, the net force acting on the bicycle is 300 Newtons.
How to Use This Online Force Calculator
This dynamic calculator can solve for force, mass, or acceleration.
- Enter values for any two of the three fields (Mass, Acceleration, or Force).
- Choose the appropriate unit for each entered value from the dropdown menus.
- The calculator will instantly compute the third value and highlight the result in green.
- A detailed, step-by-step solution will appear below the calculator.
- You can change any of the units at any time, and the result will update automatically.
- To start a new calculation, click the "Clear" button.
