53 Amazing Examples Of Forces And Facts About Them!

Sridevi Tolety
Jan 09, 2023 By Sridevi Tolety
Originally Published on Feb 02, 2022
Edited by Naomi Carr
Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit
Learn about different types of forces with examples.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 12.4 Min

Force is the result of a push or pull between two objects.

Earth is our planet. Researchers believe that Earth and the moon formed at the same time as the other planets in the solar system.

Many scientists believe that Earth is around 4.5 billion years old. What's more, Earth is the third nearest planet to the sun, while Mercury and Venus are the nearest planets to the sun, meaning it is impossible to survive there.

Earth, when seen from space, resembles a blue marble with white twirls and brown, green, white, and yellow spaces. Earth's blue part represents water, which covers around 71% of its surface. The white whirls are clouds and green, brown, and yellow spaces are land, while spaces of white are ice and snow.

As Earth moves around the sun, we must consider which force gives the significant centripetal speed increase for Earth's revolution. This is due to the force of gravitation between Earth and the sun. So, you're in your room, sitting and reading this.

Would you say you are applying any force? If so, what type of force are you applying? Let's find out about forces in detail.

What is a force?

The force exerted by our body, for example, our legs and arms is muscular power. Due to the movement of muscles, a force occurs; this is friction because there is physical contact between two surfaces.

Whenever the body moves, a muscular force is required. So, the force exerted when we walk, cross a leg, lift, or stand up from sitting is a muscular force.

  • An example of force being exerted is the act of breathing in and out or of walking. The word force has numerous implications in our daily life and these implications significantly shape the understandings that students create of the word force.
  • Aristotle broadly addressed force as anything that makes an object move through unnatural motion.
  • Any force exerted is a push or pull. Force is an external agent capable of producing motion.
  • The pushing or pulling of an object is a force and push and pull come from objects when they are in contact with each other. In physics, the force exerted is characterized as the pushing or pulling of an object with mass that changes its velocity.
  • External forces are responsible for changing the condition of rest or motion of a specific body. Vector quantity with both direction and magnitude is defined as a force.
  • When we talk about forces, it is important to consider forces acting on objects.
  • In physics, motion changes position depending upon time. Normally, movement can be portrayed as an adjustment of speed or direction.
  • An exerted force has various impacts and here are some of them. Force can stop a moving body, or slow it down, and it can increase the speed of a moving body. Irrespective of the shape and size, a force can also change the direction of a body in motion.
  • A Newton is the unit of force and is measured with the help of a spring balance.
  • Examples of force and motion are running, throwing, chasing, climbing, jumping, and sliding.
  • When you kick a still ball, you are applying force to it with the help of your legs which makes the ball move. Force also can increase motion if it is applied in the same direction.
  • Another example is a person cycling. By accelerating more, you can successfully utilize force to increase the speed. This illustrates a force being utilized to create acceleration. We should know that this increase in speed happens only when a force is applied. If the applied force is removed, the speed increase also stops.

Types Of Force

Take a jug and push it across the table. Did you apply force? What type of force did you apply? The forces acting upon that object are applied forces.

Force is the pushing and pulling between two interacting objects. Without force, nothing can be moved, halted, or change direction. It is a quantitative association between two physical bodies, an object, and its current environment. There are different types of forces.

The state of an object is static or in motion. Its current position can be changed if it is pushed or pulled only. The outer push or pull applied to the object which changes its present status is known as force. This force can be of various sorts. Let's find out about different types of forces in detail.

  • Forces can be divided primarily into two types of forces: contact forces and non-contact forces.
  • A force exerted that requires contact with another object is known as contact force. For example, all mechanical forces are contact forces.
  • Contact forces are further divided into the following types of forces: muscular forces, friction force, tension force, applied force, normal force, air resistance force, mechanical force, and spring force.
  • Forces exerted without the help of any contact are known as non-contact forces, and they are further divided into the following forces: magnetic force, electrostatic, and gravitational force.
  • Muscles function to create a subsequent force which is known as muscular force. Contact forces exist when coming into contact with an object. We apply muscular force in our everyday lives when breathing, pulling, lifting a bucket, or pushing items. It proves to be useful to make our work easy.
  • When an object changes its state of movement, a friction force occurs. A friction force is characterized as the opposite force that exists when an object is moved. Friction force occurs between two surfaces and emerges because of contact forces.
  • An example of a friction force is stopping a moving ball or lighting a matchstick. When applying cement with a trowel, it produces a force in the opposite direction known as friction force. Friction forces are of two types: static friction force and sliding friction force.
  • A book which is on a table appears to be fixed, but it's not. An opposite direction force acts on the book while the gravitational pull brings it towards Earth. This force is the normal force. Another example is a brick lying on the ground; an opposite direction force is acting on the brick. A normal force acts in the opposite direction to the outer surface of the brick.
  • Normal force includes a horizontal element, so it must be equal to the centrifugal force.
  • When an object rests on an inclined plane, a normal force exists.
  • A normal force is a support force that exerts pull on an object which is in contact with a stable object. The resultant force is known as a single force.
  • When you push a table across the room, you apply a force that acts when it interacts with another object; this is applied force. The force exerted by you on the table is applied force. Applied force refers to a force that is applied to an individual or an item. When a fridge door is opened, some force is applied to the cooler door by the hand opening it. This force which is applied to the fridge door is known as the applied force.
  • Tension is the force applied by a completely extended link or wire secured onto an object. It causes a tension force that pulls similarly in both directions and applies equivalent strain. While holding on tightly to an electric wire, an equal force acts in the opposite direction. In this way, a tension force is produced in these wires. Because of this tension, force is communicated through the wires. This force exerted is referred to as a tension force.
  • A tension force is passed through cable, rope, wire, or string. This tension force will flow along the length of the cable or string and will pull equally on the object as it is being pulled.
  • A robotic arm can be utilized to perform certain tasks in a factory. A robotic arm creates some force while performing tasks. This force created by a machine is known as a mechanical force.
  • Force exerted by a packed or extended spring is known as a spring force. Spring force occurs due to the movement of molecules. Spring force could be a push or pull based on how the spring is connected.
  • When a paper hole punch is squeezed with a hand, some power is produced. Due to this force, an opening is made in the paper. As this force is produced by a spring, it is known as a spring force. A spring scale is used to measure the weight of an object.
  • Air resisting forces are those forces where the objects experience a frictional force while traveling through the air and these forces are resistive.
  • One upward force acts upon a bird's feather when it falls downwards. It is called air resistance. This upward force is responsible for affecting the net force.
  • Gravitational force, as described by Newton's laws of gravity, is dependent on gravitational forces between two bodies and is relative to the sum of their masses and corresponds to the distance squared between them.
  • Gravitational force is the force applied by huge bodies like planets and stars. Gravity is the force that causes Earth, the moon, and other objects to be pulled towards each other. Gravitational forces are non-contact forces. The force of gravity acting upon an object is dependent on the object's weight.
  • The force exerted by one magnet on another magnetic object is known as a magnetic force. They are non-contact forces. When a magnetic sticker is brought close to a refrigerator door, it is pulled towards the door. As a result, it sticks to the door and this force is called a magnetic force.
  • Positive and negative magnetic charges are the two magnetic forces. So, a magnetic force can either attract or repel an object and the magnetic forces occur due to an electromagnetic force.
  • An electromagnetic force is perpendicular to the electric field. The force exerted by electrically charged bodies on another charged body is known as electrostatic force and refers to the force occurring between charges which are not moving towards each other. These forces can be both alluring and horrendous, depending on the charge of the bodies.
  • Electric forces are the forces between two charged bodies, which result in an interaction that causes either a push or a pull.

Types Of Friction

Friction is a type of force and describes when one object moves or rubs against another. At a certain point, when two objects rub against one another, they cause friction.

This frictional force neutralizes the movement and acts in the inverse direction. This frictional force is what makes it difficult when you try to push a book on the floor.

Frictional force always pulls in the opposite direction of the course in which the object is moving or trying to move. When an object moves, a frictional force is what slows it down.

  • The different types of friction are rolling friction, static friction, fluid friction, and sliding friction.
  • Static friction is the force between a surface at rest and another object. It is a frictional force. Some examples of static friction include skiing on snow, a book resting on a nightstand, plants laying on the floor, and a dressing table sitting on the floor.
  • The static friction is at zero when an object rests on a table.
  • Sliding friction is characterized as the obstruction between two objects when sliding against one another. Sliding friction examples include kicking a book on the floor, dragging a sled up a hill, and dragging your foot against the walkway.
  • Another friction is fluid friction. Fluid friction doesn't just apply to water but also can refer to tea, coffee, or any liquid. Anything without a specific shape or size is fluid, such as gas and liquid.
  • Some fluid friction examples include various gases, honey, when a submarine moves underwater, the stirring of your tea with a spoon, sucking juice with a straw, or when the air pushes against your hand as you hold it out the window of a moving car.
  • Rolling friction is characterized as the force that opposes the motion of a ball and is the weakest type of frictional force. An example of rolling friction is rolling down the road on a skateboard.
We would not be able to ski or walk without frictional force.

Fun Facts About Forces

A force isn't something that an object contains but is something exerted on one object by another. The possibility of a force isn't restricted to living things or non-living things. All living and non-living objects can apply a force on or to another. Additionally, all living and non-living objects can be impacted by forces.

  • The measurement of force is taken in Newtons and is named after the great scientist Sir Isaac Newton. A force meter or Newton meter is a device used to measure the size of a gravitational force.
  • Newton's laws of motion were created by Sir Isaac Newton and were published in 1687 in his book 'Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis'.
  • According to the first law of motion, a body in motion will remain in motion, and at rest will remain at rest, unless a second force is applied. According to the second law of motion, the speed or direction of a moving object will change if a force acts upon it. According to the third law of motion, every force and action has an equal and opposite reaction.
  • The science of physics all began with forces, such as the movement of the sun around Earth. The occurrence of day and night, the revolution of Earth around the sun, and the falling of a body towards Earth are some examples that show that there is a force acting upon the planet that is coordinated towards the sun.
  • When you swim, you can feel the water standing up against your arms and legs as you push ahead. That is the invisible force of water obstruction at work!
  • In a game of tug-of-war, each group attempts to yank the rival group forward by pulling on the rope. If the force is balanced, no one can move. However, if one group has more power than the other, the rope moves.
  • A maglev, a magnetic train, moves by the force of attraction. Magnets under the train tracks that push against one another cause the train to float up to almost 0.50 in (1.27 cm) over the track. The train doesn't have a motor, yet it is moved forward with the help of magnets and can reach speeds up to 360 mph (580 kph).
  • When skating on a skateboard, the force of contact assists you. When two objects rub against one another because of friction force, it slows down. The frictional force between the ground and the wheels on a skateboard allows you to skate around without falling off!
  • The force of gravity allows a roller coaster to make a scary and fun ride. Because of gravitational force, all objects are pulled together, which is why people and other objects don't drift off this planet into space. So, when a roller coaster ride reaches the top, gravity force pulls the cart down the track faster.

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Written by Sridevi Tolety

Bachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

Sridevi Tolety picture

Sridevi ToletyBachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

With a Master's degree in clinical research from Manipal University and a PG Diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sridevi has cultivated her passion for writing across various domains. She has authored a wide range of articles, blogs, travelogues, creative content, and short stories that have been published in leading magazines, newspapers, and websites. Sridevi is fluent in four languages and enjoys spending her spare time with loved ones. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, painting, and listening to music.

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Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Nishtha Dixit picture

Nishtha DixitBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Nishtha is an experienced SEO writer and editor, with a passion for writing and self-expression. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate major in Literature and Communication and a minor in Political Science from the University of Delhi. Nishtha has completed a certificate master course in English from the British Council and has been appointed as the editor for the bi-monthly magazine of the University of Delhi.

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