Topic Summaries

Defining forces

IGCSE > Physics > CIE > IGCSE Physics Topic Summaries > Forces > Defining forces
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Science skills: Measuring results

  • A force is a push or pull that one object performs on another, which can change the direction an object is moving in, change the speed of an object, or deform an object and change its shape.
  • Contact forces act between objects that are physically touching. Non-contact forces act between objects that are physically separated.
  • A force is a vector quantity that is measured in Newtons, N.
  Force Description
Contact forces Friction Force a surface performs on an object moving along it to try and stop it.
Air resistance Force that acts on an object moving through air to slow it down.
Drag Force a fluid performs on an object moving through it to try and slow it down. Air resistance is a form of drag that acts on objects moving through air.
Tension Force a rope exerts on an object when it is pulled.
Normal contact force Force caused by a surface pushing against an object in contact with it.
Non-contact forces Gravitational force Force that causes Earth to pull objects downwards and the Sun to keep planets in orbit.
Electrostatic force Force that causes charged objects to attract/repel each other
Magnetic Force that pulls magnetic materials (e.g. iron, steel) towards magnets.

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