Defining Force

Key Questions

  • No, force is a vector quantity, it is defined by its magnitude and direction.

    Common vector quantities are displacement, velocity, acceleration and force.

    Common scalar quantities are distance, speed, work and energy.

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  • Put simply, a force is something which changes the momentum of an object. The magnitude of a force is the rate of change of momentum caused.

    This is shown by manipulation of the famous equation #F=ma#

    #F=ma=m(v_(f)-v_i)/t=(p_(f)-p_i)/t#

    Where #F# is the force
    #m# is the mass of the object
    #a# is acceleration, which is the rate of change of velocity
    #v_i# is the initial velocity of the object which the force acts upon
    #v_f# is the object's final velocity
    #t# is time
    #p# is momentum, which is equal to #mxxv#

    Extra info:
    Of course, because force is the rate of change of momentum, it can be linked to an object whose mass changes while velocity remains constant.

    #F=(p_(f)-p_i)/t=v(m_(f)-m_i)/t#

    Where #m_f# is final mass and #m_i# is initial mass.

    Force can also be related to an object whose mass and velocity change simultaneously, but those equations involve calculus, so I won't include those here.

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