Question #f23b2

2 Answers
Sep 23, 2014

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.

Mar 28, 2015

In physics, a force is any interaction which tends to change the motion of an object. In other words, a force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (which includes to begin moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate. Force can also be described by intuitive concepts such as a push or a pull.