Types of forces

Force:

A force is a push or pull that occurs as a result of one object’s contact with another object. Any object that is having mass has the ability to change velocity, or it can also accelerate, because of force. A force is a vector quantity since it has both direction and magnitude. Force is measured in the SI unit of Newton (N). Force can be denoted as F.

Originally Newton’s second law stated that the net force that acts upon an object is equal to the rate at which momentum changes with time.

According to Newton’s second law, the formula for force is:

F=ma

where,

F= force,

m= mass of an object

a= acceleration

There are various types of forces on the basis of its contact or non-contact with the object. Some of the types of forces are:

Forces when it is in contact with the object:

1.     Frictional force
2.     Tension force
3.     Normal force
4.     Spring force
5.     Air Resistance force

Forces when it is not in contact with the object:

1.     Gravitational force
2.     Electrical force
3.     Magnetic force

Let us study in brief about all types of forces;

Frictional force:

A force which is created due to the movement of surfaces in either opposite direction or similar direction is known as frictional force. Under frictional force, there are 5 types of forces,

1.     Dry Friction: Force opposing the relative lateral motion of the objects that are in contact is called dry friction. Dry friction can be further classified into ‘static friction’ and ‘kinetic friction’.
2.     Fluid Friction: A friction produced between layers of viscous fluid that move relative to each other is known as fluid friction.
3.     Lubricated Friction: Lubricated friction is a type of fluid friction in which two solid surfaces are separated by a lubricating fluid.
4.     Skin Friction: Skin friction is a drag component, which is the force that prevents a fluid from moving across a body’s surface.
5.     Internal Friction: Internal friction is the force that opposes motion between the components that make up a solid substance when it deforms.

Tension Force

Tension is defined as the axially transmitted pulling force communicated by a string, chain, or the like, or by some three-dimensional object such as rod’s end; tension may alternatively be defined as a pair of forces having action-reaction relation operating at the end of those elements. Tension may be thought of as the polar counterpart of compression. When molecules or atoms are forced apart and accumulate potential energy while restoring force is still present, restoring force may cause tension.

Normal Force

The normal force Fn is the perpendicular to the surface that an item contacts component of a contact force. Gravity acts on a person standing stationary on a platform, pulling them down towards the Earth’s core unless there is a countervailing force from the resistance of the molecules of the platform, known as the “normal force.”

Spring Force

The spring force refers to the force that a compressed or expanded spring exerts on any object attached with it. When a force expands or compresses a spring, it returns that object to equilibrium condition or to rest. Most springs (especially those springs that claim to comply with “Hooke’s Law”) have a force which is perfectly proportionate to the degree of compression or stretch.

Air Resistance Force

The ‘air resistance force’ is a force that acts in the opposing direction of any object moving in relation to a fluid. This can happen between two layers of fluid (or surfaces) or a fluid and a solid surface. The drag force is dependent on velocity, unlike other resistive forces such as dry friction, which are largely independent of velocity.

Gravitational Force

Any entity that has mass or energy; stars,planets, galaxies, and even light, included, is attracted (or gravitates toward) by the gravitational pull. On Earth, gravity gives weight to tangible objects, whereas the Moon’s gravity causes ocean tides. Gravitational pull causes the Universe’s primordial gaseous matter to consolidate and form stars, and the stars to assemble into galaxies, implying that for many of the Universe’s large-scale structures, the galaxy is responsible. Despite the fact that gravity has an infinite range, its effects lessen as objects become further away.

Electrical Force

Coulomb’s law, often known as Coulomb’s inverse-square law, is a physics experiment that measures the force between two stationary particles that are electrically charged. Electrostatic force, also known as Coulomb force, is the electric force between charged substances at rest.

Magnetic Force

The interaction of magnetic materials with flowing electric charges (currents) is depicted by a magnetic field. A moving charge in a magnetic field is subjected to a force, this force  is perpendicular to the magnetic field and its own velocity. Magnetic field of a permanent magnet attracts or repels other magnets. It also attracts ferromagnetic materials such as iron. Furthermore, if mobility of the outer atomic electrons is changed then, a changing magnetic field exerts a force on a range of non-magnetic materials.

Conclusion:

Thus, a force is a push or pull that happens when one thing comes into touch with another. As a result of a force, an item with mass can alter its velocity, or accelerate. Because it has both direction and magnitude, a force is a vector quantity. The SI unit of force is the Newton (N). The letter F stands for force. Force can be of various types that depends upon whether it is in contact with the object or not.