— ## Common Types of Forces There are many types of forces we encounter in physics and everyday life. Here are some of the most common: 1. Gravitational Force (Weight): The force of attraction between any two objects with mass. On Earth, this is the force pulling objects downwards towards the planet’s center. We often call this an object’s weight. 2. Normal Force: The support force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it. It always acts perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the surface. 3. Friction Force: A force that opposes motion (or attempted motion) between two surfaces in contact. It acts parallel to the surface. 4. Tension Force: A pulling force transmitted axially by means of a string, cable, chain, or similar one-dimensional continuous object. It always acts along the length of the string/cable. 5. Applied Force: A force that is applied to an object by a person or another object. This is a general term for any direct push or pull. — ## Interactive: Visualizing Forces Click on different scenarios to see how various forces act on objects! <div class="animator-container"> <div style="margin-bottom: 0.8rem;"> </div> Visualizing Types of Forces An interactive demonstration of different types of forces acting on objects in various scenarios. Surface Object F_g (Weight) F_N F_f F_app F_T <div id="animationExplanation" class="animation-explanation" aria-live="polite"> <p>Click on different scenarios to see how various forces act on objects!

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Why Understanding Force Types Matters

  • Analyzing Motion: To predict how an object will move, you need to identify all the forces acting on it.
  • Problem Solving: Recognizing different force types is the first step in solving almost any dynamics problem in physics.
  • Real-World Applications: From designing bridges (tension, gravity) to understanding why a car stops (friction), forces are everywhere.

Audio Explanation

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💡 Quick Concept Check:

When a book is sitting on a table, what two main forces are acting on the book?

Click to Reveal Answer
The two main forces are **gravitational force (weight)** pulling the book downwards, and the **normal force** from the table pushing the book upwards, perpendicular to the surface.

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Practice Problems

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