What is Force? – Part 2


What are the types of forces?

We can classify forces into two types:

Contact force

Contact force is the force that results from an interaction of two bodies that are in physical contact with each other.

Following are the types of contact forces:

  • Applied force
  • Normal force
  • Frictional force
  • Air resistance

Types of contact force

Non-contact forces

Non-Contact force is a force acting between bodies that are not in physical contact with each other.

Following are the types of non-contact forces:

  • Electrical force
  • Magnetic force
  • Gravitational force

Types of non-contact force

 What are the effects of force?

A force can:

  • Set a stationary object in motion – A ball when kicked starts
  • Stop a moving object – A moving ball comes to a halt after sometime due to force of friction.
  • Change the velocity of an object – A slow moving ball, when kicked with force, will start moving
  • Change the direction of a moving object – When a ball is kicked by one player to another, the second player can change its direction by again kicking
  • Change the shape, size or structure of an object – When a ball is squeezed with force, it changes shape and sometimes too much force can burst it as well, changing its structure.