Force Essay

In physics, a force is the push or pull on an object which results from interaction with
another object. In the Star Wars franchise, the Force is a metaphysical, universal power
harnessed by the certain characters who are Force-sensitive. While the Force encompasses a
variety of definitions for every facet of the fanbase, there are aspects of the Force that we can
attempt to explain through AP Physics. The two clips I have chosen are below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWF0f183tSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YkbgvRMpW0
The first demonstration of the use of the Force is pulled from Star Wars: The Force
Awakens. As Rey combats Kylo Ren she uses the Force to summon Luke Skywalkers
lightsaber lying meters away from her. At her command, the lightsaber jettisons from the ground
and into Reys hand. I will be using this clip to examine how the Force manipulates one of the
three main fields in the universe: the gravitational field. Newtons Law of Gravitation states that
the gravitational force between two point masses are proportional to their product and inversely
proportional to the square of their separation. It is described through the equation F = Gm1m2 r2
where r is the distance between the two objects and G is the universal gravitational constant.
We can use this equation to find the gravitational field strength which is the force per unit mass
acting on m due to the presence of another mass M. The equation for this is g = Fm . The
gravitational force is an attractive force. All objects that have mass are attracted to each other
and those with larger masses induce greater forces of attraction upon those with less. The way
that the lightsaber rocketed towards Rey could be accredited to the gravitational force. She, a
body of mass, was attracting another body of mass, the lightsaber. The lightsaber accelerated
at a rate equal to the gravitational field strength towards Reys center of mass. This explanation,
however, is highly unlikely. In models, gravitational fields propagate through concentric circles
that represent equipotential surfaces affecting and attracting all other masses around them to a
certain degree. Gravitational fields are structured so that all other masses are affected by a
point mass and Rey being able to induce her influence on one specific body breaks these rules.
Not only that, but the strength of a gravitational field is dependent on the distance from one
mass to the other and the value of those masses. If Rey was unable to retrieve the lightsaber
from her initial distance without using the force, this would mean that distance wouldnt have
been a factor in gravitational field strength. In order to boost the field so that the lightsaber
would accelerate towards her, Rey would have needed to gain mass. This is impossible
because mass can neither be created or destroyed. Also, that much mass condensed into her
body could possibly cause a black hole which wouldnt be pleasant for the characters or the
Franchise.
Even though we may not be able to use gravitational fields to evaluate the capabilities of
the Force, the second video of Yoda training Luke how to use the voice helps us to further
understand Force dynamics. In the clip, Yoda mentions that the Force can be felt all around as if
it was a sort of movement omnipresent within every object in the universe. If the Force is an all
encompassing ubiquitous power that composes the universe, it should operate at a molecular
level. Cue the electrostatic force which functions to keep atoms, those teeny tiny things that
constitute ordinary matter, together. The electrostatic force is the force of attraction or repulsion
between two objects as a result of their electric charge: positive or negative. Like charges repel
each other while opposites attract. In an atom there are the protons, the neutrons, and the
electrons. The protons and the neutrons compose the nucleus of the atom while the electrons
orbit around the center. What binds the electrons the nucleus is the attraction between the
protons and the electrons as a result of their opposite charge. Protons are positive while
electrons are negative. The strong force keeps the protons and the neutrons in the nucleus
together is the strong force, but we can talk about that later.
The strength of an electrostatic force is calculated through Coulombs Law : F = k q1q2 r2 . Q
is the represents the value of charge upon two separate charges, k is a constant of Coulombs
law, and R represents the distance between these two charges. Whether the force is attractive
or repulsive depends on whether or not the signs are positively or negatively charged. If we
were to multiply the F by R in the equation we would get: F r = k q1q2 r . Force x distance results in
work, measured in joules. This equation would give us the amount of work done in using the
electrostatic or repulsion between two bodies by a user of the Force.
It makes sense that the principle of work would be included in the force as it would be in any
field. However, with the electrostatic force, we would describe Fr as the electrostatic potential
energy. As he trains Luke, Yoda claims that the Force energy surrounds them. Yoda recognizes
that the energy and the mechanics behind the Force are directly related just as potential energy
is present within fields and equally related to forces. This also further disproves the idea that
gravitational fields are responsible for the force. Gravitational fields only attract in one direction
and in his training, Yoda uses the force to move objects outside of the direction of his
gravitational field. Ions are molecules that have either gained or lost an electron and along with
this a positive or negative charge. There is the possibility that wielders of the Force are
somehow able to utilize their abilities at a molecular level to ionize atoms at an position. They
could generate a high density cloud of negative air ions at an place they please and then
generate positive ions on another object to replicate telepathic manipulation of objects. As he
moves the rock in the beginning he could have ionized the rock. The rock then becomes q1.
The second Q could have been the other rocks or the ionized air in the swamp.However, the
charges of the ions would need to be incredibly strong.
The last of the three fundamental fields is the magnetic field which are produced by
moving currents and can be evaluated as the degree of force on a moving charge B. Magnetic
fields encompass dipole-dipole forces, which is the attractive force between the positive side of
a polar molecule and the negative side of another polar molecule. The same principles of
positive-negative attraction of electrostatic attraction still apply with magnetic fields. Only, there
are positive and negative poles. Unlike positive and negative charges however, positive and
negative poles always occur alongside each other. They cannot be separated. Force wielders
could equally possess the ability to create a magnetic field by miraculously igniting a flow of
electrons through any body of mass they desire. The magnetic field resulting from this flow
provides the either positive or negative force of attraction or repulsion to another body of mass
that the user has done the same thing to so that both masses have a magnetic field. This could
be what allows Force users to manipulate objects without touching them.
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