Forces are usually divided into two types.

1. Contact forces occur because of physical contact between

objects.
Examples: pushing open a door
pulling on a rope

2. Field forces – Act at a distance through space. The

presence of an object effects the space around it, creating a
region of space around the object called a field.
Example: gravitational field
magnetic field around a magnet
CONTACT FORCES
Normal force 𝐅Ԧ𝐧
 Force that prevents an object from falling through
the surface of another body
 Always acts perpendicular to the surface

 Always equals the forces applied to the surface

(or surface will break!)

Fn Called the ‘normal’ force

because it is always
normal (perpendicular) to
the surface.

mg
CONTACT FORCES
Normal force 𝐅Ԧ𝐧
 Force that prevents an object from falling through
the surface of another body
 Always acts perpendicular to the surface

 Always equals the forces applied to the surface

(or surface will break!) Fn

Ffr
Fn
Fn

mg
mg
CONTACT FORCES
Friction force Ffr
 Friction is a force that is created whenever two surfaces move
or try to move across each other.
 Friction always opposes the motion or attempted motion of
one surface across another surface.
 Friction is dependent on the texture/roughness of both
surfaces.
 Friction is also dependent on the force which presses the
surfaces together.
motion

friction
CONTACT FORCES
Air resistance / Drag
 When an object moves through air or any other fluid, the fluid
exerts a friction-like force on the moving object. The force is
called drag.

 Drag depends upon the speed of the object, becoming larger

as the speed increases. (UNLIKE FRICTION!)

 Drag also depends upon the size and the shape of the object
and the density and kind of fluid. (UNLIKE FRICTION!)
B/c drag increases with speed,
object moving through the air reach
a terminal velocity – a maximum
speed at which Fg = Fdrag so there is
no more acceleration.
CONTACT FORCES
Air resistance / Drag
 When an object moves through air or any other fluid, the fluid
exerts a frictionlike force on the moving object. The force is
called drag.

 Drag depends upon the speed of the object, becoming larger

as the speed increases. (UNLIKE FRICTION!)

 Drag also depends upon the size and the shape of the object
and the density and kind of fluid. (UNLIKE FRICTION!)
Without drag, raindrops would fall
340 m/h.

With drag, they only fall 17 m/h.

CONTACT FORCES
Tension
 the force that the end of the rope exerts on whatever is
attached to it.
 Direction of the force is along the rope.

What is the
T2 T2 relative force
T1
along the two
yellow arrows?
physics

Why?
CONTACT FORCES
Spring Force
 Force due to the elasticity of a material
 Depends on the elasticity of the spring
 Direction is opposite displacement
CONTACT FORCES: THINK PAIR SHARE
Type of Force Direction
Normal
Friction
Drag
Tension
Spring
CONTACT FORCES: THINK PAIR SHARE
Type of Force Direction
Normal Perpendicular to surface, opposite applied / gravitational forces
Friction Opposite motion
Drag Opposite motion
Tension Along the rope & opposite motion
Spring Opposite displacement
FIELD FORCES
Field Forces Relative Action Distance
Strength
Gravitational Force 10-45 Infinite – but decreases with
attraction between objects due square of distance
to their masses
Electromagnetic Force 10-2 Infinite – but decreases with
between charges square of distance

Strong Nuclear Force 1 Very short!

keeps nucleus together
Weak Nuclear Force 10-8 Very very short!
arise in certain radioactive
processes
FIELD FORCES
Field Forces Relative Action Distance
Strength
Gravitational Force 10-45 Infinite – but decreases with
attraction between objects due square of distance
to their masses
Electromagnetic Force 10-2 Infinite – but decreases with
between charges square of distance

Strong Nuclear Force 1 Very short!

keeps nucleus together
Weak Nuclear Force 10-8 Very very short!
arise in certain radioactive
processes

At the atomic level – all contact forces are result of repulsive

electromagnetic forces – the repulsion of atoms’ electric fields
HOW TO SOLVE FORCE PROBLEMS
1. Draw a free body diagram – label all the forces acting
on one object.
2. Add up the forces
3. Apply Newton’s second law: F = ma.
 3. Identify forces that act on the system
How to draw a force diagram
Label them on diagram
1. ChooseNONE body to be isolated
dog or the cart? F decision: cart
dog
F2. Make a simple sketch of the system – point system
fr

mg Fnet

4. Find out the net force by

adding the force vectors

5. Apply Newton’s second law

Fnet = ma