The Meaning of Force

A force is a push or pull upon an object resulting from the object's interaction with another object. Whenever there is an
interaction between two objects, there is a force upon each of the objects. When the interaction ceases, the two objects
no longer experience the force. Forces only exist as a result of an interaction.
For simplicity sake, all forces (interactions) between objects can be placed into two broad categories:
• contact forces, and
• forces resulting from action-at-a-distance
Contact forces are those types of forces that result when the two interacting objects are perceived to be physically
contacting each other. Examples of contact forces include frictional forces, tensional forces, normal forces, air resistance
forces, and applied forces. These specific forces will be discussed in more detail later in Lesson 2 as well as in other
lessons.
Action-at-a-distance forces are those types of forces that result even when the two interacting objects are not in
physical contact with each other, yet are able to exert a push or pull despite their physical separation. Examples of
action-at-a-distance forces include gravitational forces. For example, the sun and planets exert a gravitational pull on
each other despite their large spatial separation. Even when your feet leave the earth and you are no longer in physical
contact with the earth, there is a gravitational pull between you and the Earth. Electric forces are action-at-a-distance
forces. For example, the protons in the nucleus of an atom and the electrons outside the nucleus experience an electrical
pull towards each other despite their small spatial separation. And magnetic forces are action-at-a-distance forces. For
example, two magnets can exert a magnetic pull on each other even when separated by a distance of a few centimeters.
These specific forces will be discussed in more detail later in Lesson 2 as well as in other lessons.

Forces of Attraction
Gravity or gravitational forces are forces of attraction. We're not talking about finding someone really cute and
adorable. It's like the Earth pulling on you and keeping you on the ground. That pull is gravity at work.

Every object in the universe that has mass exerts a gravitational pull, or force, on every other mass. The size of the pull
depends on the masses of the objects. You exert a gravitational force on the people around you, but that force isn't very
strong, since people aren't very massive. When you look at really large masses, like the Earth and Moon, the
gravitational pull becomes very impressive. The gravitational force between the Earth and the molecules of gas in the
atmosphere is strong enough to hold the atmosphere close to our surface. Smaller planets, that have less mass, may not
be able to hold an atmosphere.

Planetary Gravity
Obviously, gravity is very important on Earth. The Sun's gravitational pull keeps our planet orbiting the Sun. The motion
of the Moon is affected by the gravity of the Sun AND the Earth. The Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth and makes the
tides rise and fall every day. As the Moon passes over the ocean, there is a swell in the sea level. As the Earth rotates,
the Moon passes over new parts of the Earth, causing the swell to move also. The tides are independent of the phase of
the moon. The moon has the same amount of pull whether there is a full or new moon. It would still be in the same basic
place.

We have to bring up an important idea now. The Earth always produces the same acceleration on every object. If you
drop an acorn or a piano, they will gain velocity at the same rate. Although the gravitational force the Earth exerts on
the objects is different, their masses are just as different, so the effect we observe (acceleration) is the same for each.
The Earth's gravitational force accelerates objects when they fall. It constantly pulls, and the objects constantly speed
up.
Every magnet has a north and south pole, just like the earth.

Opposite poles attract - so the north pole attracts the south pole and the south pole attracts the north pole.
Like poles will repel (push away from) each other - so if you place two north poles together or two south poles together
they will push each other away.

A magnet's strength is strongest at the poles and weakest in the middle.

Magnetic Force

The first magnets used were natural stones called lodestones. The word "lode" means lead and so the stone was used to
magnetize compass needles and lead sailors home.
The Earth has a magnetic field and north and south poles - operating as if it has a magnet in its center.
Magnetic pull is strongest at two points - the north and south poles.
Many scientists believe that birds are able to find their way home by using the Earth's magnetic field to guide them
on long distance flights.

Some veterinarians use magnets to pick up pieces of wire or other metal from inside the stomachs of large farm
animals.

Today, new trains use magnets to lift them off the ground so that they float. Floating reduces friction and allows the
train to run more efficiently.

Magnets can be found in your telephone, stereo, vacuum cleaner, refrigerator, washing machine, car, TV, VCR, and your
doorbell to name a few.
Ten Facts about Magnets
1. North poles point north, south poles point south.
2. Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
3. Magnetic forces attract only magnetic materials.
4. Magnetic forces act at a distance.
5. While magnetized, temporary magnets act like permanent magnets.
6. A coil of wire with an electric current flowing through it becomes a magnet.
7. Putting iron inside a current-carrying coil increases the strength of the electromagnet.
8. A changing magnetic field induces an electric current in a conductor.
9. A charged particle experiences no magnetic force when moving parallel to a magnetic field, but when it is moving
perpendicular to the field it experiences a force perpendicular to both the field and the direction of motion.
10. A current-carrying wire in a perpendicular magnetic field experiences a force in a direction perpendicular to both the
wire and the field.

ELECTRIC FORCE
Like charges repel, unlike charges attract
Two electrons will tend to repel each other because both have a negative electrical charge. Two protons will also tend to
repel each other because they both have a positive charge. On the other hand, electrons and protons will be attracted to
each other because of their unlike charges.
Since the electron is much smaller and lighter than a proton, when they are attracted to each other due to their unlike
charges, the electron usually does most of the moving. This is because the protons have more mass and are harder to
get moving. Although electrons are very small, their negative electrical charges are still quite strong. Remember, the
negative charge of an electron is the same as the positive electrical charge of the much larger in size proton. This way
the atom stays electrically balanced.
Another important fact about the electrical charges of protons and electrons is that the farther away they are from each
other, the less force their electric fields have on each other. Similarly, the closer they are to each other, the more force
they will experience from each other due to this invisible force field called an electric field.