Force
Also: mechanical force
A push or pull that changes motion or loads a structure.
Force is a vector and the net external force equals mass times acceleration in an inertial frame.
- Units
- newton (N = kg·m/s²)
- Formula
ΣF = ma
Example A 1 kg mass weighs about 9.81 N near Earth's surface.
Common misconception Motion does not require a net force when velocity is constant.