Definition:Force

Definition
A force is an influence which causes a body to undergo a change in velocity.

Force is a vector quantity.

Dimension
It has dimension $M L T^{-2}$.

This arises from Newton's Second Law of Motion and its definition as a mass (of dimension $M$) multiplied by an acceleration (of dimension $L T^{-2}$).

Units

 * The SI unit of force is the newton $\mathrm N$:
 * $1 \ \mathrm N = 1 \ \mathrm{kg} \ \mathrm{m} \ \mathrm{s}^{-2}$


 * The CGS unit of force is the dyne $\mathrm {dyn}$:
 * $1 \ \mathrm {dyn} = 1 \ \mathrm{g} \ \mathrm{cm} \ \mathrm{s}^{-2}$

Thus we see:
 * $1 \ \mathrm N = 10^5 \ \mathrm {dyn}$

Also see

 * Newton's Laws of Motion

Linguistic Note
The word force comes from the Latin word meaning strength.