Definition:Force
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Contents
Definition
A force is an influence which causes a body to undergo a change in velocity.
Force is a vector quantity.
Dimension
The dimension of measurement of force is $\mathsf {M L T}^{-2}$.
This arises from Newton's Second Law of Motion and its definition as a mass (of dimension $\mathsf M$) multiplied by an acceleration (of dimension $\mathsf {L T}^{-2}$).
Units
The units of measurement of force are as follows:
Newton
The newton is the SI unit of force.
It is defined as being:
- The amount of force required to accelerate a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one metre per second squared.
Dyne
The dyne is the CGS unit of force:
- $1 \ \mathrm {dyn} = 1 \ \mathrm g \ \mathrm{cm} \ \mathrm s^{-2}$
Thus we see:
- $1 \ \mathrm N = 10^5 \ \mathrm {dyn}$
Also known as
Some writers and thinkers subdivide the idea of a force into a push or a pull, but such a dichotomy can serve to confuse the fact that they are in fact both forces.
Also see
Linguistic Note
The word force is derived from the Latin word fors meaning strength.
Sources
- 1921: C.E. Weatherburn: Elementary Vector Analysis ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$. Addition and Subtraction of Vectors. Centroids: Definitions: $1$.
- 1951: B. Hague: An Introduction to Vector Analysis (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$: Definitions. Elements of Vector Algebra: 1. Scalar and Vector Quantities
- 1965: J.W. Leech: Classical Mechanics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: Introduction
- 1966: Isaac Asimov: Understanding Physics ... (previous) ... (next): $\text {I}$: Motion, Sound and Heat: Chapter $3$: The Laws of Motion: Forces and Vectors
- 1968: Murray R. Spiegel: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 22$: Vectors and Scalars
- 1970: George Arfken: Mathematical Methods for Physicists (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$ Vector Analysis $1.1$ Definitions, Elementary Approach
- 1992: Frederick W. Byron, Jr. and Robert W. Fuller: Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics ... (previous) ... (next): Volume One: Chapter $1$ Vectors in Classical Physics: $1.1$ Geometric and Algebraic Definitions of a Vector
