Definition:Force
Definition
A force is an influence which causes a body to undergo a change in velocity.
Force is a vector quantity.
Symbol
- $f$ or $\mathbf F$
The usual symbols used to denote the force on a body are $f$ or $\mathbf F$.
The $\LaTeX$ code for \(f\) is f .
The $\LaTeX$ code for \(\mathbf F\) is \mathbf F .
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 SI unit of measurement of force is the newton.
The CGS unit of measurement of force is the dyne.
The FPS unit of measurement of force is the poundal.
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.
Some treatments of physics and applied mathematics refer to a force as an action, and refer to the opposite force as the reaction to that action.
Also see
- Results about force can be found here.
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: $1$. Scalar and vector quantities
- 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
- 1965: Seth Warner: Modern Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {V}$: Vector Spaces: $\S 26$. Vector Spaces and Modules
- 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
- 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $1.$ Units and Abbreviations: $1.2$ SI units $(2)$ Derived units
- 1970: George Arfken: Mathematical Methods for Physicists (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$ Vector Analysis $1.1$ Definitions, Elementary Approach
- 1975: Patrick J. Murphy: Applied Mathematics Made Simple (revised ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Mechanics: $(2)$ Characteristics of a Force
- 1976: Ralph J. Smith: Circuits, Devices and Systems (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Electrical Quantities: Definitions and Laws: Definitions: Table $1$-$2$: Important Derived Quantities
- 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
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): force
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Newton's laws of motion
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): force
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Newton's laws of motion