What is force?

What is force?

What is force, probably, is the simplest question to answer. The literal meaning of force is something done under compulsion, whether you like it or not! Let us see some real life conversations like, he was forced to quit, I am forced to do that job etc. But What is that force? Clearly, it is an external agency that makes you do certain things under a strain.

The same concept applies to forces in physics. We define force in physics as the external agencies that alter a state of motion. Sir Isaac Newton, established a formula connecting the force and the motion of an object in a straight line and it is widely called as Newton’s second law of motion. It states, that when an acceleration of magnitude a is effected on an object of mass m, the product m*a is defined as the force F, that causes the acceleration on that mass. Algebraically it is stated as,

                              F=ma

Thus, a force is defined in physics this way. Force is a vector quantity which has both magnitude and direction. Hence to change the direction of motion of an object even with the same magnitude of velocity a force has to be applied.

Unit of Force

A force is measured in terms of the acceleration caused on a particular mass. Forces are measured in different units. Apart from the systems of units, the unit of forces are classified into two systems called :

1) Absolute system
2) Gravitational system

The measurement of forces in absolute system are not dependent on gravitational force, whereas, measurement of forces in gravitational system are dependent on gravitational forces. Hence, the measure of forces in gravitational system differ on other planets compared to earth.

When a mass of 1 pound is subjected to an acceleration of 1 ft/sec², the force applied is called 1poundal. The unit is abbreviated as pdl.

A pound force is defined as the gravitational force exerted on 1 pound mass. It is denoted as lbf. When we say that the weight of the person is 150 pounds, we actually mean 150 lbf.

Poundal and pound force are the units of measurement of forces in fps system.

In metric system a force of 1 kilogram force is the force exerted on 1 kilogram mass. It is similar to pound force in fps system. It is denoted as kgf.

In cgs system a force is measured in terms of dynes. A force of 1 dyne produces an acceleration of 1cm/sec² on a mass of 1 gram.

In SI units, the unit of force is defined as newton. This unit is named in the honor of Sir Isaac Newton who actually had given the definition of a force. One newton produces an acceleration of 1 m/sec² on a mass of 1 kilogram. It can easily be derived that 1 newton is equal to 10⁵ dynes. The unit of newton is abbreviated as N.

The gravitational units and absolute units are related by acceleration due to gravity. That is,

1 pound force ≈ 32 poundage and 1 kilogram force ≈ 9.81 newtons