Definition:Force

Definition

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

Force is a vector quantity.

Symbol

The usual symbol used to denote the force on a body is $f$.

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.

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

• Newton's Laws of Motion

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
• 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