Author: D Edwards Staff 8922005

What is a force?

What is the difference between a magnetic force and a direct force?

Forces are just pushes and pulls in a particular direction.

A direct force occurs when two objects are touching each other.

Balanced forces

If two balanced forces are acting on an object, that object will not change its motion. If it is still, the object will stay still or if it is moving, it will continue moving in the same direction and at the same speed.

Unbalanced forces

When two forces acting on an object are not equal in size, we say that they are unbalanced forces. Unbalanced forces change the way something is moving.
They can make objects start to move, speed up, slow down or change direction.

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Forces and Magnets

Air Resistance
Air resistance is a type of friction between air and another material. For example, when an aeroplane flies through the air, air particles hit the aeroplane making it more difficult for it to move through the air.

Direct force

Friction
Friction is a direct force between two surfaces that are sliding, or trying to slide, across each other. For example, when you try to push a book along the floor, friction makes this difficult.

Water Resistance
Water resistance is a type of friction between water and another material.
If you go swimming, there is friction between your skin and the water particles. This is known as water resistance.

Indirect force

Magnetic Force
When two magnets are close, or a magnet and a magnetic material, they create pushing or pulling forces.
These forces are strongest at the ends of the magnets. The two ends of a magnet are known as the north pole and the south pole.
Another example of an indirect force is Gravity.

What are magnetic poles?