What Is a Force? Types of Forces

"Push or pull" is the definition every student already knows, and it's nearly useless on a test that hands you five different forces acting on the same object at once. The real skill isn't knowing the word force, it's looking at a diagram and naming exactly which force is acting, in which direction, with which formula. This video builds force from the ground up: contact forces versus forces that act at a distance, then every formula you'll need for the rest of the unit. Covered in this video: The actual definition of force, not just "push or pull," and why it matters that force is a vector Contact forces vs. non-contact forces, with a quick mention of the strong and weak forces and why we leave them alone all year Normal force and gravity (F_g = mg), including the trap of assuming normal force always equals mg Static vs. kinetic friction, and why μ_s is always the bigger number even though it feels backwards Tension and applied force: knowing which way the arrow points before you even start the FBD Air resistance: the formula and which variables actually move the needle, no calculus required Hooke's Law for springs, F = -kx, and why that negative sign is doing real work, not decoration This is core to Standard 2.3 (Newton's Laws and Forces), and every diagram you draw for the rest of the unit starts with knowing these forces cold. AUX — Free Physics Resources https://auxlearning.com