Force

Syllabus tag: KCSE | Physics | Form 1 | Topic 3 Force

Lesson objectives

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

• Define force and state its SI unit and effects.
• Describe the types of force and distinguish contact from non-contact forces.
• Explain mass, weight and the difference between them.
• Explain surface tension, capillarity, cohesion, adhesion and frictional force.

Summary

A force is a push or a pull that can change the shape, size, speed or direction of a body. Its SI unit is the newton (N). Forces are contact — friction, tension, normal reaction — or non-contact, acting at a distance: gravitational, magnetic and electrostatic. Force is a vector, having both magnitude and direction.