What are the different types of forces in physics?

[BryanSturg]

Can someone explain the main types of forces with simple examples? I'm trying to understand how they apply in real-life situations.

 

[MatthewRup]

In physics, forces describe interactions that change an object’s motion. The main types include:

1. Gravitational Force – attraction between masses (e.g., Earth pulling objects downward).
2. Normal Force – support force exerted by a surface.
3. Frictional Force – resistance to motion between surfaces.
4. Tension Force – transmitted through strings or cables.
5. Applied Force – direct push or pull from an external source.
6. Air Resistance (Drag) – friction from air opposing motion.
7. Spring Force – restoring force in stretched or compressed springs (Hooke’s Law).
8. Electromagnetic Forces – includes electric and magnetic interactions between charged particles.
9. Nuclear Forces – strong (binds atomic nuclei) and weak (responsible for radioactive decay).

 

[CandyBarff]

In physics, forces are classified as contact and non-contact forces. Contact forces include friction, tension, normal force, air resistance, and applied force. Non-contact forces act at a distance, such as gravitational, electromagnetic (electric and magnetic), and nuclear (strong and weak) forces. Each influences motion, energy, or structural stability.

 

[winget]

Forces in physics describe interactions that change motion or shape. The main types include gravitational force, electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. Other common forces are friction, tension, normal force, air resistance, magnetic force, and applied force, which act in everyday physical systems.

 

[troy]

Think of forces as pushes or pulls like gravity pulling things down, friction slowing a moving bike, magnetic force sticking a magnet to the fridge, and applied force when you push a door open in daily life

 

[royjasika]

In physics forces have been categorized into contact and non-contact forces. Contact forces will consist of friction, tension, normal force and air resistance. The forces that are non-contact are gravitational, magnetic, and electrostatic forces. These forces describe the movement of objects, their interaction and the way they change their shape or direction.

 

[NelleDalge]

Four fundamental forces are identified in physics; these include; gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. In everyday life, they are represented as contact forces such as friction, tension and normal force.

 

[simran]

In physics, forces are mainly classified as four fundamental forces: gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weak nuclear.
Common everyday forces include friction, normal force, tension, air resistance, and applied force.

 

[celia]

Sure Think of forces like everyday pushes and pulls, gravity pulls things down (why your phone falls), friction slows stuff down (why a ball stops rolling), magnetic force attracts metal (fridge magnets!), and applied force is just you pushing or pulling something, like opening a door.

 

[Jacks will]

In physics, forces can be categorized into contact forces and non-contact forces, where contact forces consist of friction, tension, normal force and applied force whereas non-contact forces are gravitational force, magnetic force and electric force, which influence the way objects move, stop or change their direction.

 

[Michael Anderson]

In physics, the forces are broadly classified as contact and non-contact forces. Contact forces encompass friction, tension, normal force, air resistance and applied force that occur when two objects come in contact whereas non-contact forces are of gravitational, magnetic, and electrical forces that occur without a point of physical contact.

 

[jarwish]

The main types of forces in physics include gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, weak nuclear, and everyday forces like friction, tension, normal, applied, and air resistance.

 

[Cayson]

In physics, forces are mainly classified as contact forces like friction and tension, and non-contact forces like gravitational, magnetic, and electrostatic forces. These forces explain motion, interaction, and balance in everyday life, from falling objects to magnet attraction.