Force

Force is the product of mass and acceleration.

Force = mass * acceleration

Force is a vector quality, meaning it has both magnitude (how much force) and direction (which way the force is going).

Force = mass * acceleration

Mass is simply the measure of how much matter an object has. In scientific literature it is typically written in Newtons. To convert Newtons into a familiar number, 9.8 Newtons (the acceleration of gravity) is equal to 1kg

 

Acceleration is a little more complicated

Acceleration is actually made up of its own formula. Acceleration is equal to the change in velocity over the change in time. Where Vi is the initial velocity and Vf is the final velocity. The difference between the two is the change in velocity divided by the time it takes for the change to occur.

Acceleration = (Vf-Vi) / Time 

 

What about velocity?

Velocity is the change in distance over the change in time. Notice how time is used in this equation too. This explains why acceleration is in meters/second/second. The first “time” comes from the change in velocity over time and the second “time” comes from the change in distance over time.

 

So, in order to find velocity a similar equation set up is used as that of the acceleration formula.  Di is the initial distance, Df is the final distance and the difference is the change in distance divided by the time it took for that change to occur. Remember, you cannot find acceleration until you find change in velocity.

Velocity = (Df-Di) / Time

Now that we understand what the force equation is comprised of we can talk about different equations that can derived from this formula that will allow us to look at movement form a mathematical standpoint.

BONUS MATERIAL: NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION