Forces & Energy Transfer

Forces & Energy Transfer

By Riley Wright

Forces & Energy Transfer!

Forces cause the transformation of energy, where one form of energy is converted into another as the force moves an object over a distance. This process is called an energy transformation or conversion, and it adheres to the law of conservation of energy>>, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form to another. For example, a car converts the chemical energy in fuel into kinetic energy, and a hydroelectric dam converts the potential energy of water into electrical energy. 

1. What Are Forces?

A force is a push or a pull that can change an object's motion.

Types of Forces

Force Type	Description	Examples
Gravity	Pulls objects toward each other	Objects fall to Earth
Friction	Opposes motion between surfaces	Sliding shoes on the floor
Applied Force	A force done by a person or object	Pushing a door
Normal Force	Upward force from a surface	Book resting on a table
Air Resistance	Friction from air	A parachute opening
Tension	Force in a rope or string	Tug-of-war rope

key Ideas

• Forces are measured in newtons (N).

• Net force = total of all forces acting on an object.

• When forces are balanced, motion doesn’t change.

• When forces are unbalanced, the object accelerates.