This chapter describes force and momentum and how they are related to each other. The concepts learned in this chapter, along with the equations of motion learned in the previous chapter, will provide a more complete understanding of the mechanics of motion.
3.1 FORCE
A force is a push or pull in a certain direction (Figures 3.1 and 3.2).
Force is a vector because it has both magnitude and direction. For example, force = 180 lb downward or 10 lb to the right. Instead of saying up or down, or to the left or to the right, we can use a coordinate system to designate direction (Figure 3.3).
FIGURE 3.1 Your weight is ...
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