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Force
In physics, a force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (which includes to begin moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate. Force can also be described intuitively as a push or a pull. A force has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity. It is measured in the SI unit of newtons and represented by the symbol F.
The original form of Newton’s second law states that the net force acting upon an object is equal to the rate at which its momentum changes with time. If the mass of the object is constant, this law implies that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object, is in the direction of the net force, and is inversely proportional to the mass of the object.
Concepts related to force include: thrust, which increases the velocity of an object; drag, which decreases the velocity of an object; and torque, which produces changes in rotational speed of an object. In an extended body, each part usually applies forces on the adjacent parts; the distribution of such forces through the body is the internal mechanical stress. Such internal mechanical stresses cause no acceleration of that body as the forces balance one another. Pressure, the distribution of many small forces applied over an area of a body, is a simple type of stress that if unbalanced can cause the body to accelerate. Stress usually causes deformation of solid materials, or flow in fluids.
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Force (noun)
Strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.
“the force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract”
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Force (noun)
Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion.
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Force (noun)
Anything that is able to make a big change in a person or thing.
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Force (noun)
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn)
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Force (noun)
Something or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape.
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Force (noun)
A group that aims to attack, control, or constrain.
“police force”
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Force (noun)
The ability to attack, control, or constrain.
“show of force”
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Force (noun)
A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
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Force (noun)
Legal validity.
“The law will come into force in January.”
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Force (noun)
Either unlawful violence, as in a “forced entry”, or lawful compulsion.
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Force (noun)
Ability of an effect a given meaning.
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Force (noun)
A binding, metaphysical, and ubiquitous power in the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas.
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Force (noun)
A waterfall or cascade.
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Force (verb)
To violate (a woman); to rape. from 14thc.
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Force (verb)
To exert oneself, to do one’s utmost. from 14thc.
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Force (verb)
To compel (someone or something) to do something. from 15thc.
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Force (verb)
To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of. from 16thc.
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Force (verb)
To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb). from 16thc.
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Force (verb)
To cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force. from 16thc.
“The comedian’s jokes weren’t funny, but I forced a laugh now and then.”
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Force (verb)
To forcibly open (a door, lock etc.). from 17thc.
“To force a lock.”
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Force (verb)
To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
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Force (verb)
To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
“Jones forced the runner at second by stepping on the bag.”
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Force (verb)
To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit that he/she does not hold.
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Force (verb)
To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce.
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Force (verb)
To provide with forces; to reinforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison.
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Force (verb)
To allow the force of; to value; to care for.
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Force (verb)
To stuff; to lard; to farce.
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Strength (noun)
The quality or degree of being strong.
“It requires great strength to lift heavy objects.”
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Strength (noun)
The intensity of a force or power; potency.
“He had the strength of ten men.”
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Strength (noun)
The strongest part of something; that on which confidence or reliance is based.
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Strength (noun)
A positive attribute.
“We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.”
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Strength (noun)
Armed force, body of troops.
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Strength (noun)
A strong place; a stronghold.
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Strength (verb)
To give strength to; to strengthen. 12th-17th c.
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Force (noun)
strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement
“he was thrown backwards by the force of the explosion”
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Force (noun)
an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body. The magnitude of such an influence is often calculated by multiplying the mass of the body and its acceleration.
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Force (noun)
used with a number as a measure of wind strength on the Beaufort scale
“a force-nine gale”
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Force (noun)
coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence
“they ruled by law and not by force”
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Force (noun)
mental or moral strength or power
“the force of popular opinion”
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Force (noun)
a person or thing regarded as exerting power or influence
“he might still be a force for peace and unity”
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Force (noun)
the powerful effect of something
“the Committee accepted the force of this argument”
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Force (noun)
an organized body of military personnel or police
“a British peacekeeping force”
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Force (noun)
troops and weaponry
“a battle between the forces of good and evil”
“left-wing guerrilla forces”
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Force (noun)
the army, navy, and air force of a country.
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Force (noun)
the police.
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Force (noun)
a group of people brought together and organized for a particular activity
“a sales force”
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Force (noun)
a waterfall.
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Force (verb)
make a way through or into by physical strength; break open by force
“the back door of the bank was forced”
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Force (verb)
drive or push into a specified position or state using physical strength or against resistance
“thieves tried to force open the cash register”
“Mark forced her arms back above her head”
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Force (verb)
achieve or bring about (something) by effort
“Sabine forced a smile”
“they forced a way through the crowd”
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Force (verb)
artificially hasten the development or maturity of (a plant).
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Force (verb)
make (someone) do something against their will
“the universities were forced to cut staff”
“she was forced into early retirement”
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Force (verb)
put out (a runner) by necessitating an advance to the next base when it is not possible to do so safely.
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Strength (noun)
the quality or state of being physically strong
“cycling can help you build up your strength”
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Strength (noun)
the influence or power possessed by a person, organization, or country
“the political and military strength of European governments”
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Strength (noun)
the degree of intensity of a feeling or belief
“street protests demonstrated the strength of feeling against the president”
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Strength (noun)
the extent to which an argument or case is sound or convincing
“the strength of the argument for property taxation”
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Strength (noun)
the potency, intensity, or speed of a force or natural agency
“the wind had markedly increased in strength”
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Strength (noun)
the potential of a hand to win tricks, arising from the number and type of high cards it contains.
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Strength (noun)
the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure
“they were taking no chances with the strength of the retaining wall”
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Strength (noun)
the emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with difficult or distressing situations
“it takes strength of character to admit one needs help”
“many people find strength in religion”
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Strength (noun)
the potency or degree of concentration of a drug, chemical, or drink
“the solution comes in two strengths”
“it’s double the strength of your average beer”
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Strength (noun)
a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing
“the strengths and weaknesses of their sales and marketing operation”
“his strength was his obsessive single-mindedness”
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Strength (noun)
a person or thing perceived as a source of mental or emotional support
“he was my closest friend, my strength and shield”
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Strength (noun)
the number of people comprising a group, typically a team or army
“the peacetime strength of the army was 415,000”
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Strength (noun)
a number of people required to make such a group complete
“we are now more than 100 officers below strength”
“City were under strength, yet put up a creditable performance”
“some units will be maintained at full strength while others will rely on reserves”
“an under-strength side”