Force and Motion

Force and motion are fundamental to all matter in the universe and are integral parts of our daily lives. A force is anything that can push or pull an object. Forces influence objects that are at rest or that are already in motion. Isaac Newton's three laws of motion describe how forces interact with objects to influence motion. These laws involve inertia, mass, velocity, and momentum. Key forces include gravity, friction, and magnetism. A force is required to do work, and generating a force requires energy. Energy can be stored as potential energy, or it can have kinetic energy—the energy of motion. Energy can also be converted and exchanged through energy transfer.