Lesson 1 of 15
A push or a pull
Show on a big screenYou hammer a nail in. That is a push. You pull it out with pliers. That is a pull.
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Step 1 of 3
- Before: the finger is near the striker, not touching.
- The flick: the finger pushes the striker.
- Let go: the finger is far away. The striker still slides.
The rule
A force is a push or a pull on an object. It comes from that object's interaction with another object. Interaction means the two objects act on each other. So a force needs two objects.
Force is measured in newtons. The symbol is N.
When you push a table, the table also pushes on your hand. A push by hand ends when your hand leaves the table.
Watch out!
The flick is not stored inside the striker. The finger's push ended when the finger left the striker.
Try the lab to finish this lesson.