A push or a pull
You 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.