Push pull forces from "summary" of Force and Motion by Jason Zimba
Push and pull forces play an essential role in the physical world. These forces create a relationship between two objects, allowing them to interact with each other, resulting in changes in motion, direction and speed.- In everyday life, one will encounter push and pull forces. A push force is when an object moves in the same direction as that of the force applied to it, while a pull force is when an object moves in the opposite direction of the force applied to it.
- Push and pull forces exist everywhere around us. For example, when we push open a door or pull back curtains on a window, these are simple examples of the two forces.
- Brushing teeth is another example of push and pull forces in action - pushing and pulling the toothbrush against the teeth. When walking or running, one must also engage the muscles to push against the ground and then pull backward to move forward.
- Other everyday uses of push and pull forces include reaching for something on a high shelf, opening cans with can openers, pushing scissors to cut paper, and throwing a basketball into a hoop. All of these motions involve pushing or pulling with some kind of force.
- Similarly, with sports like swimming and cycling, athletes use power generated by their muscles to push against resistance from water and air in order to speed up. Athletes also apply a pull force against gear pedals when pedalling on a bicycle to generate more speed.
