The cause of a change in motion or shape of a body.
A → vector quantity defined by
→ Newton’s second law as the rate of change of
→ momentum or, equivalently, as the
product of → mass and → acceleration.
A force is completely specified by giving its magnitude, direction, and
point of application. In mechanics, force represents the quantitative measure of
the mechanical interaction of material bodies.
Etymology (EN): From O.Fr. force, from L.L. fortia, from neut. pl. of L. fortis
“strong,” from forctus, from PIE base *bhergh- “high”
(cf. Av. barəz- “high, mount,” barezan- “height;”
O.Pers. baršan- “height;” Mod.Pers. borz in (the mountain chain)
Alborz, and borz “height, magnitude,”
bâlâ “up, above, high, elevated, height,” Lori dialect berg
“hill, mountain;” Skt. bhrant- “high;” O.E.
burg, burh “castle, fortified place,” from P.Gmc.
*burgs “fortress;” Ger. Burg “castle,” Goth. baurgs “city,”
E. burg, borough, Fr. bourgeois, bourgeoisie, faubourg).
Etymology (PE): Niru, from Mid.Pers. nêrok, Av. nairya- “manly, male”
(cf. Skt. nárya-), from nar- “man, male” (Mid./Mod.Pers.
nar- “male,” Skt. nár- “male”).
