GCSE›Edexcel GCSE Physics›Mind mapsTypes of ForcesEdexcel GCSE Physics: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsWhat is a force?A push or pull from an interactionForces come in equal and opposite pairsForce is a vectorContact forcesObjects must be touchingNormal contact force: surface pushes backFriction opposes relative motionFriction slows a sliding boxFriction wastes energy as heatLubrication reduces frictionNon-contact forcesAct at a distance through a fieldGravitational fieldElectrostatic fieldMagnetic fieldTypes of forcesNVectors and scalarsScalar: magnitude only, e.g. speed, mass, energyVector: magnitude and directionVectors: force, velocity, displacement, momentumArrow length shows magnitudeCombining forcesResultant force: single force, same effectScale drawings add forces at anglesResolve a force into right-angled componentsEquilibrium: resultant force is zeroFree body diagram: object and its forces onlyExam tipsFree body diagram: forces on the object onlyGive size and direction for a force