Physics Fundamentals: Understanding Forces and Tides

Gravitational Force

Gravitational force is the fundamental force of attraction that exists between any two objects with mass. It causes the acceleration experienced by an object in the vicinity of a planet or satellite. Due to gravity, we feel weight. If an object is on a planet and not under the influence of other forces, it will experience an acceleration directed approximately towards the center of the planet. It is also known as gravity, gravitational pull, or gravitational interaction.

Weight

Weight is a force. The force exerted on bodies due to gravity is known as body weight. The weight of a body is proportional to its mass; i.e., the higher the body's mass, the greater its weight.

Spring Tide

These are the tides that occur during the full moon and new moon phases, when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned. The spring tide occurring during the New Moon phase is called "spring tide from Conjunction," and the one occurring during the Full Moon phase is called "Spring Tide of Opposition."

Neap Tide

These tides occur during the phases of First Quarter and Last Quarter, when the positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon form an approximate 90-degree angle.

High Tide and Low Tide

High tide (also known as high water) occurs when sea water reaches its maximum height within the tidal cycle. Conversely, low tide (or low water) occurs when the sea is at its lowest height.

Force

Force is defined as any action or influence capable of modifying a body's state of motion, i.e., giving it an acceleration. The effect of a force on a body depends on its magnitude and the direction in which it is applied. This means that force is a vector quantity.

Contact Force

Contact forces are types of forces that occur when objects interact and are physically in contact (e.g., the force that pushes an object, friction force).

Field Force

This type of force is characteristic of objects that are not physically in contact. Typical examples include gravitational attraction and magnetic force.

Normal Force

The normal force is defined as the force exerted by a surface on a body supported on it. This force is perpendicular to the surface and equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force exerted by the body on the surface.

Friction Force

The friction force is a force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of motion between two surfaces in contact.