Gravity and Other Forces

Categories Physics

Course Description

Gravity and Other Forces is a foundational physics module that introduces learners to the invisible agents shaping every movement in the universe. Whether you’re walking across a room or watching a satellite orbit Earth, forces are at play—guiding, resisting, and balancing motion.

This lesson explores the nature of forces, focusing on gravity, friction, and air resistance, and reveals how these forces influence everything from daily activities to cosmic phenomena.

What You’ll Learn

🧲 By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

  • Define force as a push or pull that can cause an object to start moving, stop, change direction, or alter its shape
  • Understand the effects of forces on objects, including changes in motion and deformation
  • Explore gravity, the universal force of attraction between masses:
    • Learn how gravity keeps planets in orbit and causes objects to fall toward Earth
    • Understand gravitational acceleration (≈9.8 m/s² on Earth)
  • Examine friction, the force that resists motion between two surfaces:
    • Differentiate between static, sliding, and rolling friction
    • Discover how friction enables walking, driving, and gripping objects
  • Investigate air resistance, a type of friction that acts on objects moving through the air:
  • Understand how shape, speed, and surface area affect air resistance
  • Explore real-world examples like parachutes, airplanes, and falling leaves

Who This Lesson Is For

This lesson is perfect for students beginning their study of physics, educators introducing mechanics, or anyone curious about the forces that shape motion in everyday life and beyond.

A free course by

M
Course Duration: 40m
Course level:Beginner
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Requirements

  • Basic math skills for understanding force-related equations
  • Interest in physical science and real-world applications

Tags

Acceleration and motion Force, mass, and acceleration Gravity

Target Audience

  • Middle and high school physics students
  • First-year college science majors
  • Educators teaching introductory physics
  • Athletes, engineers, and designers interested in motion and resistance
  • Lifelong learners fascinated by how the world works

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