I can't quite understand the concept of force.Force = Mass *

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The discussion centers on the concept of force, defined as Force = Mass * Acceleration. It highlights that if an object does not move despite a force being applied, no work is done, indicating that the net force is zero. To initiate movement, a force greater than friction is necessary to overcome inertia and create acceleration. Once in motion, a constant force equal to friction is required to maintain a steady velocity. Understanding these principles clarifies the relationship between force, motion, and work.
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I can't quite understand the concept of force.

Force = Mass * Acceleration

Work = Force * Distance

If you apply a force to an object, and it doesn't move, no work has been done. Yet if an object doesn't move, how can there be acceleration? So based on that, no force has been exerted?

And also, if you try to move an object for example a stapler across your desk, you need to apply a constant force to it to keep it moving at a constant velocity, so that force is equal to the force exerted by the friction. So if you apply a force equal to the opposing force, the net forces cancel out and you get no acceleration. So does that mean that to get the stapler to move in the first place, more force than what the friction value is, was necessary to get the stapler to begin moving (in order to change the inertia/invoke a new vector of force on the mass of the stapler?).
 
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Atomic_Sheep said:
I can't quite understand the concept of force.

Force = Mass * Acceleration
Better to think of this as ƩF = ma: net force on an object equals mass * acceleration.

Work = Force * Distance

If you apply a force to an object, and it doesn't move, no work has been done. Yet if an object doesn't move, how can there be acceleration? So based on that, no force has been exerted?
It just means that the net force on the object is zero, not that you exerted no force.

And also, if you try to move an object for example a stapler across your desk, you need to apply a constant force to it to keep it moving at a constant velocity, so that force is equal to the force exerted by the friction. So if you apply a force equal to the opposing force, the net forces cancel out and you get no acceleration. So does that mean that to get the stapler to move in the first place, more force than what the friction value is, was necessary to get the stapler to begin moving (in order to change the inertia/invoke a new vector of force on the mass of the stapler?).
Right! In order to start something moving you must accelerate it, which requires a net force.
 


That makes more sense now, thanks!
 

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