# Force

A push or a pull, measured in newtons (N). It can change speed, direction or shape.

Physics (school) · Part 02: Forces and Newton's laws · Card 1 of 8 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

Like a shove on a shopping trolley.

## Example

**Size of a newton**

1 N is roughly the weight
of a small apple.
A 1 kg bag of sugar weighs
about 10 N.

## In practice

Forces always come with a direction, so they are drawn as arrows.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **What is the unit of force?** The newton (N).

## Questions people ask

### What is a newton?

A newton (N) is the unit of force. One newton is the force needed to give a 1 kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/s squared. In everyday terms, a small apple pulls down on your hand with about one newton of weight.

### Can a force change the shape of an object?

Yes. Forces can make things speed up, slow down, change direction or change shape. Squashing a sponge, stretching an elastic band and bending a ruler are all shape changes caused by forces. If the object springs back afterwards, the change was elastic.

## Related concepts

- [Resultant force](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/physics-school/physics-school-part-2/physics-school-part-2-concept-2)
- [Newton's first law](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/physics-school/physics-school-part-2/physics-school-part-2-concept-3)
- [Newton's second law](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/physics-school/physics-school-part-2/physics-school-part-2-concept-4)
- [Newton's third law](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/physics-school/physics-school-part-2/physics-school-part-2-concept-5)

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