Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

external force

noun

/ɪkˈstɜrnəl fɔrs/

Definition

A force that originates from outside a system and can influence the state or motion of objects within that system.

Examples

The external force of the wind pushed the kite high into the sky.
In this physics problem, we need to calculate the effect of the external forces on the moving car.
During the experiment, an external force was applied to alter the trajectory of the ball.

Meaning

An external force refers to any influence that comes from outside an object or system, causing it to change its motion or behavior. This could include forces like gravity, friction, or applied force from another object.