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Related Concept Videos

An Introduction to Mechanics01:28

An Introduction to Mechanics

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Humans have been making ships, shelters, pyramids, weapons, agricultural equipment, and many more items without recording the process or theory behind them for centuries. It would be challenging to document the evolution of mechanics from its origin to the present.
According to records, the history of mechanics starts with Aristotle (384–322 BC). He related mechanics to physical theory, aiming for a universal synthesis.
Newton defined mechanics as the branch of physical science that...
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Types of Forces01:09

Types of Forces

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In most situations, forces can be grouped into two categories: contact forces and field forces.  Contact forces occur as a result of direct physical contact between objects. Field forces, however, act without the necessity of physical contact between objects. They depend on the presence of a "field" in the region of space surrounding the body under consideration. You can think of a field as a property of space that is detectable by the forces it exerts. Scientists think there...
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Upward Impending Motion01:21

Upward Impending Motion

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A square-threaded screw jack is a mechanical device widely used for lifting heavy loads or applying considerable force. Its operation is based on converting the force applied at its handle into a torsional moment, causing the upward impending motion of the screw. This movement is accomplished by overcoming the static friction between the threads of the screw and the jack.
To better comprehend how a screw jack functions, consider the completely unraveled thread as a block in contact with the...
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Stability of structures01:14

Stability of structures

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In mechanical engineering, the stability of systems under various forces is critical for designing durable and efficient structures. One fundamental way to explore these concepts is by analyzing systems like two rods connected at a pivot point, O, with a torsional spring of spring constant k at the pivot point. This system is similar in appearance to a scissor jack used to change tires on a car. In this case, the arms of the linkage (equivalent to the rods in this system) are entirely vertical,...
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Force01:06

Force

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Forces affect every moment of our life. Our bodies are held to the Earth by force, and they are held together by the forces of charged particles. When we open a door, walk down a street, lift a fork, or touch a baby's face, we are applying force. Our body's atoms are held together by electrical forces, and the core of an atom, called the nucleus, is held together by the strongest force known to us—nuclear force.
The study of motion is called kinematics, but kinematics only...
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Introduction to force01:25

Introduction to force

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Consider water flowing from a nozzle to a turbine vane. As the water hits the turbine vane, it exerts a force that causes it to move along the flow of direction. Force is an impact that changes an object's motion, shape, or orientation. Forces can be caused by physical contact, such as a push or pull, or through non-contact interactions, such as magnetic or gravitational forces. Force is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction, and is measured in newtons (N) in the SI unit...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
06:33

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis

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SnapShot: Mechanical Forces in Development II.

David Dreher1, Laurynas Pasakarnis1, Damian Brunner1

  • 1Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.

Cell
|May 7, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Cells utilize diverse mechanical forces beyond actin/myosin II for development and environmental sensing. This review explores alternative force-generating mechanisms and experimental tools for analysis.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular mechanics
  • Biophysics
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Actin/myosin II networks are primary drivers of cellular mechanical forces.
  • Understanding alternative mechanisms is crucial for a complete picture of cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present alternative mechanisms of force generation in cells.
  • To highlight how cells sense and respond to environmental mechanical properties.
  • To introduce experimental tools for mechanical force analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cellular mechanics.
  • Discussion of non-canonical force-generating pathways.
  • Overview of experimental techniques for force measurement.

More Related Videos

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development
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Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

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Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
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Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
06:33

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis

Published on: June 5, 2018

7.8K
Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development
05:23

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

Published on: September 19, 2018

6.4K
Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
09:56

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

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Main Results:

  • Identified diverse cellular mechanisms generating mechanical forces beyond actin/myosin II.
  • Demonstrated the role of cellular forces in environmental mechanosensing.
  • Cataloged key experimental tools for studying cellular forces.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular mechanical forces are generated through multiple pathways.
  • Cells actively interact with and respond to their mechanical environment.
  • Advanced tools are available for dissecting cellular mechanical processes.