Surface force

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Surface force denoted f_s is the force that acts across an internal or external surface element in a material body. Normal forces and shear forces between objects are types of surface force. All cohesive forces and contact forces between objects are considered as surface forces. Surface force can be decomposed into two perpendicular components: normal forces and shear forces. A normal force acts normally over an area and a shear force acts tangentially over an area.

${\displaystyle f_{s}=p\cdot A\ }$, where f = force, p = pressure, and A = area on which a uniform pressure acts

Since pressure is ${\displaystyle {\frac {\mathit {force}}{\mathit {area}}}=\mathrm {\frac {N}{m^{2}}} }$,^[1] and area is a ${\displaystyle (length)\cdot (width)=\mathrm {m\cdot m} =\mathrm {m^{2}} }$,

a pressure of ${\displaystyle 5\ \mathrm {\frac {N}{m^{2}}} =5\ \mathrm {Pa} }$ over an area of ${\displaystyle 20\ \mathrm {m^{2}} }$ will produce a surface force of ${\displaystyle (5\ \mathrm {Pa} )\cdot (20\ \mathrm {m^{2}} )=100\ \mathrm {N} }$.

• Body force
• Contact force