Which term describes a push or pull on an object?

• A. Force
• B. Speed
• C. Friction
• D. Conduction

Answer: (A)

A push or pull on an object is described by force. A force is a vector quantity that can change an object’s motion, having both magnitude and direction. It’s measured in newtons, and when multiple forces act, the net force determines how the object accelerates (F = ma). Fresh pushes, pulls, gravity, and even friction are all forces that influence motion in different ways. Speed, on the other hand, is how fast something moves, not what causes that motion. Friction is a force that resists motion between surfaces in contact, so it’s a force too, but it describes resistance rather than the basic idea of a push or pull. Conduction is the transfer of energy between objects, typically heat or electrical energy, not a force acting to push or pull on an object.