ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Generalized forces

Okay kiddo, you know how when you push or lift something, you use a force? Well, in science, we can use something called generalized forces to help us understand how much force is needed to move things.

Imagine you have a toy car on a track. To get the car moving, you need to push it with a force - this is a normal force. When the car is moving, you also get something called a frictional force, which slows it down. Together, these forces are called generalized forces.

Now, let's say you want to move the car faster. You need to apply more force, like pushing it harder. But there are other factors that can affect how the car moves, like the weight of the car or air resistance. These factors can also create other types of generalized forces.

Overall, generalized forces tells us how much force is needed for something to move or stay in motion, and all the different forces that might be present. It's like a big puzzle that scientists and engineers can use to figure out how to make things go faster, stronger, or better. Pretty cool, huh?