Mechanical forces are pushes or pulls that can cause an object to move, change shape, or remain stationary. These forces can be categorized into two main types: contact forces, which occur when objects touch each other, and non-contact forces, which act at a distance, such as gravity or magnetism. Common examples of mechanical forces include friction, which opposes motion between surfaces, and tension, which occurs in strings or cables when they are pulled. Understanding these forces is essential in fields like engineering and physics, as they help explain how objects interact in our everyday lives.