Force is a push or pull that can change the motion of an object. For example, when you kick a soccer ball, your foot applies a force that makes the ball move. Forces can make things speed up, slow down, or change direction. There are different types of forces, such as gravity, which pulls objects toward the Earth, and friction, which slows things down when they rub against each other. Understanding force helps us explain how everything from a car driving on a road to a rocket launching into space works.