Which term is defined as the study of forces and their effects?

• A. Kinematics
• B. Mechanics
• C. Inertia
• D. Biomechanics

Answer: (B)

Mechanics is the study of forces and their effects on bodies, including how forces cause changes in motion and how systems reach or maintain equilibrium. It covers how push and pull interact with mass to produce acceleration, rotation, and energy transfers. Kinematics, by contrast, describes motion itself—where objects are and how fast they're moving—without looking at what causes that motion. Inertia is simply the property of matter that resists changes in motion, not a field of study. Biomechanics brings mechanical principles into biological contexts, applying mechanics to living systems, but the general term for studying forces and their effects is mechanics.