Surface force
Surface force denoted fs is the force that acts across an internal or external surface element in a material body. Surface force can be decomposed into two perpendicular components: normal forces and shear forces. A normal force acts normally over an area and a shear force acts tangentially over an area.

Block on a ramp and corresponding free body diagram of the block showing the surface force from the ramp onto the bottom of the block and separated into two components, a normal force N and a frictional shear force f, along with the body force of gravity mg acting at the center of mass.
Equations for surface force
Surface force due to pressure
- , where f = force, p = pressure, and A = area on which a uniform pressure acts
Examples
Pressure related surface force
Since pressure is , and area is a ,
- a pressure of over an area of will produce a surface force of .
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