Ground reaction force

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In classical mechanics the term ground reaction force (GRF) refers generically to any force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it.^[1] For example, a person standing on the ground exerts a force on it (equal to the person's weight) and at the same time an equal and opposite ground reaction force is exerted by the ground on the person.
The use of the word reaction derives from Newton's third law, which essentially states that if a force, called action, acts upon a body, then an equal and opposite force, called reaction, must act upon another body.
The force exerted by the ground is commonly referred to as the reaction, although the distinction between action and reaction is completely arbitrary and the expression ground action would be in principle equally acceptable.

[edit] External links

• Vectorial definition of GRF from the Health Sciences Center of the University of Oklahoma

[edit] References