What area of study focuses on the forces that cause motion on physical objects?

The area of study that focuses on the forces that cause motion on physical objects is dynamics. Dynamics is a branch of mechanics that specifically deals with the analysis of forces and their effects on the motion of objects. It encompasses both the causes of motion (forces) and the resulting behavior of moving bodies.

In dynamics, key concepts include Newton's laws of motion, which describe how forces influence the acceleration and velocity of objects. This field is essential in understanding not just how objects move but also why they move in particular ways, taking into account various forces like friction, tension, and gravitational pull.

In contrast, statics focuses on objects at rest or in equilibrium where there is no motion; kinematics describes the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause that motion; and fluid mechanics involves the behavior of fluids in motion and at rest, but does not specifically address forces on solid bodies in motion. Thus, while these other fields are important, they do not encompass the full scope of motion as influenced by forces, which is the core of dynamics.