Component force
A component force is one of several (or many) forces that have the same direction and therefore can be group together.
Example
Consider the following force block diagram of as swingset:
The 50 kilogram block is being attracted downward by gravity, but is buoyed up by the ropes (in red). The total force of gravity (obviously downward), as Newton's second law tells us, is 50 kilograms times g, in newtons. The swing is not accelerating either upwards or downwards, therefore the force supplied by ropes is equal to the force of gravity. We can say gravity is opposed by the force of the swing.
Because of the way the ropes are attached, each of them supplies half of the force to counter gravity. Therefore, each of them supplies 25g (newtons). Each of them is said to be a component of the force of the swing.
The diagram is an example of parallel forces.
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