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We investigate optical forces in the time domain, instead of using the time-average Maxwell stress tensor. We demonstrate first that a plane wave causes on a physical object an optical pressure that fluctuates at optical frequency in the time domain. The analytical formula for the optical force dynamics is presented for this case. The case for two-wave illumination with slightly different frequencies is considered next. It is shown that in this case the optical force acquires a component at the beating frequency. The analytical expression for the transient force is deduced and its relation with average force explained in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]