@cazzie In fact, I wrote an essay about the similarities after reading too much Xenocide, and having an assignment due the next day. All of the examples were from Newtonian mechanics, with some stuff (specifically Boyle’s Law) that I got from chemistry.
Think, for a minute, of an angry mob. They have metaphorical force and direction – anger (for instance), and generally a goal. Stopping or disbanding a mob requires action along the opposite vector – force, and either appeasement or else disillusionment.
As for Boyle: Pack a lot of people into a small room and tempers – comparable to temperatures – will rise. Possibly to the extent of a metaphorical explosion.
It’s not a perfect parallel, but it’s pretty darn close.
You might also look at Asimov’s imaginary field of psychohistory, which follows similar principles.