Adjusts after force is checked (7)
I believe the answer is:
falters
'is checked' is the definition.
(to falter is to be checked or stopped)
'adjusts after force' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'force' could be 'f' (symbol used in Physics e.g. f=ma) and 'f' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'alters' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for falters that I've seen before include "'Loses confidence, begins to fail (7)'" , "Stumbles, hesitates" , "Moves unsteadily, stumbles" .)