Forces
Introduction:
Is it possible that same amount of force is applied on two different masses and they accelerate
equally? Similarly, is it possible to stop a heavy moving truck with the same force that
applied on a moving football? Surely not. It is difficult to move heavier object as compared to
lighter object and vice versa.
So when are going to study the motion of objects with reference of force and mass then it is
known as dynamics.
Inertia:
Inertia is a characteristics of a body due to which it resists to change its state of rest or
uniform motion.
Inertia is directly proportional to mass.
Greater the mass greater the inertia difficult to move and difficult to stop.
Lighter the mass lesser inertia easier to move and easier to stop.
Force:
Force can moves, stops and can change the direction of motion.
Force is a vector quantity and it SI unit is Newton.
For example if object is at rest then on applying force there will be a motion in object.
If object is moving then applying brakes (force) object can stop.
If car is moving with constant speed then applying force through steering of a car we can
change the direction of motion.
Balanced forces:
If an object is not accelerating then balanced forces are acting on object. Object may at rest or
moving with uniform velocity. Resultant force is equal to zero.
10 N 10 N
Page 1 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
In above example 10 N equal forces are acting in opposite direction on an object and resultant
force will be zero. 10 + (-10) = 0
Unbalanced forces:
Resultant force is not equal to zero. Object is accelerating or moving with non-uniform
velocity. In given example resultant force is 75 N and object accelerates from right to left
side.
100 N 25N
Question:
Question:
Page 2 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
Question:
Newton’s laws of motion:
There are three laws of motion
1- Newton’s first law of motion (law of inertia) for balanced forces.
2- Newton’s second law of motion for unbalanced forces.
3- Newton’s third law of motion for balanced forces.
Newton’s first law of motion:
An object continues in its state of rest or uniform motion until an external force
acting on it.
Planets revolve around the sun until an external force acting on it
Mountains remains at rest until an external force acting on it. Newton’s first law of
motion is also called law of inertia.
If bus applies sudden brakes then passenger moves in forward direction move due to
inertia.
Newton’s second law of motion:
F = ma
“Acceleration produced when force acts on an object, this acceleration is directly
proportional to force and inversely proportional to mass.”
Greater force greater acceleration.
Greater mass less acceleration.
Page 3 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
Question:
Newton’s third law of motion:
“Action and reaction are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.”
Walking on earth man applies force in backward direction with feet but person
moves in forward direction due to reaction force applied by earth.
Table on book weight of book is in downward direction while table applies
reaction force in upward direction.
Rocket motion exhaust of burning fuel is in downward direction while rocket
moves in upward direction.
Addition of forces:
When forces are acting in same direction then resultant will be sum of all these forces
and object accelerates in the direction of motion.
When forces are acting on object in opposite direction then resultant or net force will
be subtraction of smaller force from greater force. Object moves in the direction of
greater force.
Question:
Page 4 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
Friction:
Force opposing the direction of motion is called friction.
Friction is a contact force.
Contact forces:
When two surfaces are in contact. For example friction, tension, air resistance and reaction
force.
Non-contact forces:
Forces appear without any contact with the other object. For example weight, gravitational
force, magnetic force between poles of a magnet, electric force between electric charges.
For example if object is moving in forward direction then force of friction will be in
backward direction.
Weight is acting in downward direction mg.
Reaction force N is acting opposite to weight.
Forward force acting right side while force of friction is acting to left side.
Friction impede (opposes) the motion of object.
Page 5 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
Question:
Causes of friction:
Page 6 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
Suppose that two perfectly smooth surfaces are in contact. When we observe both
surfaces microscopically then roughness between these surfaces is noticeable. This
roughness is responsible for friction.
Much of the friction is actually due to attractive forces between molecules making up
the two objects, so that even smooth surfaces are not friction-free.
Friction between two surfaces produces heating effect.
Effect on motion of object with and without drag force
(friction):
If object is falling vertically then its weight is acting in downward direction.
If there is air resistance (friction) then acceleration of an object is going to decrease up
to terminal speed, as we have discuss in previous chapter. In this case we can observe
that heavier object falls earlier as compared to lighter object.
If we are ignoring drag force (air resistance or friction) then both lighter and
heavier objects strikes with the surface of earth at the same time when fallen
from same height.
Let us explain friction with the help of an airplane example.
Page 7 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
We can observe in above example that drag force is opposite to thrust of airplane
while lift of airplane is opposite to weight of airplane.
If weight of airplane is equal to lift then airplane has constant altitude.
If thrust is equal to drag then airplane moves with constant speed.
If weight > lift then altitude decreases.
If weight < lift then altitude increases.
If thrust is not equal to drag then airplane accelerate or decelerate.
Question:
Question:
Thinking distance:
Thinking distance is the distance a vehicle travels in the time it takes for the
driver to apply the brakes after realising they need to stop.
Braking distance:
Braking distance is the distance a vehicle travels in the time after the driver has
applied the brake.
Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance
Page 8 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.
Reaction times:
Reaction times vary from person to person, but are typically 0.2 s to 0.9 s. A
driver’s reaction time can be affected by:
tiredness
drugs
alcohol
distractions
Longer reaction times increase the thinking distance when stopping from a given
speed.
The braking distance of a vehicle can be increased by:
poor road and weather conditions, such as gravel, or wet or icy roads - less
friction between tyres and the road
poor vehicle conditions, such as worn brakes or worn tyres - less friction
between brakes and wheels
More mass of the vehicle (extra passengers for example). Greater inertia.
Page 9 of 9
Prepared by Ghazanfar Ali
LGS OPF, Girls Campus, Lahore.