Chapter 5: Exploring forces
What is force:
It is a physical phenomenon by which we can change either size and shape or position or both
is called force.
OR
It is an action, a push or a pull, that can cause an object to change its velocity or its shape.
SI unit of physics is Newton (N). CGS unit of force is dyne.
The force applied on an object may
• make an object move from rest.
• change the speed of an object if it is moving.
• change the direction of motion of an object.
• bring about a change in the shape of an object.
• cause some or all of these effects.
Types of forces:
1. contact force
2. non-contact force
Contact force:
It is a type of force which caused by physical contact between two surfaces.
Muscular force is a type of contact force by which we perform our day to day life activities.
Friction:
• It is also another type of contact force.
• It is a type of force which opposes the motion.
• The force that comes into play when an object moves or tries to move over another
surface is called the force of friction or simply friction.
• Friction always acts in a direction opposite to the direction in which the object is
moving or trying to move.
• The force of friction is a contact force since it arises due to two surfaces in contact.
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Cause of friction:
Microscopic irregularities and roughness on the surface of two objects is contact is a major
cause of friction.
How can you increase friction:
• By making surface rough
• By keeping surface dry
• By increasing contact area
• By increasing weight of an object
How can you decrease friction:
• By polishing
• By using oil or other lubricants
• By decreasing contact area
• By decreasing weight
• By using rollers or ball bearing
Non-contact force :
• It is a type of force which comes in to action without physical contact between two
objects.
• There are forces whose effect can be experienced even if the objects are not in contact.
These forces are called non-contact forces.
Types of non-contact force:
1. Magnetic force
2. Electrostatic force
3. Gravitational force
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Magnetic force:
• The force exerted by a magnet on another magnet or a magnetic material is called
magnetic force.
• Magnet have two poles: North pole and south pole.
• When same type of poles are brought together, they produces repulsive force.
• When opposite type of poles are brought together, they produces attraction between
each other.
• When distance between two magnet increases, magnitude of force reduces.
• When distance between two magnet decreases, magnitude of force increases.
Electrostatic force:
• It is a type of force which can be experienced between two charged bodies or one
charged and another neutral body.
• The force exerted by a charged body on another charged body or an uncharged body is
called electrostatic force.
• When two objects of certain materials are rubbed together, electrical charges build up
on their surfaces. These charges are called static charges as they do not move by
themselves.
• The object that acquires static charges is said to be a charged object.
• If two similarly charged objects are brought near to each other, then they produces
repulsion and vice-versa
• Attraction can be observed if one charged and another neutral body are brought near to
each other.
Gravitational force:
• The force with which the Earth attracts objects towards itself is called the gravitational
force.
• The gravitational force exerted by the Earth is also called force of gravity or simply
gravity.
• It is always attractive.
• Gravity pull any object downwards. That’s why speed of falling object always
increases.
• Upward moving object comes to rest at top position, is also because of downward pull
of gravity.
Weight:
• Gravitational force experienced by an object is called its weight.
• Its SI unit is Newton (N).
• It is measured by spring balance and weighing scale.
• Formula of weight is: mass x gravitational acceleration. (W = m x g)
• Average value of gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s2. We can use it as 10 m/s2.
• An object of mass 1 kg has weight of 10 N
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Mass:
• Mass of an object is not same as weight.
• Matter occupied by an object is called mass.
• Its SI unit is kilogram (kg)
• It is measured by a beam balance.
Upthrust and floatation :
• When any object is immersed in fluid, it experiences upward force which is called
upthrust.
• Immersed part of body displaces molecules of fluid, these molecules has tendency to
regain their previous position. To regain their previous position, fluid molecules pushes
object in upward direction which causes upthrust.
• Magnitude of upthrust is same as weight of fluid displaced by immersed part of an
object.
• If density of an object is more as density of fluid, it sinks completely like stone sinks
in water.
• If density of an object is same as density of fluid, it floats just below to the surface
of fluid, like ice cube floats just below to the surface of water.
• If density of an object is less as density of fluid, it floats above to the surface of fluid,
as ship floats above to water surface.