Chapter 8: Forces in balance
Knowledge organiser
Scalars and vectors Newton’s Third Law Scale drawings (HT only) Resolving forces
Scalar quantities only have a Newton’s Third Law states Scale drawings can be used to force 2 = 25 N A single force can always be resolved
(e.g., distance and speed). find the resultant of two forces (split) into two forces at
. which are acting right angles to each other:
25 N
5
Vector quantities have a magnitude
This means that forces always occur in pairs. along the same line.
e1=
and a (e.g., velocity and 4
Each pair of forces:
forc
displacement). The forces are drawn end to end. 3
• act on objects The resultant can then be drawn N force
2
= 45 vertical
• are the size as each other between the two ends, forming a rce component
cm
1
n t fo
lta
Forces • act in opposite along the same line . 0 res
u
• are of the same type, for example, two gravitational forces or two scale 1 cm = 10 N
A force can be a or You can use the horizontal component
electrostatic forces.
on an object caused by an of forces where the two forces are
interaction with another object. Forces are drawn to scale as sides of a parallelogram. The two component forces added
quantities. Force pairs Tugboat X together give the same effect as the
single force.
forces occur when two Tension T1 T1
Ship
objects are each other. Direction Resultant
For example, friction, air‑resistance, of travel
force exerted by force exerted by
tension, and normal contact force. the wall on the girl the girl on the wall Tension T2 T2
force exerted by
the Earth on the apple
forces act at Tugboat Y
a distance (without the two objects
).
For example, gravitational force, force exerted by
electrostatic force, and magnetic force. the apple on the Earth
Centre of mass
Centres of mass For a flat shaped
Resultant forces
object, find the centre of mass by
If two or more forces act on an object along the same line, their effect is the same as if they were replaced with The point through which the suspending the object from different
a resultant force. The resultant force is a b of an object can be points. The centre of mass always lies
• the of the magnitudes of the forces if they act in the same For a symmetrical considered to act. beneath the point of .
the
• between the magnitudes of the forces if they act in directions. object, the centre of mass is where
If the resultant force on an object is zero, the forces are said to be . the axes of symmetry meet.
second point stand
Newton’s First law Drawing forces Moments Levers and gears
Newton’s First Law states that the velocity, diagrams use arrows to show all of
A force or system of forces Levers and gears can be used to
speed, and/or direction of an object will only the forces acting on a single object. For example:
can cause an object to increase the of a first
change if a resultant force is acting on it. This point
2.0 N object 3.0 N . force, making it easier to lift or rotate
means that: centre
an object. card
if the resultant force on a stationary object
• friction weight push force The effect of a of mass
is , the object will remain force is called the moment of the If a gear drives a
plumbline (a string with a
stationary 1.0 N force, and its can gear, the moment small weight on the end)
be calculated using the equation: of the applied force is increased but
if the resultant force on a moving object is
• A dot or circle represents the object, with the forces drawn as arrows: the large gear moves slower (and vice
, it will continue moving at
the same , in a straight line.
the arrow
• represents the magnitude of the force L moment of a force (Nm) = versa).
the arrow
• shows the direction of the force. (N) × (m)
M=Fd
Key terms A lever allows a large moment of force
Make sure you can write a definition for these key terms. If an object is balanced, the to be by allowing
sum of the clockwise moments force to be applied further from the
balanced centre of mass contact force free body diagram force pair force gear the sum of the pivot.
lever moment Newton’s First Law non-contact force resultant scalar vector anticlockwise moments.
Chapter 8: Forces in balance
Retrieval questions
Answer the following questions using the information from the
knowledge organiser.
P8 questions Answers
1 What is a scalar quantity?
2 What is a vector quantity?
3 What is a force?
4 Is force a vector or scalar quantity?
5 What is a contact force?
6 What is a non-contact force?
What is the same about the interaction pair of
7
forces when two objects interact with each other?
What is different about the interaction pair of forces
8
when two objects interact with each other?
What is the size of the resultant force on an object
9
if the forces on it are balanced?
10 What is the centre of mass?
11 What is the turning effect of a force called?
What can you say about clockwise and anticlockwise
12
moments on a balanced object?
How does a lever reduce the amount of force
13
needed to create a particular sized moment?
What happens to the moment of a force when a small
14
gear drives a large gear?
15 What does Newton’s First Law say?
16 What is the resultant force on a stationary object?
What is the resultant force on an object moving at a
17
steady speed in a straight line?
18 What does Newton’s Third Law say?