Unit 3 Forces and energy Weight & Mass

Weight Mass
of an object is affected by is not affected by gravity.
the strength of gravity on a (fixed)
planet. (variable) ( ↓ as
object goes further away
from earth)
Unit : newtons, N. Unit : kiograms, kg. / gram

is the force needed to lift is the quantity of matter in

an object. ( it is pulled of an object.
the earth’s gravity on the
object)
is equal to the contact is the property of a planet
force on a level surface that makes the planet have
that is not moving gravity.
diagram of earth to show the direction of the force of
gravity. measured by a spring Measured by a beam
balance / compression balance / lever balance
balance
explain why people who go to the South Pole do not
fall off the Earth
• People at the South Pole are pulled towards the
centre of the Earth. They are pulled ‘down’ onto
the ground by gravity

How gravity affects an object?

• Makes it fall/pulls it down/keeps it on the
desk/’requires force (or energy)’ to lift it. A large rock rests on the ground. The weight of the rock is 8000N.
any object with mass has gravity; the Moon has a Write down the size of the contact force from the ground.
(relatively) large mass so will exert a force of gravity
An elephant is standing on four feet. The weight of the elephant is
40 000N Calculate the contact force from the ground on each of
Weight
the elephant’s feet.
• The force of gravity on an object is called its
weight. A car travels into soft mud. The contact force needed to support
• an arrow which represents an object’s weight each wheel is 24 000N
always point towards the centre of the earth.
[Link] first, the contact force from the mud on each wheel is 2000N.
Explain why the wheels will start to sink.
a The weight is greater than the contact force; the force
downward is greater than the force upward, so there will be
downward movement.

b The contact force from the mud increases with depth. Explain
what will happen to stop the wheels sinking.
b When the contact force becomes equal to the weight, forces
(down and up) will balance/cancel out, so no movement up or
down.
Relationship between weight and mass When you stand on scales you see your mass in kg. Explain
whether it is your mass or your weight that makes the scales
On Earth, the force of gravity is 10N on every 1kg of work.
mass. • Weight makes the scales work as it is the force of gravity
on your body pushing down on the scales. Mass causes
weight, so both are required to make the scales work.
equation: weight (N) = mass (kg) × 10 (N/kg)
Explain why a larger force is needed for a spacecraft to go
using letters: W = m × 10
from Earth to the Moon than to come back from the Moon to
the Earth. Assume the mass of the spacecraft is the same on
both journeys.
• Gravity on Earth is greater than gravity on the Moon, so
to go away from Earth needs more force to overcome
the greater weight. To come back to Earth needs less
force to overcome the smaller weight from the Moon
and the Earth’s gravity helps to pull the spacecraft back.
formula triangle

Is the weight of 1.0kg exactly 10N as in the equation W = m ×

10? If not, what is the weight of 1.0kg?
• It is not exactly 10 N; answer in range 9.5–9.9N.
The strength of gravity at the Earth’s surface varies slightly
between 9.7639 and 9.8337N/kg
Explain why you can use the value of instead of these more
accurate values.
• The differences are very small; both values rounded to the
nearest whole number are 10; 10 is easier to multiply by.

The weight of an object changes when the strength of

gravity changes.

If calculate your weight somewhere other than Earth, you

can use the same equation but you must change the
number 10 to the value of the strength of gravity
wherever you are calculating it.

The mass of an object does not change.

As the mass gets bigger, the weight gets bigger.

When the mass doubles, the weight doubles.
The strength of gravity is 10N/kg on Earth.
a Calculate the weight of an adult who has a mass of 75kg.
b Calculate the mass of a car that has a weight of 8500N

diagram of the planets

[Link] the location where your weight would be greatest.
[Link] the planet where you would have the same weight
as on Earth.

Calculate the weight of a 25kg mass on Mars.

Explain how your mass on Earth would compare with your

mass on Mercury.
• It would be the same – mass is the quantity of
matter in an object, so mass does not depend on
the strength of gravity.
3.2formation of the solar system idea that is testable.
[Link] two facts about the Solar System that seem to
contradict this hypothesis.
• Both Venus and Uranus spin on their axes in the
opposite direction to all the other planets.
[Link] why these facts seem to contradict the
hypothesis.
• If the cloud of dust and gas came together in a flat
circle, everything would have been going around in the
same direction. Venus/Uranus spinning in the opposite
direction seems to contradict this

Sun has the largest mass in the Solar System?

(largest mass)
Orbits of planets
• The orbits of the planets, including Earth, are almost circular.
• To keep any object moving in a circle, a force is needed to
cause it to turn.
• The force of gravity from the Sun acts on the planets always
acts towards the Sun.
• If this force does not act, the planet. would travel off in a
straight line into space.
• Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, has the strongest pull
from the Sun’s gravity , thus Mercury has the highest speed of
all the planets. Its speed around the Sun is 170000 km/h . The
speed of the Earth around the Sun is 100000 km/h.

Gravity pull particles of dust and gas together in space.

All the planets in the Solar System orbit the Sun in the same
plane. Explain what ‘the same plane’ means.
• Idea that the orbits are all on the same level or
plane/not tilted relative to each other.
3.3 movement in the space
Scientists use computers to model how the Solar System Air resistance
was formed.( limitation) • Air resistance is a type of force which s lows down the
• Because it takes millions of years to form a star and movement.
planets from a cloud of dust and gas. A model can speed • Air resistance is caused by a moving object having to push
this up. against the particles in the air
• it is not possible to do an experiment (to replicate the • Air resistance is opposite the direction of movement
formation of the Solar System) in a lab • The faster the object moves, the greater the air resistance.
The aeroplane can slow down faster with extra resistance.
Scientists use facts like these to support their hypothesis of The shape of wing can be changed to produce extra air
how the Solar System formed. An hypothesis is a theory or resistance.
 distance from the Sun↑,force of gravity (from the
Sun on the planet) ↓→↑ force on the planet →↓its
speed

Predictions
Observations
Conclusion
Uranus moving further away from the Sun contradicted the
original prediction about its orbit.
Scientists found Neptune using careful observations.

3.4Tides
• the depth of the ocean is the distance from the surface of
the water to the bottom of the ocean.
• Tides are the rise and fall of sea level.
• the difference in depth of water between high & low tides
Speed in space is the tidal range.
• In space there is no air. There are no particles in • The largest tidal range in the world is 16.3m in the Bay of
space. It is a vacuum. Fundy, Canada.
• There is no air resistance in vacuum. • the smallest tidal ranges in the world are less than in the
Caribbean and Mediterranean seas.
• The fastest object that people has ever made, Juno
• Tides also cause the land to change in height through the
probe reached a speed of 266000 km/h as it passed
day! This is called earth tide. The tidal range due to earth
Jupiter in space. This is impossible on Earth as there
tide is about 30 cm
is air resistance. • High tides are about 12 hours apart. Low tides are also
• Earth and the other planets moving in a vacuum , about 12 hours apart. The time between high and low tide
there is no air resistance to slow them down. is 6 hours.
• The only force acting on the planets is from gravity.
State the direction in which the force of gravity from the Sun
pulls on a planet
• Towards the (centre of the) Sun

Other objects, such as comets and asteroids, also orbit the Sun.
Suggest what keeps these other objects in orbit around the Sun.
• Gravity from the Sun

The Sun has the strongest gravity in the Solar System.

Suggest which object in the Solar System has the second
strongest gravity.
• Jupiter (as it has the second largest mass)

State the word used to describe a space that has no particles in it

• Vacuum

Voyager 1 is a space probe launched in 1977. Voyager 1 is now

outside the Solar System and is travelling at . Explain why
Voyager 1 could not travel at this speed on Earth
• There is no air resistance acting on it in space;
air resistance acts on Earth and would be too great to allow the
spacecraft to reach this speed.

Which of these forces acts on the Earth as it orbits the Sun?

• Gravity only
The orbits of the planets are not exact circles. The distance from
the Sun of each planet varies slightly as it goes around in its orbit.
This change in distance makes the speed of the planet change
slightly.
Suggest how the speed of a planet changes with distance from
the Sun during its orbit
• Speed of the planet ↑ as it gets closer to the Sun, as
the force of gravity (from the Sun) on the planet ↑
Which of these causes the force of gravity for tides on Earth?
• the Sun and Moon
What is the name given to the pull of gravity that causes tides?
• tidal force
State the time between:
a one high tide and the next high tide ………………………12hours
b one low tide and the next low tide …………………………12 hours
c a high tide and the next low tide. ………………………6 hours

Explain why some harbours cannot be used at low tide.

• The water will be at its lowest level at low tide; this may not
be deep enough for some boats.

Explain why the largest tidal ranges happen when there is either a
full moon or a new moon.
• When there is a full Moon or new Moon then the Sun, Moon
and Earth are in line; the pull of gravity or tidal force will come
from both the Sun and Moon; the tidal force will be stronger
or more force pulling on water
The average depth of water in a place near the coast of the Pacific
ocean is 5.0m
The largest tidal range in that place is 2.0m
Calculate the maximum depth of water at that place
• Tidal range of 2.0m will be 1.0m higher and
• 1.0m lower than the average maximum depth
• so 5.0 + 1.0 = 6.0m.

Why are the deepest parts of the oceans in line with the Moon?
• The tidal force from the Moon pulls the water towards
the Moon on the side of Earth facing the Moon.

How many high tides does your chosen point get in one full
rotation? …………………….2

How many low tides does your chosen point get in one full
rotation? ……………………2

Earth takes 24 hours to rotate once like this. Try to use the model
to explain why:
1. high tides are 12 hours apart
• As it takes the Earth 24 hours to rotate once on its
axis, two high tides in 24 hours are 12 hours apart.
2. low tides are 12 hours apart.
• Low tide is mid-way between 2 high tides, so 6 hours
after high tide. 6 hours after the next high tide means
12 hours apart

the Moon does not stay in one place like this. It orbits the Earth.
The Moon orbits the Earth in the same direction as the Earth
rotates on its [Link] Moon takes 27 days to orbit Earth once.
a. Explain whether high tides will happen at the exact
same time each day.
• They will occur slightly later each day; the Moon orbits
Earth in the same direction as Earth rotates on its axis.

b Try to work out how much earlier or later high tides will be
each day.
• The Moon takes 29 days between being over the same
position on Earth, which takes 24 hours (one day) to
rotate once on its axis. The Moon will make 1/29 of its
orbit in 24 hours, which is 1/29 of a circle: 1/29 of
Earth’s rotation is about 50 minutes, so tides will get 50
minutes later each day.
 Why tidal range also depends on the Sun Think like a scientist: Discovering the
The phase of the moon as it appears from Earth in this position =
causes of tides a scientist
New moon
Discovering the causes of tides
In 330 BCE, a sailor from Greece noticed that the depth of
water in some parts of the oceans changed regularly.
He noticed that the depth increased to a maximum twice
every day.
The ocean facing the Moon is deeper .the highest tide wil be at He thought that this was because of the Moon.
the new moon and the full moon • The sailor noticed that the depth of water changed. This was
The tidal force from the Sun and Moon together is stronger than an observation
from the Moon alone, so the pull on the water will be greater • The sailor thought that the change was caused by the Moon.
This was a prediction
• The sailor did not know about gravity, so could not give an
expalantion for the tides.

Around the year 1600, a scientist from Germany suggested

that there was a force of attraction between the Moon and
water. He thought this force caused the tides.
People in 1600 did not know about gravity.
This German scientist said that the force of attraction was
magnetic.
• The phase of the moon as it appears from Earth in this position = We now know that the attractive force between the Moon
full moon and the water in the oceans is not magnetic.
Describe what could be done to show that there is no magnetic
force between the Moon and water in oceans.
A simple description of an experiment to demonstrate that water
is not magnetic, e.g. pour (sea) water on the desk and try to
attract it with a magnet (not just a statement that water is not
magnetic).
Spring tides: or
• Occur when the Earth , the sun and the moon are in line . A simple description of an experiment to demonstrate that there
• Occur during the full moon & the new moon is no magnetic effect from the Moon detectable on Earth, e.g.
• Are strong tides because the Moon & the Sun’s gravitational demonstrating that a magnetic compass points in the same
force combine to create a spring tide direction regardless of the position of the Moon

People did not believe that the Moon or the Sun could have
an effect on the oceans because gravity had not been
described. The problem of what causes tides was finally
solved by Newton in the year 1687. Newton had already
described the effects of gravity. He then used his ideas
about gravity to calculate the tidal forces, without the need
for experiments. These calculations were accurate enough
to show people that gravity from the Moon and the Sun
caused the tides. People then accepted that tidal forces
were caused by gravity from the Moon and the Sun.
Which two statements explain why people accepted Newton’s
ideas about gravity?
• Newton provided evidence to support an hypothesis.
Neap tides; • Newton made predictions that were shown to be accurate.
• Occur when moon & sun are perpendicular to each other
• Occur during quarter moons
• Weak tide- because the gravitational forces of the moon and
the sun are perpendicular to one another

The length of time taken by the Moon to orbit Earth is called a

lunar month. How many of these highest tides will occur each
lunar month?...................................TWO
3.5 Energy

Energy energy energy stored/

transfer
Kinetic Stored d/t movement of store
an object
Chemical Stored In food , batteries, store
chemical fuel eg wood,oil&
coal
thermal Stored In hot object & Store or transfer
transfer to colder objects
Elastic Stored when things are store
potential stretched or squeezed to
change their shape
Gravitational Stored when an object is store
potential lifted away from a source
of gravity
Electrical The flow of current in a transfer
circuit transfer electrical
enegry
Sound Transferred from vibrating transfer
object
Storing energy

Energy easy to store Energy difficult to store

chemical energy Kinetic energy
• uncooked rice /food Bouncing tennis ball will
• battery eventually stop moving.
Gravitational potential
energy
• tank containing water.

energy stores can last for energy stores only last for a
a very long time short time
Chemical energy Thermal energy (heat) . Hot
- Coal and crude oil , objects will eventually cool
gasoline, down (they will lose their store
elastic energy of thermal energy).
gravitational potential Kinetic energy
Light , sound energy
The power station is using fuel (chemical energy). The
fuel is burned, which changes chemical energy to
thermal energy. This heats up the water into
[Link] steam then turns the [Link] thermal
energy is then changed to kinetic energy . Once the
turbines are turning, the generator produces
• Chemical energy is stored in the battery. electricity. The kinetic energy has changed into
• Electrical energy is transferred in the wires. electrical energy.
falling rock- have Gravitational potential and kinetic Chemical energy → thermal→ kinetic → electrical
book that has been lifted up onto a shelf – gravitational energy

The human population in the world is growing. Many countries are

developing rapidly. Explain how this is affecting the amount of
energy being used in the world.
• ↑ in demand for energy: more people means more food needed,
so more chemical energy; people want electrical goods, so
more electrical energy needs to be generated; people want cars
and transport, so more fuel is needed which means more
chemical energy. Other answers include reference to waste
disposal/recycling/building if linked to named energy stores.
3.6 changes of the energy
The ball has maximum potential energy on top of the
hill. It does not move so it does not have kinetic
energy. It rolls down the hill, the potential energy is
slowly changed into kinetic energy. Some changes into
heat energy as there is friction between the slope and
the ball. At the bottom of the hill, the ball does not
have potential energy. It has only kinetic energy.

Walking up the staircase

• Walking up stairs changes chemical energy in food into

kinetic energy for movement. The kinetic energy for
movement is changed to gravitational potential energy to
go upwards.
 • Dissipated energy is energy that spreads out where there
is no use for it( NOT USEFUL)

• Lamp A only changes about 15% of electrical energy into

light. 85% dissipated as thermal energy. Lamp B changes
about 50% of electrical energy into light, 50% dissipated as
• Burning wood for cooking changes chemical energy to thermal energy
thermal and light energy. Thermal energy is transferred to • Energy changes are not always helpful. Typhoons,
the food. hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis are some examples of
how energy changes can be very dangerous
• Cycling on a level road changes chemical energy in food
into kinetic energy for movement. Some of this energy is
used to overcome friction and air resistance • Thermal, light and sound can be dissipated
When something happens, energy is changed or
transferred • Thermal energy decreases with time. (It is important
that learners do not think temperature is the same
The useful energy change as thermal energy, but this point should not be
• candle =chemical to light explained at this stage – it is sufficient to state that
• electric lamp = electric to light (uselful), thermal wasted they are different.)
• petrol ( gasoline) in a car engine /bus =Chemical to
kinetic useful thermal and sound (both wasted)
• radio= Electrical to sound/chemical to electrical to sound
(if battery powered radio)
• electricity in a motor=Electrical to kinetic (useful),
thermal and sound (both wasted)

Draw diagrams to show the energy changes in:

• motorcycle that uses gasoline (petrol) for movement
=Chemical→ kinetic
• wood-burning fire used for cooking =Chemical →thermal
• a bird using movement to fly higher =Kinetic -
→gravitational potential
• a ball rolling down a hill= Gravitational potential→ kinetic

Useful and wasted energy

• Not all energy transferred or changed is useful, some are
wasted.
• The motorcycle engine has changed the chemical energy
from fuel into useful kinetic energy to move the rider and
motorcycle. However some energy has wasted as thermal
energy and sound energy.
• In fact only 25% is useful, while the other 75% wasted. The
wasted energy dissipated and cannot be recovered.