Weight, Friction and Gravity
1. Force
• A force is a push or a pull.
• Force can:
o start motion
o stop motion
o change speed
o change direction
o change shape
Types of Forces
2. Pushes and Pulls
• You can move an object by pushing or pulling it.
• Example:
o Pushing a trolley
o Pulling a door
• A car moves forward because tyres push backward on the road and the road pushes the car
forward.
3. Weight
• Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object.
• It always acts vertically downward.
• Weight depends on gravity.
• Example:
o An apple falling from a tree
• Weight is less on the Moon because gravity is weaker there.
4. Gravity
• Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the Earth.
• It keeps us on the ground.
• It makes objects fall down.
• Gravity acts on all objects.
5. Friction
• Friction is a force that opposes motion.
• It occurs when two surfaces touch and move against each other.
• Friction:
o slows objects down
o produces heat
• Example:
o Sliding a box on the floor
o Brakes stopping a bicycle
• Friction is useful:
o walking
o stopping vehicles
6. Drag
• Drag is friction caused by air or water.
• It acts opposite to motion.
• Examples:
o Air resistance on a moving car
o Water resistance on a swimmer
• Streamlined shapes reduce drag (cars, airplanes).
7. Upthrust
• Upthrust is an upward force given by a fluid (liquid or gas).
• It helps objects float.
• If upthrust > weight → object floats
• Example:
o Boats floating on water
o Ball rising in water
8. Contact Force (Normal Reaction)
• A contact force acts when objects touch each other.
• The force from the surface is called normal contact force.
• It acts perpendicular (90°) to the surface.
• Example:
o Standing on the floor
o Book resting on a table
9. Tension
• Tension is the force in a rope, string, or spring when stretched.
• It pulls equally from both ends.
• Example:
o Hanging a weight using a rope
o Tug of war
Important Points
• Weight acts downwards
• Friction and drag oppose motion
• Normal reaction acts at right angles
• Gravity pulls objects towards Earth
• Upthrust helps objects float
Large and Small (Weight & Gravity)
1. Falling Objects (Big or Small)
• If you drop a heavy stone and a light stone together,
→ they fall at the same speed (if air resistance is ignored).
• Gravity pulls all objects equally, no matter their size.
2. Acceleration due to Gravity (g)
• Near the Earth, falling objects have an acceleration called g.
• Value of g on Earth:
o g ≈ 9.8 m/s² (often taken as 10 m/s² for calculations)
• This acceleration causes objects to fall faster and faster.
3. Weight Formula
• Weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity
• Formula:
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔
Where:
• W = weight (in newtons, N)
• m = mass (in kilograms, kg)
• g = acceleration due to gravity (m/s²)
This is the key equation for exams.
4. On the Moon
• Gravity on the Moon is weaker than on Earth.
• Moon’s gravity ≈ 1/6th of Earth’s gravity
• Value of g on Moon:
o g ≈ 1.6 m/s²
Result:
• Mass remains the same
• Weight becomes smaller
Example:
• If weight on Earth = 60 N
• Weight on Moon ≈ 10 N
5. Are Objects Weightless on the Moon?
• No
• Objects still have weight, but it is much less.
• Because Moon still has gravity (not zero).
6. Mass and Weight (Difference)
Mass Weight
Amount of matter Force due to gravity
Symbol: m Symbol: W
Unit: kg Unit: newton (N)
Same everywhere Changes with gravity
Does not depend on gravity Depends on gravity
7. Important Points to Remember
• Mass is constant
• Weight changes from Earth to Moon
• Weight is a force
• Mass is not a force
• Same force is needed to move an object on Earth and Moon if mass is same
8. Exam Tip
• Always write:
o Formula
o Unit
o Reason (weight depends on gravity)
However, your moon-buggy will be easier to lift on the Moon, because its weight will be less. From W
= mg, since g is less on the Moon, it has a smaller weight than when on the Earth
Mass and Inertia
1. Observations
• A big tree trunk needs a very large force to move.
• If horses stop pulling a cart, the cart stops.
• If you stop pedalling a bicycle, it slowly stops.
• A car keeps moving only if the engine provides force.
• A football moves because you kick it.
Earlier people thought:
“A moving object always needs a force to keep moving.”
2. Why Objects Stop Moving?
• Objects stop because of friction and air resistance.
• Friction:
o acts opposite to motion
o slows objects down
• If friction did not exist:
o a bicycle would keep moving forever once started
3. Galileo’s Idea
• Galileo said:
o Motion does not need force to continue.
o Force is needed to change motion, not to maintain it.
• Natural motion is uniform motion (constant speed in straight line).
4. Inertia
Definition:
• Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion.
That means:
• An object at rest wants to stay at rest
• An object in motion wants to keep moving
5. Examples of Inertia
• A heavy ball is harder to throw than a light ball.
• A loaded truck is harder to stop than an empty one.
• A stationary heavy object is hard to start moving.
• A fast-moving car is hard to stop suddenly.
More mass → more inertia
6. Relation Between Mass and Inertia
• Mass is a measure of inertia
• Greater the mass:
o greater the inertia
o harder to change motion
7. Uniform Motion
• Uniform motion means:
o constant speed
o straight line
o no acceleration
• No force is needed to keep uniform motion (if no friction).
8. Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)
Statement:
An object will remain at rest or continue to move with uniform velocity in a straight line unless acted
upon by an external force.
9. Key Points for Exams
• Inertia depends on mass
• Force is needed to:
o start motion
o stop motion
o change direction
o change speed
• Friction hides the true nature of motion in daily life
10. **
• Mass = measure of inertia
• Inertia = resistance to change in motion
• Newton’s First Law explains inertia
Newton’s First Law of Motion
• An object:
o stays at rest, OR
o moves with constant speed in a straight line
• until an external force acts on it
Force is needed only to change motion, not to keep it moving.
1. Top Speed
• Vehicles cannot keep increasing speed forever.
• Why?
o Because of air resistance and friction
• Engine provides driving force
• Air resistance + friction provide opposing force
At top speed:
• Driving force = opposing forces
• Resultant force = 0
• Acceleration = 0
• Speed becomes constant
2. Balanced Forces
• Forces are balanced when:
o Equal in size
o Opposite in direction
• Resultant force = 0
Effect:
• Object stays at rest OR
• Object moves with constant velocity
Example:
• Book resting on table
• Car moving at constant speed
3. Unbalanced Forces
• Forces are unbalanced when:
o Resultant force ≠ 0
Effect:
• Object:
o starts moving
o speeds up
o slows down
o changes direction
Example:
• Car accelerating
• Braking a bicycle
4. Car Example
• Engine force → forward
• Friction + air resistance → backward
Cases:
1. Forward force > resistance → car speeds up
2. Forward force = resistance → constant speed
3. Forward force < resistance → car slows down
5. Free Fall
• Free fall means motion under gravity only.
• Air resistance is ignored.
In free fall:
• Only force acting = weight
• Acceleration = g (9.8 m/s²)
6. Terminal Velocity
• As an object falls:
o speed increases
o air resistance increases
• Eventually:
o air resistance = weight
Result:
• Net force = 0
• Acceleration = 0
• Object falls at constant maximum speed
• This speed is called terminal velocity
Example:
• Skydiver falling
• Raindrops
7. Key Exam Points
• Balanced forces → no acceleration
• Unbalanced forces → change in motion
• Terminal velocity occurs due to air resistance
• Top speed occurs when forces balance
8. **
• Balanced force → constant motion
• Unbalanced force → acceleration
• Free fall → gravity only
• Terminal velocity → max constant speed
Questions
a) Use the idea of inertia to explain why some large cars have power-assisted brakes
b) A car crashes head-on into a brick wall. Use the idea of inertia to explain why the driver is more
likely to come out through the windscreen if he or she is not wearing a seat belt
a) Large cars have more mass, so they have greater inertia.
Because of this high inertia, a large car resists slowing down and needs a very large force to stop.
Power-assisted brakes provide extra braking force so that the driver can stop the car easily and
quickly without applying too much effort.
Hence, large cars need power-assisted brakes due to their high inertia.
b) When a car crashes into a wall, the car stops suddenly.
However, due to inertia, the driver’s body continues moving forward at the same speed.
If the driver is not wearing a seat belt, there is no force to stop the body, so the driver may be thrown
forward through the windscreen.
A seat belt provides the necessary force to stop the driver gradually, reducing injury.
Moving through Fluids
1. What is a Fluid?
• A fluid is something that can flow.
• Examples:
o Liquids (water)
o Gases (air)
2. Resistive Force (Drag)
• When an object moves through a fluid, it experiences a resistive force.
• This resistive force is called drag.
• Drag always acts opposite to the direction of motion.
Examples:
• Walking in water is harder than walking in air
• Swimming through water needs more effort
• Air resistance on a moving car or cyclist
3. Drag in Water vs Air
• Water is denser than air → more drag
• Air is less dense → less drag
That is why:
• It is harder to move in water
• Objects fall more slowly in water than in air
4. Falling Objects in Fluids
• When an object falls in a fluid:
o It speeds up at first
o Then drag increases
o Finally, it reaches constant speed
This constant maximum speed is called terminal velocity.
5. Terminal Velocity
• Occurs when:
o Drag force = weight
• Net force = 0
• Acceleration = 0
• Object falls with constant speed
Example:
• Skydiver
• Raindrops
6. Moving through Air
• We usually do not feel air drag at low speeds.
• At high speeds, air resistance becomes important.
Examples:
• Fast cars
• Cyclists
• Aeroplanes
7. Reducing Air Resistance (Drag)
• Objects are designed to be streamlined.
• Streamlined shapes reduce drag.
Examples:
• Racing cyclists wear:
o tight-fitting clothes
o streamlined helmets
• Aeroplanes and racing cars have smooth shapes
8. Using Drag
• Sometimes drag is useful.
Examples:
• Parachute:
o increases air resistance
o slows down the runner or skydiver
• Resistance training:
o athletes use parachutes to build strength
9. Key Points
• Drag is a resistive force in fluids
• Drag increases with speed
• Water causes more drag than air
• Streamlining reduces drag
• Terminal velocity occurs due to drag
10. **
• Fluid → liquid or gas
• Drag → force opposing motion in fluid
• Streamlining → reduces drag
• Parachute → increases drag
Ques) In a race, downhill skiers want to travel as quickly as possible. They are always looking for ways
to increase their top speed. Explain how they might do this. Think about:
a) their skis
b) their clothing
c ) their muscles
d) the slope
Downhill skiers can increase their top speed by reducing resistive forces and increasing the driving
effect of gravity.
a) Their skis
• Use smooth, well-waxed skis.
• This reduces friction between the skis and the snow.
• Less friction → higher speed.
b) Their clothing
• Wear tight-fitting, smooth, streamlined clothing.
• This reduces air resistance (drag).
• Less drag → higher top speed.
c) Their muscles
• Strong muscles help skiers:
o push off strongly at the start
o maintain balance and control
• This helps them reach top speed more quickly and stay stable.
d) The slope
• A steeper slope gives a larger component of gravitational force down the slope.
• Greater driving force → more acceleration → higher top speed.
** Top speed increases when friction and air resistance are reduced and the downhill force due to
gravity is increased.