Forces
Defn: Force is defined as the rate of change of
momentum or momentum change per unit time.
It is that which changes a body’s state of rest or
uniform motion.
Units: Newtons(N)
1kN = 1 000N
Force is measured by a force-meter, Newton-meter or
spring balance.
Examples of force:
1. Weight – force due to gravity
2. Friction - the force between two surfaces
which impedes motion and results in heating
3. Air resistance or air friction
4. Tension
5. Normal reaction
Effects of force:
A force may cause a change in:
i) Shape
Effects of force on motion:
• Body at rest: force causes it to move.
• Body moving in a straight line with constant speed:
force causes it to speed up, slow down or change
direction.
Drawing forces:
Forces, like any other vectors, are represented by an
arrow whose size represents its magnitude and
1N
2N
Above is a 1N force to the right or East and a 2N force
to the right or East.
NB: Being vectors, forces are stated with a direction.
ADDITION OF FORCES
• Forces are added such that direction is taken into
consideration.
• When forces are added, a resultant is obtained.
Problems:
In the following, calculate the resultant force.
1. `2.
3.
4.
5. 15N
70N 30N
Force(F), mass(m) and acceleration(a)
The resultant force(F) acting on a body of mass(m) causes
the body to have an acceleration (a) and the three are
related by the formula:
Force = mass x acceleration
F = ma
Where F is in Newtons when ‘m’ is in kg and ‘a’ in m/s2 or
N/kg.
• NB: If there is no resultant force on a body, there is no
acceleration. It either remains at rest or continues at
constant speed in a straight line.
Problems:
1. Calculate the force acting on a 2kg body with an
acceleration of 5m/s2.
2. Calculate the mass of a body that has an acceleration
of 2m/s2 when a force of 7N is acting.
3. Calculate the acceleration of a 3kg body with a 30N
force acting on it.
4.
4N 10kg 16N
Calc:
i) Resultant force
Weight(W)
Weight is the effect of a gravitational field on a mass.
It’s the force due to gravity.
Units: Newtons(N)
From Force = mass x acceleration
Then Force due to gravity(W) = mass(m) x acceleration due to gravity(g)
W = mg
where g = acceleration due to gravity or acceleration of free fall or
the gravitational field strength.
Units of g = m/s2 or N/kg
In a gravitational field of 10m/s2 or 10N/kg, a mass of 1kg experiences
a force of 10N.
• The weight of an object depends on the
gravitational field strength at the point which varies
from place to place. The weight of an object on the
Moon is about 1/6th that on Earth. Its mass,
however, is the same as that on Earth.
‘Mass is everywhere constant’
Difference between mass and weight
Mass Weight
Units: kg Newtons
Scalar quantity Vector quantity
Property of a body to resist Force due to gravity
change from state of rest or
uniform motion
Everywhere constant Varies from place to place
Measured by balances – Measured by forcemeter,
simple beam balance, triple Newtonmeter,
beam balance, spring balance
or electronic balance
Problems
1. What is the weight of a 40kg body? ( g = 9.8m/s2)
Soln:
2. What is the mass of a man whose weight is 800N? (
g=9.8N/kg)
Soln:
3. Calculate the weight of a 30g mass. Take the force
on 1kg to be 9.8N.
Soln:
Bodies falling in the presence of air resistance
• Air resistance opposes the motion of a body in air.
• It depends on:
- body’s speed
- Body’s size
- Viscosity and density of air
• A body released from rest from a height falls with a decreasing
acceleration through the air until it reaches a certain velocity and
then continues to fall with this constant velocity known as its
terminal velocity.
• When terminal velocity is reached:
air resistance = weight
There is no resultant force hence no acceleration.
• A ball bearing falling in oil or glycerine may reach terminal velocity.