Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4th Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 3

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

Chapter 3 Forces
Quick Check (page 52)
The direction towards the right has been assigned as positive. Since the 3 N force points to
the left,
it is taken to be negative.
Test Yourself 3.1 & 3.2 (page 54)
1. Magnetic force, gravitational force, electric force
2. With a suitable scale, such as 1 cm : 500 N, we can use the parallelogram method or the
tip-to-tail method to find the resultant force.
Parallelogram method
Tip-to-tail method
3. With a suitable scale, such as 1 cm : 2 N, we can use the parallelogram method or the tip-
to-tail
method to find the value of W.
Parallelogram method
Tip-to-tail method
Since the object is in equilibrium, the weight W is equal to 17.3 N but acts in the direction
opposite to that of the resultant of the two tensions (i.e. downwards).
Quick Check (page 57)
No. The resultant force must be equivalent to the push on the book and the friction combined
in terms
of magnitude and direction.
Quick Check (page 59)
The weight of the egg acts downwards on the egg cup. The egg cup exerts an equal but opposite
reaction force on the egg. These two forces form an action–reaction pair.
20°
3000 N 20° 3000 N
5600 N
20° lorry
20°
3000 N
3000 N 20°
5600 N
lorry
60°
17.3 N
10 N 10 N
60°
60°
17.3 N
10 N
10 N
60°
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4th Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 3
© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited
3.2
Test Yourself 3.3 (page 60)
(a) When an object is moving at constant speed in a straight line, the resultant 1. force is
zero.
(b) If the object is accelerating, then there must be a resultant force in the same direction
as
the acceleration. This resultant force is given by F = ma.
2. Initially, the forces that act on the object are balanced. By Newton’s First Law of
Motion, the
object moves at a constant speed because it does not experience a resultant force.
Subsequently, the forces that act on the object become unbalanced, for example, because a
larger pushing force is applied to the object. By Newton’s Second Law of Motion, the object
accelerates because it experiences a resultant force.
3. Let the mass of the unloaded van be M, and let the forward thrust be F for both vans.
We use Newton’s Second Law of Motion, F = ma.
For the unloaded van, F = M × 5 m s–2
For the loaded van, F = (2M) × a where a = acceleration of the loaded van
Since F is the same for both vans,
M × 5 m s–2 = (2M) × a
a = 5 m s–2
2 = 2.5 m s–2
Hence, the acceleration of the loaded van is 2.5 m s –2.
4. We use Newton’s Second Law of Motion, F = ma.
Given: mass m = 86.5 kg
Acceleration a = v – u
Δt
= 700 m s–1 – 300 m s–1
6 s
= 66.7 m s–2
Average resultant force F exerted on missile = 86.5 kg × 66.7 m s –2
= 5770 N
Test Yourself 3.4 (page 63)
1. No. To lean against a wall without slipping, there must be friction between the soles of
our feet
and the ground, and between our body and the wall.
2. Use wheels and ball bearings, or apply lubricants.
Quick Check (page 64)
Forces on apple being pushed by squirrel
Push force P by squirrel
Weight W of apple
Friction f between apple and ground
Normal reaction force F by ground
F
W
P
f
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4th Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 3
© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited
3.3
Test Yourself 3.5 (page 66)
1. The trolley is moving at a uniform velocity, which means the forces acting on the trolley
are
balanced. Thus, a force of 50 N that keeps the trolley in motion must be balanced by a
frictional
force of 50 N.
2. The air resistance experienced by a falling object increases with its speed in air.
However, the
weight of the stone is larger than that of the feather. The air resistance experienced by the
stone
does not balance its weight as quickly as in the case of the feather. Thus, the stone
accelerates
to a higher speed before it attains terminal velocity. This is why the stone hits the ground
before
the feather, even though the acceleration of free fall is the same for both objects.
Get It Right (page 67)
(a) False
When an object does not move, this means that the forces acting on the object are balanced.
(b) True
(c) False
To find the combined effect of two forces on an object, we find the resultant force
equivalent to
the individual forces in terms of magnitude and direction.
(d) False
The product of mass and acceleration is the resultant of the forces acting on a body.
(e) False
When there are forces acting on an object, the object will accelerate only if the forces are
unbalanced. If the forces are balanced, the resultant force is zero, and there is no
acceleration.
(f) False
Newton’s Third Law states that if body A exerts a force FAB on body B, then body B will exert
an
equal and opposite force FBA on body A.
(g) True
(h) True
Let’s Review (page 68)
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions
1. B
We take the rightward direction as positive and the leftward direction as negative.
Resultant force = 4 N + 7 N + (–3 N) + (–2 N)
= 6 N to the right
2. A
Because of the absence of friction between A and B, the 10 N force acts on B alone. B will be
pulled away by the 10 N force, but A will drop vertically to the ground. Since no resultant
horizontal force acts on A, A will experience no horizontal acceleration.
3. C
Since the parachutist falls with terminal velocity, the resultant force acting on him is
zero, as his
weight is balanced by the upward air resistance acting on him. The air resistance must be
equal
to his weight, which is given as 700 N.
Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4th Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 3
© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited
3.4
Section B: Structured Questions
(i) 1. (a) Tow truck (ii) Car
(i) The car experiences a frictional force fc. By Newton’s Second Law of Motion,
resultant force = 1000 N + (–fc)
= 1000 kg × 0.50 m s–2
∴ fc = 500 N
(ii) The tow truck experiences a forward tractive force F and a frictional force ft of 750 N.
By Newton’s Second Law of Motion,
resultant force = F + (–1000 N) + (– ft)
= 1500 kg × 0.50 m s–2
∴ F = 2500 N
(b)
(iii) We now consider the tow truck and the car as one system. This system experiences
a resultant force FR.
FR = (1000 kg + 1500 kg) × 0.5 m s–2
= 1250 N
Alternatively,
FR = F + (–ft) + (–fc)
= 2500 N + (–750 N) + (–500 N)
= 1250 N
2. Use an appropriate scale, such as 1 cm : 0.5 km.
The resultant displacement of the car is 5 km.
tow
truck
F
ft
1000 N
1000 N
car
fc
N
W
S
E
4 km
3 km
5 km
53°