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FORCE AND PRESSURE

I
n Class VII, you have learnt how by a batsman? (Fig. 11.1). In all these
objects move. Do you recall how we situations the ball is either made to
can decide whether an object is move faster or slower or its direction
moving faster than the other? What does of motion is changed.
the distance moved by an object in unit We often say that a force has been
time indicate? You also know that a applied on a ball when it is kicked,
moving object like a ball rolling on the pushed, thrown or flicked. What is a
ground slows down. Sometimes it may force? What can it do to bodies on which
change its direction of motion. It is also it is applied? We shall seek answers to
possible that the ball may slow down such questions in this chapter.
and also change its direction. Have you
ever wondered what makes an object 11.1 Force – A Push or a Pull
slow down or go faster, or change its
direction of motion? Actions like picking, opening,
Let us recall some of our everyday shutting, kicking, hitting, lifting,
experiences. What do you do to make flicking, pushing, pulling are often
a football move? What do you do to used to describe certain tasks. Each
make a moving ball move faster? How of these actions usually results in
does a goalkeeper stop a ball? A some kind of change in the state of
hockey player changes the direction motion of an object. Can these terms
of the moving ball with a flick of the be replaced with one or more terms?
stick. How do fielders stop a ball hit Let us find out.

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 11.1 : (a) A goal keeper saving a goal, (b) A hockey player flicking a ball, and
( c ) A fielder stopping a ball

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Activity 11.1
Table 11.1 gives some examples of familiar situations involving motion of objects.
You can add more such situations or replace those given here. Try to identify
action involved in each case as a push and/or a pull and record your observations.
One example has been given to help you.

Table 11.1 : Identifying Actions as Push or Pull

S. Description of Action : (pushing/ pulling/picking/ Action can be

No the situation hitting/lifting/ lowering/flying/ grouped as a
kicking/ throwing/shutting/
flicking ) Push Pull

1. Moving a book Pushing Pulling Lifting — Yes Yes

placed on a table

2. Opening or
shutting a door

3. Drawing a bucket
of water from a
well

4. A football player
taking a penalty
kick

5. A cricket ball hit

by a batsman

6. Moving a loaded
cart

7. Opening a
drawer
Do you notice that each of the actions
can be grouped as a pull or a push or
both? Can we infer from this, that to move
an object, it has to be pushed or pulled? I learnt in Class VI that a
In science, a push or a pull on an magnet attracts a piece of
object is called a force. Thus, we can iron towards it. Is attraction
say that the motion imparted to objects also a pull? What about
was due to the action of a force. When repulsion between similar
poles of two magnets? Is it a
does a force come into play? Let us
pull or a push?
find out.
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11.2 Forces are due to an Fig. 11.3 shows three situations that
Interaction may be familiar to you. Can you decide
who is pulling and who is pushing in
Suppose a man is standing behind a
stationary car [Fig.11.2(a)]. Will the car these cases? In Fig. 11.3 (a), both the
move due to his presence? Suppose the girls appear to push each other while
man now begins to push the car
[Fig.11.2(b)], that is, he applies a force on
it. The car may begin to move in the

Fig 11.3 (b) : Who is pulling whom ?

Fig.11.2(a) : A man standing behind a stationary car the pair of girls in Fig. 11.3 (b) are trying
to pull each other. Similarly, the cow
and the man in Fig. 11. 3(c) appear to

Fig.11.2 (b) : A car being pushed by a man

direction of the applied force. Note that the Fig 11.3 (c) : Who is pulling whom?
man has to push the car to make it move.
pull each other. The girls in the two
situations shown here are applying force
on each other. Is it also true for the man
and the cow?
From these examples, we can infer
that at least two objects must interact
for a force to come into play. Thus, an
interaction of one object with another
object results in a force between the
Fig11.3 (a) : Who is pushing whom? two objects.
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11.3 Exploring Forces

Let us try to learn more about forces.

Activity 11.2
Choose a heavy object like a table
or a box, which you can move only
by pushing hard. Try to push it all
Fig. 11.5 : The rope may not move if the two
by yourself. Can you move it? Now teams pull at it with equal force
ask one of your friends to help you
in pushing it in the same direction rope in their direction. Sometimes the rope
[Fig.11.4(a)]. Is it easier to move it simply does not move. Is it not similar to
the situation shown in Fig. 11.3 (b)? The
now? Can you explain why?
team that pulls harder, that is, applies a
Now push the same object, but
larger force, finally wins the game.
ask your friend to push it from the
What do these examples suggest
opposite side [Fig.11.4 (b)]. Does the about the nature of force?
object move? If it does, note the Forces applied on an object in the
direction in which it moves. Can same direction add to one another. Now
you guess which one of you is recall what happened when you and
applying a larger force? your friend pushed the heavy box in the
(a) same direction in Activity 11.2.
If the two forces act in the opposite
directions on an object, the net force acting
on it is the difference between the two
forces. What did you observe in Activity
11.2 when both of you were pushing the
heavy box from opposite directions?
Recall that in the tug-of-war when
two teams pull equally hard, the rope
(b) does not move in any direction.
So, we learn that a force could be larger
or smaller than the other or equal to each
other. The strength of a force is usually
expressed by its magnitude. We have also
to specify the direction in which a force acts.
Fig. 11.4 : Two friends pushing a heavy load
Also, if the direction or the magnitude of the
(a) in the same direction, (b) in
opposite direction applied force changes, its effect also changes.

Have you ever seen a game of tug-of Does it mean that the net
war? In this game two teams pull at a force on an object is zero if the
rope in opposite directions (Fig. 11.5). two forces acting on it in
Members of both the teams try to pull the opposite directions are equal?

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In general, more than one force may You might recall similar situations.
be acting on an object. However, the For example, while taking a penalty kick
effect on the object is due to the net in football, the player applies a force on
force acting on it. the ball. Before being hit, the ball was at
rest and so its speed was zero. The
applied force makes the ball move
11.4 A Force can Change the
towards the goal. Suppose, the
State of Motion goalkeeper dives or jumps up to save the
Let us now find out what happens when goal. By his action the goalkeeper tries
a force acts on an object. to apply a force on the moving ball. The
force applied by him can stop or deflect
Activity 11.3 the ball, saving a goal being scored. If
the goalkeeper succeeds in stopping the
Take a rubber ball and place it on a
ball, its speed decreases to zero.
level surface such as a table top or
These observations suggest that a
a concrete floor. Now, gently push
force applied on an object may change
the ball along the level surface
its speed. If the force applied on the object
(Fig. 11.6). Does the ball begin to
is in the direction of its motion, the speed
move? Push the ball again while it
of the object increases. If the force is
is still moving. Is there any change
applied in the direction opposite to the
in its speed? Does it increase or
direction of motion, then it results in a
decrease?
decrease in the speed of the object.
Next, place your palm in front
of the moving ball. Remove your
I have seen
palm as soon as the moving ball
children competing with one
touches it. Does your palm apply a another in moving a rubber tyre
force on the ball? What happens to or a ring by pushing it
the speed of the ball now? Does it (Fig. 11.7). I now understand
increase or decrease? What would why the speed of the tyre
increases whenever it is
happen if you let your palm hold
pushed.
the moving ball?

Fig. 11.6 : A ball at rest begins to move Fig. 11.7 : To move a tyre faster it has to be
when a force is applied on it pushed repeatedly

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Paheli is curious to know whether Let us consider some more

application of a force can only change the examples. In a game of volleyball,
speed of an object. Let us find out. players often push the moving ball to
their team mates to make a winning
Activity 11.4 move. Sometimes the ball is returned
to the other side of the court by
Take a ball and place it on a level
pushing or smashing it. In cricket, a
surface as you did in Activity 11.3.
batsman plays his or her shot by
Make the ball move by giving it a
applying a force on the ball with the
push [Fig. 11.8(a)]. Now place a ruler
bat. Is there any change in the
in its path as shown in Fig. 11.8(b).
direction of motion of the ball in these
In doing so, you would apply a force
cases? In all these examples the speed
on the moving ball. Does the ball
and the direction of the moving ball
continue to move in the same
change due to the application of a
direction after it strikes the ruler?
force. Can you give a few more
Repeat the activity and try to
examples of this kind?
obstruct the moving ball by placing
A change in either the speed of an
the ruler in such a way that it
object, or its direction of motion, or both,
makes different angles to its path.
is described as a change in its state of
In each case note your observations
motion. Thus, a force may bring a
about the direction of motion of the
change in the state of motion of an
ball after it strikes the ruler.
object.

State of Motion
The state of motion of an object is
described by its speed and the
direction of motion. The state of rest
is considered to be the state of zero
(a) speed. An object may be at rest or in
motion; both are its states of motion.

Does it mean that the application of

a force would always result in a change
in the state of motion of the object? Let
us find out.
It is common experience that many
a time application of force does not result
(b) in a change in the state of motion. For
Fig. 11.8 : (a) A ball set in motion by example, a heavy box may not move at
pushing it along a level surface all even if you apply the maximum force
and (b) the direction of motion that you can exert. Again, no effect of
of the ball after it strikes the force is observed when you try to push
ruler placed in its path
a wall.
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11.5 Force can Change the

Shape of an Object

Activity 11.5
Some situations have been given in Column 1 of Table 11.2 in which
objects are not free to move. Column 2 of the Table suggests the manner
in which a force can be applied on each object while Column 3 shows a
diagram of the action. Try to observe the effect of force in as many situations
as possible. You can also add similar situations using available material
from your environment. Note your observations in Columns 4 and 5 of
the Table.

Table 11.2 : Studying the Effect of Force on Objects

Description of How to Apply Diagram Action of Force

Situation Force
Change in Change in
State of Shape
Motion
Yes No Yes No
A lump of dough on Pressing it down
a plate. with your hands.

Spring fixed to the By sitting on the

seat of a bicycle. seat.

A rubber band By hanging a

suspended from a weight or by
hook/nail fixed on a pulling its free end.
wall.

A plastic or metal By putting a weight

scale placed at the centre of the
between two bricks. scale.

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What do you conclude from the help of a stick or a piece of rope. When
observations noted in Table 11.2? we push an object like a school bag or
What happens when you apply a force lift a bucket of water, where does the
on an inflated balloon by pressing it force come from? This force is caused
between your palms? What happens by the action of muscles in our body.
to the shape of a ball of dough when it The force resulting due to the action of
is rolled to make a chapati? What muscles is known as the muscular
happens when you press a rubber ball force.
placed on a table? In all these
examples you saw that the application It is the muscular force that enables
of force on an object may change its us to perform all activities involving
movement or bending of our body. In
shape.
Class VII you have learnt that in the
Having performed all the above process of digestion the food gets
activities, you would have realised that pushed through the alimentary canal.
a force Could it be a muscular force that does
it? You also know that lungs expand
l may make an object move from rest. and contract while we inhale and
l may change the speed of an object exhale air during breathing. Where
if it is moving. are these muscles located which
l may change the direction of motion make breathing possible? Can you list
a few more examples of the force
of an object.
exerted by the muscles in our body?
l may bring about a change in the
shape of an object.
Animals also make use of muscular
l may cause some or all of these
force to carry out their physical activities
effects. and other tasks. Animals like bullocks,
horses, donkeys and camels are used to
While a force may cause one or more
per for m various tasks for us. In
of these effects, it is important to
per for ming these tasks they use
remember that none of these actions can
muscular force (Fig. 11.9).
take place without the action of a force.
Thus, an object cannot move by itself,
it cannot change speed by itself, it
cannot change direction by itself and
its shape cannot change by itself.

11.6 Contact Forces

Muscular Force
Can you push or lift a book lying on a
table without touching it? Can you lift
a bucket of water without holding it?
Generally, to apply a force on an object,
your body has to be in contact with the Fig.11.9 : Muscular force of animals is used to
object. The contact may also be with the carry out many difficult tasks
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Since muscular force can be applied on an object to be always in contact with

only when it is in contact with an object, it. Let us find out.
it is also called a contact force. Are there
other types of contact forces? Let us find 11.7 Non-contact Forces
out.
Magnetic Force
Friction
Activity 11.6
Recall some of your experiences. A ball
rolling along the ground gradually slows Take a pair of bar magnets. Place
down and finally comes to rest. When the longer side of one of the magnets
we stop pedalling a bicycle, it gradually over three round shaped pencils or
slows down and finally comes to a stop. wooden rollers as shown in
A car or a scooter also comes to rest Fig.11.10. Now bring one end of the
once its engine is switched off. Similarly, other magnet near the end of the
a boat comes to rest if we stop rowing magnet placed on the rollers. Make
it. Can you add some more such sure that the two magnets do not
experiences? touch each other. Observe what
In all these situations no force happens. Next, bring the other end
appears to be acting on the objects, yet of the magnet near the same end of
their speed gradually decreases and the magnet placed on the rollers
they come to rest after some time. What (Fig.11.10). Note what happens to
causes a change in their state of motion? the magnet placed on the rollers
Could some force be acting on them! every time another magnet is
Can you guess the direction in which brought near it.
the force must be acting in each case?
The force responsible for changing the
state of motion of objects in all these
examples is the force of friction. It is the
force of friction between the surface of
the ball and the ground that brings the
moving ball to rest. Similarly, friction
between water and the boat brings it to
a stop once you stop rowing.
The force of friction always acts on
all the moving objects and its direction
is always opposite to the direction of
motion. Since the force of friction arises
due to contact between surfaces, it is
also an example of a contact force. You
will learn more about this force in
Chapter 12.
You may be wondering whether it is Fig.11.10 : Observing attraction and repulsion
between two magnets
essential for the agent applying a force
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Does the magnet on the rollers begin

to move when the other magnet is brought
near it? Does it always move in the
direction of the approaching magnet?
What do these observations suggest? Does
it mean that some force must be acting
between the two magnets?
You have learnt in Class VI that like
poles of two magnets repel each other and
unlike poles attract each other. Attraction
or repulsion between objects can also be
seen as another form of pull or push. Do
Fig.11.11 : A straw rubbed with paper attracts
you have to bring the magnets in contact
another straw but repels it if it has
for observing the force between them? A also been rubbed with a sheet of
magnet can exert a force on another paper
magnet without being in contact with it.
The force exerted by a magnet is an A straw is said to have acquired
example of a non-contact force. electrostatic charge after it has been
Similarly, the force exerted by a rubbed with a sheet of paper. Such a
magnet on a piece of iron is also a non- straw is an example of a charged body.
contact force. The force exerted by a charged body
on another charged or uncharged body
Electrostatic Force is known as electrostatic force. This
Activity 11.7 force comes into play even when the
bodies are not in contact. The
Take a plastic straw and cut it into electrostatic force, therefore, is another
nearly two equal pieces. Suspend one example of a non-contact force. You will
of the pieces from the edge of a table learn more about electric charges in
with the help of a piece of thread (Fig. Chapter 15.
11.11). Now hold the other piece of
straw in your hand and rub its free Gravitational Force
end with a sheet of paper. Bring the
rubbed end of the straw near the You know that a coin or a pen falls to the
suspended straw. Make sure that the ground when it slips off your hand.
two pieces do not touch each other. Leaves and fruits also fall to the ground
What do you observe? when they get detached from the plant.
Next, rub the free end of the Have you ever wondered why it is so?
suspended piece of straw with a When the coin is held in your hand it
sheet of paper. Again, bring the piece is at rest. As soon as it is released, it
of straw that was rubbed earlier with begins to move downwards. It is clear that
paper near the free end of the the state of motion of the coin undergoes
suspended straw. What do you a change. Can this happen without a
observe now? force acting on it? Which is this force?
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Objects or things fall towards the Try cutting vegetables with a blunt
earth because it pulls them. This force knife and then with a sharp knife. Which
is called the force of gravity, or just is easier?
gravity. This is an attractive force. The Do you get the feeling that the area
force of gravity acts on all objects. The over which the force is applied (for
force of gravity acts on all of us all the example, the pointed end of the nail)
time without our being aware of it. Water plays a role in making these tasks easier?
begins to flow towards the ground as The force acting on a unit area of a
soon as we open a tap. Water in rivers surface is called pressure.
flows downward due to the force of
gravity. pressure = force / area on which it acts

Gravity is not a property of the earth At this stage we consider only those
alone. In fact, every object in the forces which act perpendicular to the
universe, whether small or large, surface on which the pressure is to
exerts a force on every other object. be computed.
This force is known as the
gravitational force.

11.8 Pressure I now understand why

porters place a round piece
You have learnt in Class VII that strong of cloth on their heads,
winds during a storm or a cyclone can when they have to carry
blow away even the roof-tops. You also heavy loads (Fig. 11.13). By
learnt that winds and cyclones are doing this they increase the
caused by the differences in air area of contact of the load
with their head. So, the
pressure. Is there any relation between
pressure on their head is
pressure and force? Let us find out. reduced and they find it
Try to push a nail into a wooden easier to carry the load.
plank by its head. Did you succeed? Try
now to push the nail by the pointed end
(Fig. 11.12). Could you do it this time?

Fig. 11.12 : Pushing a nail into a wooden plank Fig. 11.13 : A porter carrying a heavy load
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Note that the area is in the this process a few more times. Can
denominator in the above expression. you see any relation between the
So, the smaller the area, larger the amount of the bulge in the rubber
pressure on a surface for the same force. sheet and the height of the water
The area of the pointed end of the nail column in the pipe?
is much smaller than that of its head.
The same force, therefore, produces a
pressure sufficient to push the pointed
end of the nail into the wooden plank.
Can you explain now why shoulder
bags are provided with broad straps and
not thin strap? And, why the tools
meant for cutting and piercing always
have sharp edges?
Do liquids and gases also exert
pressure? Does it also depend on the
area on which the force acts? Let us
find out.

11.9 Pressure Exerted by

Liquids and Gases
Fig.11.14 : Pressure exerted by water at the
Activity 11.8 bottom of the container depends
on the height of its column
Take a transparent glass tube or a
plastic pipe. The length of the pipe/
tube should be about 25 cm and its
Activity 11.9
diameter should be 5-7.5 cm. Also Take a plastic bottle. You can take
take a piece of thin sheet of a good a discarded water or soft drink
quality rubber, say, a rubber bottle. Fix a cylindrical glass tube,
balloon. Stretch the rubber sheet a few cm long near its bottom as
tightly over one end of the pipe. shown in Fig. 11.15. You can do so
Hold the pipe at the middle, keeping by slightly heating one end of the
it in a vertical position (Fig.11.14). glass tube and then quickly
Ask one of your friends to pour some inserting it near the bottom of the
water in the pipe. Does the rubber bottle. Make sure that the water
sheet bulge out? Note also the does not leak from the joint. If there
height of the water column in the is any leakage, seal it with molten
pipe. Pour some more water. wax. Cover the mouth of the glass
Observe again the bulge in the tube with a thin rubber sheet as you
did in Activity 11.8. Now fill the
rubber sheet and the height of the
bottle upto half with water. What do
water column in the pipe. Repeat
you observe? Why does the rubber
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sheet fixed to the glass tube bulge

this time? Pour some more water in
the bottle. Is there any change in
the bulge of the rubber sheet?

Fig. 11.16 : Liquids exert equal pressure at

Fig.11.15 : A liquid exerts pressure on the the same depth
walls of the container

Note that the rubber sheet has been Can you now say that liquids exert
fixed on the side of the container and not pressure on the walls of the
at the bottom. Does the bulging of the container?
rubber sheet in this case indicate that water Do gases also exert pressure? Do
exerts pressure on the sides of the container they also exert pressure on the walls of
as well? Let us investigate further. their containers? Let us find out.

Activity 11.10
Take an empty plastic bottle or a
cylindrical container. You can take I have seen fountains of water
a used tin can or a used plastic coming out of the leaking joints
bottle. Drill four holes all around or holes in pipes supplying
near the bottom of the bottle. Make water. Is it not due to the
sure that the holes are at the same pressure exerted by water on the
walls of the pipes?
height from the bottom (Fig. 11.16).
Now fill the bottle with water. What
do you observe? When you inflate a balloon, why do
Do the different streams of water you have to close its mouth? What
coming out of the holes fall at the happens when you open the mouth of
same distance from the bottle? What an inflated balloon? Suppose you have
does this indicate? a balloon which has holes. Would you
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be able to inflate it? If not, why? Can we But, how large or small is the
say that air exerts pressure in all atmospheric pressure? Let us get an
directions? idea about its magnitude.
Do you recall what happens to the
air in the bicycle tube when it has a Activity 11.11
puncture? Do these observations suggest
that air exerts pressure on the inner walls Take a good quality rubber sucker.
of an inflated balloon or a tube? So, we It looks like a small rubber cup (Fig.
find that gases, too, exert pressure on 11.18). Press it hard on a smooth
the walls of their container. plane surface. Does it stick to the
surface? Now try to pull it off the
11.10 Atmospheric Pressure surface. Can you do it?

You know that there is air all around

us. This envelop of air is known as the
atmosphere. The atmospheric air
extends up to many kilometres above
the surface of the earth. The pressure
exerted by this air is known as
atmospheric pressure. We know that
pressure is force per unit area. If we
imagine a unit area and a very long
cylinder standing on it filled with air,
then the force of gravity on the air in
this cylinder is the atmospheric
pressure (Fig. 11.17).

Fig.11.18 : A rubber sucker pressed on a

surface

When you press the sucker, most of

the air between its cup and the surface
escapes out. The sucker sticks to the
sur face because the pr essure of
atmosphere acts on it. To pull the sucker
off the surface, the applied force should
be large enough to overcome the
Unit area atmospheric pressure. This activity
might give you an idea about the
magnitude of atmospheric pressure. In
Fig. 11.17 : Atmospheric pressure is the force of fact, it would not be possible for any
gravity on air in a column of unit area human being to pull the sucker off the
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surface if there were no air at all between

the sucker and the surface. Does it give
you an idea how large the atmospheric
pressure is?

If the area of my head

were 15 cm × 15 cm, how
much force air will exert
on my head?

The force due to air in a column of

the height of the atmosphere and area
15 cm × 15 cm (Fig. 11.19) is nearly
equal to the force of gravity on an object
of mass 225 kg (2250N). The reason we
are not crushed under this force of
gravity is that the pressure inside our
bodies is also equal to the atmospheric Fig. 11.19 : Pressure of atmosphere on
pressure and balances the pressure from your head
outside.

Did you know?

Otto von Guericke, a German scientist of the 17th century, invented a pump to
extract air out of a vessel. With the help of this pump, he demonstrated
dramatically the force of the air pressure. He joined two hollow metallic
hemispheres of 51 cm diameter each and pumped air out of them. Then he
employed eight horses on each hemisphere to pull them apart (Fig. 11.20). So
great is the force of air pressure that the hemispheres could not be pulled apart.

Fig. 11.20 : Horses pulling the hemispheres

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KEYWORDS WHA
WHAT OU HA
YOU
T Y VE LEARNT
HAVE
ATMOSPHERIC Ü Force could be a push or a pull.
PRESSURE Ü A force arises due to the interaction between

CONTACT FORCE two objects.

Ü Force has magnitude as well as direction.
ELECTROSTATIC Ü A change in the speed of an object or the di-
FORCE rection of its motion or both implies a change

FORCE in its state of motion.

Ü Force acting on an object may cause a change
FRICTION in its state of motion or a change in its shape.
Ü A force can act on an object with or without
GRAVITATIONAL
being in contact with it.
FORCE
Ü Force per unit area is called pressure.
GRAVITY Ü Liquids and gases exert pressure on the walls
of their containers.
MAGNETIC FORCE
Ü The pressure exerted by air around us is
MUSCULAR FORCE known as atmospheric pressure.

NON-CONTACT
FORCE

PRESSURE

PULL

PUSH

Exercises

1. Give two examples each of situations in which you push or pull to change
the state of motion of objects.
2. Give two examples of situations in which applied force causes a change in
the shape of an object.
3. Fill in the blanks in the following statements.
(a) To draw water from a well we have to __________ at the rope.

(b) A charged body __________ an uncharged body towards it.

(c) To move a loaded trolley we have to __________ it.
(d) The north pole of a magnet __________the north pole of another
magnet.
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EXERCISES
4. An archer stretches her bow while taking aim at the target. She then
releases the arrow, which begins to move towards the target. Based on
this information fill up the gaps in the following statements using the
following terms.
muscular, contact, non-contact, gravity, friction, shape, attraction
(a) To stretch the bow, the archer applies a force that causes a change
in its __________.
(b) The force applied by the archer to stretch the bow is an example of
__________ force.
(c) The type of force responsible for a change in the state of motion of the
arrow is an example of a __________ force.
(d) While the arrow moves towards its target, the forces acting on it are
due to __________ and that due to __________ of air.

5. In the following situations identify the agent exerting the force and the
object on which it acts. State the effect of the force in each case.
(a) Squeezing a piece of lemon between the fingers to extract its juice.
(b) Taking out paste from a toothpaste tube.
(c) A load suspended from a spring while its other end is on a hook fixed
to a wall.
(d) An athlete making a high jump to clear the bar at a certain height.
6. A blacksmith hammers a hot piece of iron while making a tool. How does
the force due to hammering affect the piece of iron?

7. An inflated balloon was pressed against a wall after it has been rubbed
with a piece of synthetic cloth. It was found that the balloon sticks to the
wall. What force might be responsible for the attraction between the balloon
and the wall?
8. Name the forces acting on a plastic bucket containing water held above
ground level in your hand. Discuss why the forces acting on the bucket do
not bring a change in its state of motion.
9. A rocket has been fired upwards to launch a satellite in its orbit. Name
the two forces acting on the rocket immediately after leaving the launching
pad.
10. When we press the bulb of a dropper with its nozzle kept in water, air in
the dropper is seen to escape in the form of bubbles. Once we release the
pressure on the bulb, water gets filled in the dropper. The rise of water in
the dropper is due to
(a) pressure of water.
(b) gravity of the earth.
(c) shape of rubber bulb.
(d) atmospheric pressure.

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Extended Learning — Activities and Projects

1. Make a 50 cm × 50 cm bed of dry sand about 10 cm in thickness.

Make sure that its top surface is levelled. Take a wooden or a plastic
stool. Cut two strips of graph paper each with a width of 1 cm.
Paste them vertically on any leg of the stool - one at the bottom and
the other from the top. Now gently put the stool on the sand bed
with its legs resting on the sand. Increase the size of sand bed if
required. Now put a load, say a school bag full of books, on the seat
of the stool. Mark the level of sand on the graph strip. This would
give you the depth, if any, to which the legs of stool sink in sand.
Next, turn the stool upside down so that now it rests on its seat on
the sand bed. Note the depth to which the stool sinks now. Next,
put the same load on the stool and note the depth to which it sinks
in the sand. Compare the pressure exerted by the stool in the two
situations.
2. Take a tumbler and fill it with water. Cover the mouth of the tumbler
with a thick card similar to that of a postcard. Hold the tumbler
with one hand while keeping the card pressed to its mouth with
your other hand. Turn the tumbler upside down while keeping the
card pressed to its mouth. Make sure that the tumbler is held
vertical. Gently remove the hand pressing the card. What do you
observe? Does the card get detached allowing the water to spill?
With a little practice you will find that the card continues to hold
water in the tumbler even after it is not supported by your hand.
Also try this activity by using a piece of cloth to hold the tumbler in
an upside down position (Fig. 11.21).

Fig. 11.21

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3. Take 4-5 plastic bottles of different shapes and sizes. Join them
together with small pieces of glass or rubber tube as shown in
Fig. 11.22. Keep this arrangement on a level surface. Now pour
water in any one of the bottles. Note whether the bottle in which
water is poured gets filled first or all the bottles get filled up
simultaneously. Note the level of water in all the bottles from time
to time. Try to explain your observations.

Fig. 11.22

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