DAV INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, AHMEDABAD

SCIENCE
STANDARD IX
CHAPTER 9 FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION
IN TEXT AND BACK EXERCISE QUESTIONS
Page 118: BBQ’s

1. Which of the following has more inertia: (a) a rubber ball and a stone of the same
size? (b) a bicycle and a train? (c) a five-rupee coin and a one-rupee coin?
Ans. Since inertia is dependent on the mass of the object, the object with the greater
mass will hold greater inertia. The following objects hold greater inertia because of their
mass.
(a) Stone
(b) Train
(c) Five-Rupee coin.

2. In the following example, try to identify the number of times the velocity of the ball
changes: “A football player kicks a football to another player of his team who kicks
the football towards the goal. The goalkeeper of the opposite team collects the
football and kicks it towards a player of his own team”. Also identify the agent
supplying the force in each case.
Ans. Let the two football teams be team A and team B respectively. Initially, the football
is at rest. Now, the football is kicked by a player on team A to another player of team A.
(The velocity of the ball has changed 1 time so far). This change is brought on by the force
applied by the player who kicked the ball.
The football is now kicked by the other team A player towards the goal. (The velocity of
the ball has changed 2 times so far). This change is also brought on due to the force
applied by the team A player who kicked the ball.
The goalkeeper of team B stops the ball, bringing it to rest. (the velocity of the ball has
changed 3 times so far). This change is brought on by the force applied by the goalkeeper
of team B to stop the ball.
Finally, the goalkeeper of team B kicks the ball towards another player of team B. the
velocity of the ball changes for a final time, bringing the total count to 4. This change is
also brought on by the goalkeeper of team B, who applies the force to kick the ball
forward.
Therefore, the velocity of the ball changes 4 times in this example.

3. Explain why some of the leaves may get detached from a tree if we vigorously shake
its branch.
Ans. When the branch of the tree is shaken, the branch moves in a to-and-fro motion.
However, the inertia of the leaves in attached to the branch resists the motion of
 the branch. Therefore, the leaves that are weakly attached to the branch fall off due
to inertia whereas the leaves that are firmly attached to the branch remain attached.

4. Why do you fall in the forward direction when a moving bus brakes to a stop and fall
backwards when it accelerates from rest?
Ans. Initially, when the bus accelerates in a forward direction from a state of rest, the
passengers experience a force exerted on them in the backward direction due to their
inertia opposing the forward motion. Once the bus starts moving, the passengers are
in a state of motion in the forward direction. When the brakes are applied, the bus
moves towards a position of rest. Now, a force in the forward direction is applied on
the passengers because their inertia resists the change in the motion of the bus. This
causes the passengers to fall forwards when the brakes are applied.

Page 126,127: BBQ’s

5. If action is always equal to the reaction, explain how a horse can pull a cart.
Ans. When the horse walks in the forward direction (with the cart attached to it),
it exerts a force in the backward direction on the Earth. An equal force in the
opposite direction (forward direction) is applied on the horse by the Earth. This force
moves the horse and the cart forward. The velocity at which the horse can move by
applying a force on the earth depends on the mass of the horse (and the cart attached to
it). The heavier the cart, the slower the motion of the horse (for a given amount of force
applied by the horse on the Earth). If the cart is too heavy, the force exerted by the
horse on the Earth will be insufficient to even overcome the force of inertia. In this case,
the horse will not be able to pull the cart.

6. Explain, why is it difficult for a fireman to hold a hose, which ejects large amounts
of water at a high velocity.
Ans. For the hose to eject water at high velocities, a force must be applied on the
water (which is usually done with the help of a pump or a motor). Now, the water
applies an equal and opposite force on the hose. For the fireman to hold this hose,
he must apply a force on it to overcome the force applied on the hose by the
water. The higher the quantity and velocity of the water coming out of the hose, the
greater the force that must be applied by the fireman to hold it steady.

7. From a rifle of mass 4 kg, a bullet of mass 50 g is fired with an initial velocity of
35 m s–1. Calculate the initial recoil velocity of the rifle.
Ans. Solution Given, the Bullet’s mass (m1) = 50 g
The rifle’s mass (m2) = 4kg = 4000g
Initial velocity of the fired bullet (v1) = 35 m/s
 Let the recoil velocity be v2.
Since the rifle was initially at rest, the initial momentum of the rifle = 0
Total momentum of the rifle and bullet after firing = m1v1 + m2v2
As per the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of the rifle and the
bullet after firing = 0 (same as initial momentum)
Therefore, m1v1 + m2v2 = 0
That implies that v2 = -m1v1/m2
= - 50g X 35 m s–1 /4000g
= - 0.4375m/s
Therefore, the recoil velocity of the rifle is 0.4375 meters per second in the direction
opposite to the trajectory of the bullet (backward direction).

8. Two objects of masses 100 g and 200 g are moving along the same line and direction
with velocities of 2 ms–1 and 1 ms–1, respectively. They collide and after the collision,
the first object moves at a velocity of 1.67 ms–1. Determine the velocity of the
second object.
Ans. Assuming that the first object is object A and the second one is object B, it is given
that:
Mass of A (m1) = 100g
Mass of B (m2) = 200g
Initial velocity of A (u1) = 2 m/s
Initial velocity of B (u2) = 1 m/s
Final velocity of A (v1) = 1.67 m/s
Final velocity of B (v2) =?
Total initial momentum = Initial momentum of A + initial momentum of B
= m1u1 + m2u2
= (100g) × (2m/s) + (200g) × (1m/s)
= 400 g.m.sec-1
As per the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before collision must
be equal to the total momentum post collision.
Therefore m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2 = 400 g.m.sec-1
Solving for v2, (100g) × (1.67m/s) + (200g) × (v2) = 400 g.m.sec-1
Therefore v2 = 400-167/200 m.sec-1
v2 = 1.165 m/s
Therefore, the velocity of object B after the collision is 1.165 meters per second.
Page 128: Back Exercises

1. An object experiences a net zero external unbalanced force. Is it possible for the
object to be travelling with a non-zero velocity? If yes, state the conditions that
must be placed on the magnitude and direction of the velocity. If no, provide a
reason.
Ans. Yes, it is possible. An object moving in some direction with constant velocity will
continue in its state of motion as long as there are no external unbalanced forces acting
on it. In order to change the motion of the object, some external unbalanced force must
act upon it.

2. When a carpet is beaten with a stick, dust comes out of it. Explain.
Ans. When the carpet is beaten with a stick, the stick exerts a force on the carpet which
sets it in motion. The inertia of the dust particles residing on the carpet resists the
change in the motion of the carpet. Therefore, the forward motion of the carpet exerts
a backward force on the dust particles, setting them in motion in the opposite direction.
This is why the dust comes out of the carpet when beaten..

3. Why is it advised to tie any luggage kept on the roof of a bus with a rope?
• Ans. When some luggage is placed on the roof of a bus which is initially at rest, the
acceleration of the bus in the forward direction will exert a force (in the backward
direction) on the luggage. In a similar manner, when a bus which is initially in a
state of motion suddenly comes to rest due to the application of brakes, a
force (in the forward direction) is exerted on the luggage. Depending on the
mass of the luggage and the magnitude of the force, the luggage may fall off the
bus due to inertia. Tying up the luggage will secure its position and prevent it from
falling off the bus.

4. A batsman hits a cricket ball which then rolls on a level ground. After covering a
short distance, the ball comes to rest. The ball slows to a stop because (a) the
batsman did not hit the ball hard enough. (b) velocity is proportional to the force
exerted on the ball. (c) there is a force on the ball opposing the motion. (d) there is
no unbalanced force on the ball, so the ball would want to come to rest.
Ans. When the ball rolls on the flat surface of the ground, its motion is opposed by the
force of friction (the friction arises between the ground and the ball). This frictional
force eventually stops the ball.
 Therefore, the correct answer is (c). If the surface of the level ground is lubricated (with
oil or some other lubricant), the friction that arises between the ball and the ground will
reduce, which will enable the ball to roll for a longer distance.

5. A truck starts from rest and rolls down a hill with a constant acceleration. It travels
a distance of 400 m in 20 s. Find its acceleration. Find the force acting on it if it’s
mass is 7 tonnes (Hint: 1 tonne = 1000 kg.)
Ans. Given, distance covered by the truck (s) = 400 meters
Time taken to cover the distance (t) = 20 seconds
Initial velocity of the truck (u) = 0 (since it starts from a state of rest)
From the equation of motion s = ut + ½ at 2
Therefore, 400 = 0(20s) + ½ (a)(400s2) = 2ms-2
The acceleration of the truck is 2ms-2
As per the second Law of Motion Force = Mass X acceleration
Mass of the truck = 7 Tonnes = 7000 Kg
Force acting on the truck = 7000 Kg X 2ms-2 = 14,000 Kg. ms-2 = 14,000 N
Therefore a force of 14,000 N is working on the truck.

6. A stone of 1 kg is thrown with a velocity of 20 ms-1 across the frozen surface of a

lake and comes to rest after travelling a distance of 50 m. What is the force of
friction between the stone and the ice?
Ans. Given, Mass of the stone (m) = 1kg
Initial velocity (u) = 20m/s
Terminal velocity (v) = 0 m/s (the stone reaches a position of rest)
Distance traveled by the stone (s) = 50 m

7. An 8000 kg engine pulls a train of 5 wagons, each of 2000 kg, along a horizontal
track.If the engine exerts a force of 40000 N and the track offers a friction
force of 5000 N, then calculate: (a) the net accelerating force and (b) the
acceleration of the train.
 Ans.
(a) Given, force exerted by the train (F) = 40,000 N
Force of friction = -5000 N (the negative sign indicates that the force is applied in the
opposite
direction)
Therefore, the net accelerating force = sum of all forces = 40,000 N + ( -5000 N) =
35,000 N
(b) Total mass of the train = mass of engine + mass of each wagon = 8000kg + 5 × 2000kg
The total mass of the train is 18000 kg.
As per the second law of motion, F = ma (or: a = F/m)
Therefore, acceleration of the train = (net accelerating force) / (total mass of the
train)
= 35,000/18,000 = 1.94 ms-2

8. An automobile vehicle has a mass of 1500 kg. What must be the force between the
vehicle and road if the vehicle is to be stopped with a negative acceleration of 1.7
ms-2?
Ans. Given, mass of the vehicle (m) = 1500 kg
Acceleration (a) = -1.7 ms-2
As per the second law of motion, F = ma
F = 1500kg × (-1.7 ms-2) = -2550 N
Therefore, a force of 2550 N must act on the vehicle in a direction opposite to
that of its motion.

9. What is the momentum of an object of mass m, moving with a velocity v?

(a) (mv) 2 (b) mv2 (c) ½ mv2 (d) mv .
Ans. Since momentum is defined as the product of mass and velocity, the correct
answer is (d), mv.

10. Using a horizontal force of 200 N, we intend to move a wooden cabinet

across a floor at a constant velocity. What is the friction force that will be
exerted on the cabinet?
Ans. Since the velocity of the cabinet is constant, its acceleration must be zero.
Therefore, the effective force acting on it is also zero. This implies that the magnitude
of opposing frictional force is equal to the force exerted on the cabinet, which is 200 N.
Therefore, the total friction force is -200 N.

11. Two objects, each of mass 1.5 kg, are moving in the same straight line but in
opposite directions. The velocity of each object is 2.5 ms -1 before the collision
during which they stick together. What will be the velocity of the combined object
after collision?
Ans. Given, mass of the
 objects (m1 and m2) = 1.5kg
Initial velocity of the first object (u 1 ) = 2.5 m/s
Initial velocity of the second object which is moving in the opposite direction (u 2) = -2.5
m/s
When the two masses stick together, the resulting object has a mass of 3 kg (m1 + m2)
Velocity of the resulting object (v) =?
As per the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before the collision is
equal
to the total momentum after the collision.
Total momentum before the collision = m1 u1 + m2u2
= (1.5kg) (2.5 m/s) + (1.5 kg) (-2.5 m/s) = 0
Therefore, total momentum after collision = (m1 +m2) v = (3kg) v = 0
Therefore v = 0
This implies that the object formed after the collision has a velocity of 0 meters per
second.

12. According to the third law of motion when we push on an object, the object
pushes back on us with an equal and opposite force. If the object is a massive
truck parked along the roadside, it will probably not move. A student justifies this
by answering that the two opposite and equal forces cancel each other. Comment on
this logic and explain why the truck does not move.
Ans.
Since the truck has a very high mass, the static friction between the road and the truck
is high. When pushing the truck with a small force, the frictional force cancels out the
applied force and the truck does not move. This implies that the two forces are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction (since the person pushing the truck is not displaced
when the truck doesn’t move).
Therefore, the student’s logic is correct.

13. A hockey ball of mass 200 g travelling at 10 ms–1 is struck by a hockey stick
so as to return it along its original path with a velocity at 5 ms –1 . Calculate the
magnitude of change of momentum occurred in the motion of the hockey ball by the
force applied by the hockey stick.
Ans.
Given, mass of the
ball (m) = 200g
Initial velocity of the ball (u) = 10 m/s
Final velocity of the ball (v) = 5m/s
Initial momentum of the ball = mu = 200g × 10 ms = 2000 g.m.s
-1 -1

Final momentum of the ball = mv = 200g × 5 ms = 1000 g.m.s

-1 -1

Therefore, the change in momentum (mv – mu) = 1000 g.m.s - 2000 g.m.s = -1000 g.m.s
-1 -1 -1
 This implies that the momentum of the ball reduces by 1000 g.m.s after being
-1

struck by the hockey stick.

14. A bullet of mass 10 g travelling horizontally with a velocity of 150 m s –1 strikes

a stationary wooden block and comes to rest in 0.03 s. Calculate the distance of
penetration of the bullet into the block. Also calculate the magnitude of the force
exerted by the wooden block on the bullet.
Ans.
Given, mass of the bullet (m) = 10g (or 0.01 kg)
Initial velocity of the bullet (u) = 150 m/s
Terminal velocity of the bullet (v) = 0 m/s
Time period (t) = 0.03 s
To find the distance of penetration, the acceleration of the bullet must be calculated.

Therefore, force exerted by the wooden block on the bullet (F) = 0.01kg × ( -5000 ms ) -2

= -50 N.
This implies that the wooden block exerts a force of magnitude 50 N on the bullet
in the direction that is opposite to the trajectory of the bullet.

15. An object of mass 1 kg travelling in a straight line with a velocity of 10 ms –1

collides with, and sticks to, a stationary wooden block of mass 5 kg. Then they both
move off together in the same straight line. Calculate the total momentum just before
the impact and just after the impact. Also, calculate the velocity of the combined
object.
Ans.
Given, mass of the object (m1 ) = 1kg
Mass of the block (m2) = 5kg
Initial velocity of the object (u 1 ) = 10 m/s
Initial velocity of the block (u 2) = 0
Mass of the resulting object = m1 + m2 = 6kg
Velocity of the resulting object (v) =?
Total momentum before the collision = m1 u1 + m2u2 = (1kg) × (10m/s) + 0 = 10 kg.m.s
-1
 As per the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before the collision is
equal
to the total momentum post the collision. Therefore, the total momentum post the
collision is
also 10 kg.m.s
-1

Now, (m1 + m2) × v = 10kg.m.s

-1

The resulting object moves with a velocity of 1.66 meters per second.

16. An object of mass 100 kg is accelerated uniformly from a velocity of 5 ms –1

to 8 ms–1 in 6 s. Calculate the initial and final momentum of the object. Also, find
the magnitude of the force exerted on the object.
Ans.
Given, mass of the object (m) = 100kg
Initial velocity (u) = 5 m/s
Terminal velocity (v) = 8 m/s
Time period (t) = 6s
Now, initial momentum (m × u) = 100kg × 5m/s = 500 kg.m.s -1
Final momentum (m × v) = 100kg × 8m/s = 800 kg.m.s-1

Therefore, the object accelerates at 0.5 ms-2 . This implies that the force acting on the
object (F = ma) is equal to:
F = (100kg) × (0.5 ms-2 ) = 50 N
Therefore, a force of 50 N is applied on the 100kg object, which accelerates it by
0.5 ms-2.

17. Akhtar, Kiran, and Rahul were riding in a motorcar that was moving with a high
velocity on an expressway when an insect hit the windshield and got stuck on the
windscreen. Akhtar and Kiran started pondering over the situation. Kiran suggested
that the insect suffered a greater change in momentum as compared to the change in
momentum of the motorcar (because the change in the velocity of the insect was much
more than that of the motorcar). Akhtar said that since the motorcar was moving with
a larger velocity, it exerted a larger force on the insect. And as a result the insect
died. Rahul while putting an entirely new explanation said that both the motorcar and
the insect experienced the same force and a change in their momentum. Comment on
these suggestions.
Ans.
Kiran’s suggestion is correct. The mass of the insect is very small when compared to the
mass of the car. As per the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before
 the collision between the insect and the car is equal to the total momentum after the
collision. Therefore, the change in the momentum of the insect is much greater than the
change in momentum of the car (since force is proportional to mass).
Akhtar’s suggestion is also correct. Since the mass of the car is very high, the force
exerted on the insect during the collision is also very high.
Rahul’s suggestion is partially correct. As per the third law of motion, the force exerted by
the insect on the car is equal and opposite to the force exerted by the car on the insect.
However, Rahul’s suggestion that the change in the momentum is the same contradicts
the law of conservation of momentum.

18. How much momentum will a dumb-bell of mass 10 kg transfer to the floor if
it falls from a height of 80 cm? Take its downward acceleration to be 10 ms–2.
Ans.
Solution
Given, mass of the dumb-bell (m) = 10kg
Distance covered (s) = 80cm = 0.8m
Initial velocity (u) = 0 (it is dropped from a position of rest)
Acceleration (a) = 10ms-2
Terminal velocity (v) =?
Momentum of the dumb-bell when it hits the ground = mv

v = 4 m/s
The momentum transferred by the dumb-bell to the floor = (10kg) × (4 m/s) = 40
kg.m.s-1 .

Page 130: Additional Exercises

A1. The following is the distance-time table of an object in motion:

Time Distance
(seconds) (meters)
0 0
1 1
2 8
3 27
4 64
5 125
6 216
 7 343

(a) What conclusion can you draw about the acceleration? Is it constant, increasing,
decreasing, or zero?
(b) What do you infer about the forces acting on the object?
Ans.
(a) The distance covered by the object at any time interval is greater than any of the
distances covered in previous time intervals. Therefore, the acceleration of the object
is increasing.
(b) As per the second law of motion, force = mass × acceleration. Since the mass of the
object remains constant, the increasing acceleration implies that the force acting on
the object is increasing as well.

A2. Two persons manage to push a motorcar of mass 1200 kg at a uniform velocity
Along a level road. The same motorcar can be pushed by three persons to produce
an acceleration of 0.2 m s-2 . With what force does each person push the motorcar?
(Assume that all persons push the motorcar with the same muscular effort)
Ans.
Given, mass of the car (m) = 1200kg
When the third person starts pushing the car, the acceleration (a) is 0.2ms -2 . Therefore,
the force applied by the third person (F = ma) is given by:
F = 1200kg × 0.2 ms-2 = 240N
The force applied by the third person on the car is 240 N. Since all 3 people push
with the same muscular effort, the force applied by each person on the car is 240
N.

A3. A hammer of mass 500 g, moving at 50 m s-1 , strikes a nail. The nail stops the
hammer in a very short time of 0.01 s. What is the force of the nail on the
hammer?
Ans.
Given, mass of the hammer (m) = 500g = 0.5kg
Initial velocity of the hammer (u) = 50 m/s
Terminal velocity of the hammer (v) = 0 (the hammer is stopped and reaches a position
of rest).
Time period (t) = 0.01s

a = -5000ms-2
Therefore, the force exerted by the hammer on the nail (F = ma) can be calculated as:
F = (0.5kg) * (-5000 ms-2 ) = -2500 N
 As per the third law of motion, the nail exerts an equal and opposite force on the
hammer.
Since the force exerted on the nail by the hammer is -2500 N, the force exerted
on the hammer by the nail will be +2500 N.

A4. A motorcar of mass 1200 kg is moving along a straight line with a uniform velocity
of 90 km/h. Its velocity is slowed down to 18 km/h in 4 s by an unbalanced
external force. Calculate the acceleration and change in momentum. Also calculate
the magnitude of the force required.
Ans.
Given, mass of the car (m) = 1200kg
Initial velocity (u) = 90 km/hour = 25 meters/sec
Terminal velocity (v) = 18 km/hour = 5 meters/sec
Time period (t) = 4 seconds

Therefore, the acceleration of the car is -5 ms-2 .

Initial momentum of the car = m × u = (1200kg) × (25m/s) = 30,000 kg.m.s -1
Final momentum of the car = m × v = (1200kg) × (5m/s) = 6,000 kg.m.s-1
Therefore, change in momentum (final momentum – initial momentum) = (6,000 – 30,000)
kg.m.s-1
= -24,000 kg.m.s-1
External force applied = mass of car × acceleration = (1200kg) × ( -5 ms-2 ) = -6000N
Therefore, the magnitude of force required to slow down the vehicle to 18 km/hour
is 6000 N.