Introduction to Force

A force is an effort that changes the state of an object at rest or at motion. It can change an
object’s direction and velocity. Force can also change the shape of an object.

Effects of Force
Some effects of force include the following:

● Force moves stationary objects

● Force stops objects from moving
● Force changes the shape of a body
● Force changes the direction of motion

Push is defined as an action of force which causes an object to move from its place. The following
are the examples of push:

● Opening and closing of the door.

● Pushing the table.
● Pushing a car.
● Pushing of the thumb pins.
● Walking

Pull is defined as an action to make move by either tugging or dragging. The following are the
examples of pull:

● Plucking the string of a guitar.

● Pulling ropes while playing tug of war.
● Opening the drawer.
● Pulling the window curtain.
● Opening and closing of the doors.

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

When balanced forces are applied to an object, there will be no net effective force acting on the
object. Balanced forces do not cause a change in motion.

Unbalanced forces acting on an object change its speed and/or direction of motion. It moves in the
direction of the force with the highest magnitude.

Net force
When multiple forces act on a body, they can be resolved into one component known as the net
force acting on the object. The net force decides the direction of motion.
Frictional force
The force that opposes relative motion is called friction. It arises between the surfaces in contact.

Example: When we try to push a table and it does not move is because it is balanced by the
frictional force.

First Law of Motion

A body continues to be in the state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by
an external unbalanced force. The First Law is also called the Law of Inertia.
Inertia
Basically, all objects have a tendency to resist the change in the state of motion or rest. This
tendency is called inertia. All bodies do not have the same inertia. Inertia depends on the mass of a
body. Mass of an object is the measure of its inertia.

More the mass → more inertia and vice versa.

Inertia of Rest
An object stays at rest, and it remains at rest until an external force affects it. Example: When a car
accelerates, passengers may feel as though their bodies are moving backward. In reality, inertia is
making their bodies stay in place as the car moves forward.

Inertia of Motion
An object will continue to be in motion until a force acts on it. Example: A hockey puck will continue
to slide across the ice until acted upon by an outside force.
Second Law of Motion
In order to understand second law, we need to first understand momentum.

Momentum
Impacts produced by objects depend on their mass and velocity. The momentum of an object is
defined as the product of its mass and velocity. p = mv. Vector quantity, has direction and
magnitude. Some examples of momentum include: A baseball flying through the air and a bullet
fired from a gun.

Second Law of Motion

The rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the applied unbalanced
force in the direction of the force.

Here, a [ = (v – u)/t ] is the acceleration, which is the rate of change in velocity.

For 1 unit of force on 1 kg mass with the acceleration of 1m/s2, the value of k = 1.

Therefore, F = ma.
Third Law of Motion
Newton’s 3rd law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Action and reaction
forces are equal, opposite and acting on different bodies.
Intext Questions – 1 Page: 118

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?

Solution

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.

1. Stone
2. Train
3. 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.

Solution

The velocity of football changes four times.

First, when a football player kicks a football to another player, second when that player kicks the
football to the goalkeeper. Third when the goalkeeper stops the football. Fourth, when the
goalkeeper kicks the football towards his team player.

Agent supplying the force:

a) The First case is the First player

b) The Second case is the Second player

c) The Third case is Goalkeeper

d) The Fourth case is Goalkeeper

3. Explain why some of the leaves may get detached from a tree if we vigorously shake its branch.

Solution

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?

Solution

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.

Intext Questions – 2 Page: 126,127

1. If action is always equal to the reaction, explain how a horse can pull a cart.

Solution

When the horse walks forward (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. As a result, the cart moves
forward.

2. Explain, why is it difficult for a fireman to hold a hose, which ejects large amounts of water at a
high velocity.

Solution

When a fireman holds a hose, which is ejecting large amounts of water at a high velocity, then a
reaction force is exerted on him by the ejecting water in the backward direction. This is because of
Newton’s third law of motion. As a result of the backward force, the stability of the fireman
decreases. Hence, it is difficult for him to remain stable while holding the hose.

3. 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.

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

The 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

The negative sign indicates that recoil velocity is opposite to the bullet’s motion.

4. 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.

Solution

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.

v2 = 1.165 m/s

Therefore, the velocity of object B after the collision is 1.165 meters per second.

Exercises Page: 128,129

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.

Solution

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.
Solution

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?

Solution

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.

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.)

Solution

Given, distance covered by the truck (s) = 400 meters

Time taken to cover the distance (t) = 20 seconds

The initial velocity of the truck (u) = 0 (since it starts from a state of rest)

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?

Solution
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 travelled by the stone (s) = 50 m

As per the third equation of motion

v² = u² + 2as

Substituting the values in the above equation we get,

0² = (20)² + 2(a)(50)

-400 = 100a

a = -400/100 = -4m/s² (retardation)

We know that

F = m×a

Substituting above obtained value of a = -4 in F = m x a

We get,

F = 1 × (-4) = -4N

Here the negative sign indicates the opposing force which is Friction

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

Solution

(a) Given, the 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

The acceleration of the train is 1.94 m.s-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?

Solution

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

Hence, the force between the automobile and the road is -2550 N, in the opposite direction of the
automobile’s 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

Solution

The momentum of an object is defined as the product of its mass m and velocity v

Momentum = mass x velocity

Hence, the correct answer is mv i.e option (d)

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?

Solution

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?

Solution

Given

Mass of first object, m1 = 1.5 kg

Mass of second object, m2 = 1.5 kg

Velocity of first object before collision, v1 = 2.5 m/s

The velocity of the second object which is moving in the opposite direction, v2 = -2.5 m/s

We know that,

Total momentum before collision = Total momentum after collision

m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)v

1.5(2.5) + 1.5 (-2.5) = (1.5 + 1.5)v

3.75 – 3.75 = 3v

v=0

Therefore, the velocity of the combined object after the collision is 0 m/s

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.

Solution

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.

Solution

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-1 = 2000 g.m.s-1

Final momentum of the ball = mv = 200g × –5 ms-1 = –1000 g.m.s-1

Therefore, the change in momentum (mv – mu) = –1000 g.m.s-1 – 2000 g.m.s-1 = –3000 g.m.s-1

This implies that the momentum of the ball reduces by 1000 g.m.s-1 after being 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.

Solution

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

Let the distance of penetration be s

As per the first law of motion

v = u + at

0 = 150 + a (0.03)

a = -5000 ms-2

v2 = u2 + 2as

0 = 1502 + 2 x (-5000)s

s = 2.25 m

As per the second law of motion, F = ma

F = 0.01kg × (-5000 ms-2)

F = -50 N

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.

Solution

Given, mass of the object (m1) = 1kg

Mass of the block (m2) = 5kg

Initial velocity of the object (u1) = 10 m/s

Initial velocity of the block (u2) = 0

Mass of the resulting object = m1 + m2 = 6kg

Velocity of the resulting object (v) =?

Total momentum before the collision = m1u1 + 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.

Solution

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.

Solution

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 assumption is partially right. Since the mass of the car is very high, the force exerted on the
insect during the collision is also very high.

Kiran’s statement is false. The change in momentum of the insect and the motorcar is equal by
conservation of momentum. The velocity of insect changes accordingly due to its mass as it is very
small compared to the motorcar. Similarly, the velocity of motorcar is very insignificant because its
mass is very large compared to the insect.
Rahul’s statement is completely right. 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.

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

As per the third law of motion

v2 – u2 = 2as

Therefore, v2 – 0 = 2 (10 ms-2) (0.8m) = 16 m2s-2

v = 4 m/s

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

Additional Exercises Page: 130

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

Time (seconds) Distance (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?

Solution

(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

2. 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 ms-2.
With what force does each person push the motorcar? (Assume that all persons push the motorcar
with the same muscular effort)

Solution

Given, mass of the car (m) = 1200kg

When the third person starts pushing the car, the acceleration (a) is 0.2 ms-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.

3. 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?

Solution

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.

4. 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.

Solution

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