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Forces

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17 views4 pages

Forces

Uploaded by

tyliqueantoine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Forces: Complete Notes

A force is a push or pull acting on an object, characterized by having both


magnitude (size) and direction, which makes it a vector quantity. It is
measured in Newtons (N).

Effects of Forces

Forces can produce a variety of effects on objects. They can change an


object’s shape, such as when a sponge is compressed. They can also alter
the state of motion, meaning a force can start or stop movement, change the
speed of an object, or change its direction. These effects make forces crucial
in understanding motion and interaction between objects.

Types of Forces

Forces can be broadly categorized into contact forces and non-contact


forces:

 Contact Forces occur when objects are physically touching. Examples


include:

o Friction, which opposes the motion of an object sliding against


another surface.

o Tension, a pulling force transmitted through strings or cables.

o Normal Force, which acts perpendicular to a surface to support


an object resting on it.

 Non-Contact Forces act without direct physical contact between


objects. Examples include:

o Gravitational Force, the attraction between two masses.

o Electrostatic Force, caused by charges attracting or repelling


each other.

o Magnetic Force, which arises between magnets or magnetic


materials.

Newton’s Laws of Motion


Sir Isaac Newton described how forces affect motion through his three laws
of motion:

1. Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia) states that an object will


remain at rest or continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted
upon by an external force. For example, a book on a table stays
stationary unless pushed.

2. Newton’s Second Law establishes the relationship between force,


mass, and acceleration. It states that the force acting on an object is
equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. This is represented by
the formula:

where is the force in newtons, is the mass in kilograms, and is the


acceleration in meters per second squared ().

3. Newton’s Third Law asserts that for every action, there is an equal
and opposite reaction. For instance, when a swimmer pushes against
the wall of a pool, the wall pushes back with equal force, propelling the
swimmer forward.

Friction

Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in
contact. It plays a significant role in everyday life, enabling activities like
walking and driving. Friction can be classified into:

 Static Friction, which prevents motion when an object is stationary.

 Kinetic Friction, which acts against an object already in motion.

The amount of friction depends on the nature of the surfaces and the normal
force pressing them together. Friction can be reduced by using lubricants,
smoothing surfaces, or incorporating wheels and rollers.

Gravity

Gravity is the attractive force between two masses. On Earth, gravity gives
objects weight and causes them to fall when dropped. The weight of an
object is calculated using the formula:

Here, represents weight in newtons, is mass in kilograms, and is the


gravitational acceleration, approximately on Earth.
Tension and Compression

Tension is a pulling force transmitted through a string, rope, or cable when it


is pulled tight. Compression, on the other hand, is a force that pushes or
squeezes matter together. Both forces are fundamental in structures such as
bridges and buildings.

Free-Body Diagrams

A free-body diagram is a tool used to visualize all the forces acting on an


object. The object is represented as a simple shape (like a box or point), and
arrows are drawn to indicate the direction and type of forces acting on it.
Each arrow is labeled for clarity, showing forces such as gravity, friction,
tension, and the normal force.

Key Formulas

Several important formulas are associated with forces:

1. Force:

2. Weight:

3. Friction Force: , where is the coefficient of friction and is the normal


force.

Forces are an essential concept in physics, as they explain interactions


between objects and the changes these interactions cause. A thorough
understanding of forces lays the foundation for studying motion, energy, and
mechanical systems.

Key Equations

1. Force: F=maF = maF=ma

2. Weight: W=mgW = mgW=mg

3. Friction Force: Ff=μFnF_f = \mu F_nFf=μFn


o μ\muμ: Coefficient of friction

o FnF_nFn: Normal force.

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