FORCES

A force is defined as a push or a pull acting on an object.

It is represented with a line with an arrow showing the direction in which it acts.
20N
We can’t see forces themselves but we can see the effects of a force.

Effects of forces
1. Cause a stationary object to move.
eg. A push on the bicycle pedal
2. Stop a moving object.
eg. Friction from brakes of vehicles
3. Speeds up a moving object.
eg. A push from behind to a walking person
4. Slows down a moving object.
eg. Friction on brakes or air resistance on the body
5. Change direction of a moving object.
eg. -turning force on the steering wheel has a
turning effect on vehicles.
- the gravitational attraction between the satellite
and Earth causes the circular motion of satellite.
6. Change shape/deform an object.
eg. Stretching or compressing an elastic body like matress, squeezing a foam or
plastic ball.

Classifications of forces
Generally, there are 2 classifications of forces:

1. Contact Forces
These need physical contact with objects on which they act.
eg. Friction and Compression

2. Non - contact forces

These do not need physical contact with objects on which they act.
eg. Gravity, magnetic and electrostatic

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TYPES OF FORCES
1. Gravitational force

Gravity is the force of attraction between two objects that have mass.
The force of gravity depends on the:
o masses of the objects.
o Distance between them.
The bigger the masses the higher the force of gravity. The larger the distance, the smaller the force of
gravity. eg. Gravity of earth on objects is great (10N/kg) due to the earths’s greater mass compared
to the other bodies eg. If a person jumps up from the earth’s surface, the gravitational force of the
earth pulls him down /back to the surface of the earth.

Mass and Weight

Weight is a measure of the gravitational force on an object.
It changes with the position of the object.
It is always directed towards the centre of the earth.
Weight changes with distance away from the centre of the Earth because gravity changes too.
It is measured using a newton meter. Its higher at the poles and lower at the equator. This is due to
the elliptical shape of the earth hence, the distance from the equator to the centre of the earth is more
that from the poles to the centre of the earth.
Since weight is a force, its SI unit is Newtons (N)
Mass is the amount of matter in an object and does not change with position of the object.

Relationship between mass and weight

Weight = mass x gravitational field strength
or W= mg
m= W/g and g=W/m
NB: The gravity of the earth is approximately 9.8Nkg-1 or 10N/kg
Example:
Find the weight of a girl who has a mass of 50000g.
Solution: first change g to kg.
W = mg
W= 50 x 10 = 500N

A summary of the differences between mass and weight are are given below:

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 HOME FUN
Note: Each answer must have units

1. Find the weight on earth of the following: [6 marks]

a) A cat of mass 1.5kg
b) A pencil of mass 5.0g
c) A lorry of mass 15 tonnes

2. A boy has a weight of 650N. What is his mass given that gravity = 10N/kg?
[2marks]
3. A space scientist of mass 72kg finds that her weight on a certain planet was
990N. Calculate the force of gravity of the planet. [2marks]

4. The mass of an object is 50kg. If its weight is 1000N in a certain planet,

calculate the gravitational field strength of the planet(gravity) [2marks]

5. The gravity of the moon is 1.67N/kg.

(a) Find the weight of a scientist of mass 90kg on the moon? [2marks]

(b) What would be the mass of the scientist on earth? [1 ma rk]

2. Friction
Friction is a force that opposes the relative motion between two surfaces in contact.
Friction is always opposite in direction to the force acting on an object.

• Friction acts in the opposite direction to the direction of the motion of the object.

Factors which Friction depends on include:

(a) The nature of the surfaces:
• The rougher the surface, the higher the friction
(b) The weight of the object:
• The higher the weight, the greater the friction.
NB: Friction does not depend on the area of contact.

How to reduce friction

Frictional force cannot be eliminated but only reduced in the following ways:
• Lubrication: Applying lubricants such as oil and grease between the moving parts.
• Smoothening surfaces: e.g. Waxing of surfaces reduces friction on them; bodies of boats and
aero-planes are made smooth to reduce friction with water and air.
• Using rollers and ball bearings
• Air cushioning

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Advantages/uses of friction
• We need friction to walk
• We need friction to write
• We need friction to stop a moving car when the brakes are applied.
• When lighting a match stick.
Disadvantages of friction
• Causes wear and tear of moving parts of a machine.
• Causes noise pollution (from rubbing parts).
• Causes the production of unwanted heat eg. in engines.

3. Upthrust force
It is the force that acts upwards on bodies that are immersed in a liquid or gas.
It makes the bodies to be able to float.
It causes objects to appear lighter (weigh less) when in liquids or gases.
It depends on the density of the liquid or gas. The higher the density, the more the upthrust it exerts.
Upthrust also depends on the volume of the object. The larger the volume, the higher the upthrust.

Determination/Measuring upthrust in liquids

Side arm

UPTHRUST

Displaced water

Experime nt’s Results (from group’s findings):

The weight of solid in air W1 = …………………… N
The weight of solid when in liquid W2 = …………………… N

The upthrust on the solid (W1 – W2 ) = ( …………. - ………….. ) = …………………… N

Therefore, weight of displaced water = Upthrust =...................... N

4. Electrostatic force
It is the force of attraction or repulsion between charged particles.
There are two types of charges: Positive (+) and negative (-)
When materials are rubbed they gain charges due to the friction.
When a plastic ruler is rubbed on hair it attracts small pieces of paper.
When a glass surface is wiped with a dry cloth it attracts dust particles.

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 When shoes are polished they attract dust. When a person touches a highly charged
conductor, her hair stand straight.

5. Air resistance
-It is the force of friction experienced by objects moving fast through air.
Bikes, cars and other vehicles experience air resistance as they move.
-The faster the object moves, the larger the air resistance becomes.
The top speed of a vehicle is reached when the force from the cyclist or engine is balanced by air
resistance.

How to minimize air resistance

-Racing cyclists crouch down low on their bikes to re duce the air resistance on them. This helps
them to cycle faster. They also wear streamlined helmets.
-Modern cars are also streamlined. Their smooth shapes make the air resistance smaller, which
allows them to travel further on the same amount of fuel.

6. Elastic Forces
An elastic force occurs when a material is stretched or compressed. Elastic forces are either tension
of compression forces.
eg. a diving board exerts an upward elastic force on the diver when it is bent downward

(a) Tension
A tension force is a pulling force exerted by an object when it is stretched.
NB: The object may not be elastic but experiences tension; such as a rope.

(b) Compression
A compression force is a pushing force exerted by a material when it is squeezed or compressed.
The size of the compression force exerted by a material is equal to the size of the force that
compresses the material. eg compresing or stretching a spring.

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6. Magnetic Force
This is the attraction or repulsion force that exists between two magnets. Like poles attract while
unlike poles repel.
The attraction force also exists between magnets and any other magnetic object.

8. Normal Force
The table is exerting an upward normal force on the cup, caused by compression.
The cup is exerting a downward force on the table, caused by gravity or its weight.

Normal force is always perpendicular to the plane or surface of contact. The table in the two
diagrams above provides the normal force.

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