Physics Notes: Forces
Forces
A force is a push or pull that can cause an object to move, stop, change direction, or deform. It
is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The SI unit of force is the
Newton (N).
Types of Forces
1. Contact Forces:
○
Friction: Opposes the motion between two surfaces in contact.
○
Tension: Force transmitted through a rope, string, or cable.
○
Normal Force: Perpendicular force exerted by a surface to support an
object.
○ Air Resistance: A type of frictional force acting on objects moving through
air.
○ Applied Force: Force applied by an external agent.
2. Non-Contact Forces:
○ Gravitational Force: Attraction between two masses.
○ Electrostatic Force: Force between charged objects.
○ Magnetic Force: Attraction or repulsion between magnetic poles.
Characteristics of Forces
1. Magnitude: How strong the force is.
2. Direction: The line along which the force acts.
3. Point of Application: Where the force is applied on the object.
Effects of Forces
1. Can change the shape of an object (e.g., squeezing clay).
2. Can change the motion of an object:
○ Speed up (acceleration).
○ Slow down (deceleration).
○ Change direction.
3. Can make a stationary object move or keep a moving object stationary.
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
1. Balanced Forces:
○ Equal in size, opposite in direction.
○ No net force, object remains in its state of motion (stationary or moving at
constant velocity).
2. Unbalanced Forces:
○ Not equal, resulting in a net force.
○ Causes change in the state of motion (acceleration or deceleration).
Newton’s Laws of Motion
1. First Law (Law of Inertia):
○An object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an
external force.
2. Second Law:
○ (Force = mass × acceleration).
○ Explains how force affects motion.
3. Third Law:
○ For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Common Equations
1.
● Force = mass × acceleration.
2. Weight ():
○
○ Weight = mass × gravitational acceleration ().
3. Frictional Force ():
○
○ : Coefficient of friction, : Normal force.
Free-Body Diagrams
● Diagrams showing all forces acting on an object.
● Helps analyze forces and predict motion.
Examples
1. A car accelerating due to engine force (unbalanced force).
2. A book resting on a table experiences balanced forces: gravitational force downward
and normal force upward.
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