ICSE Class 10 Physics - Chapter 1: Force - Study Notes
**ICSE Class 10 Physics - Chapter 1: Force - Detailed Study Notes**
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### **1. Force**
- **Definition**: A push or pull acting on a body which tends to change its state of rest or motion, or
the shape of the body.
- **Effects of Force**:
- Change in state of rest or motion.
- Change in speed.
- Change in direction.
- Change in shape or size.
### **2. Balanced and Unbalanced Forces**
- **Balanced Forces**:
- Equal and opposite forces acting on a body.
- Net force is zero.
- No change in the state of rest or motion.
- **Unbalanced Forces**:
- Unequal or not opposite forces.
- Causes change in state of motion or rest.
### **3. Resultant Force**
- A single force that represents the vector sum of all the forces acting on a body.
- **If forces are in same direction**: Add the magnitudes.
- **If forces are in opposite directions**: Subtract the smaller from the larger.
### **4. Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)**
- A body continues in its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external
unbalanced force.
- **Inertia**: The tendency of a body to resist a change in its state of motion or rest.
- Inertia depends on **mass** - greater the mass, greater the inertia.
### **5. Linear Momentum**
- **Definition**: Product of mass and velocity.
- **Formula**: momentum = mass × velocity
- SI unit: kg·m/s
- **Vector quantity**
### **6. Newton's Second Law of Motion**
- The rate of change of momentum is directly proportional to the applied force and takes place in the
direction of force.
- **Formula**: force = mass × acceleration
- SI unit: newton (N)
- **1 newton** = Force that produces an acceleration of 1 m/s² in a mass of 1 kg.
### **7. Newton's Third Law of Motion**
- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- Action and reaction act on different bodies.
### **8. Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum**
- Total linear momentum of a system remains constant if no external force acts on it.
### **9. Friction**
- **Definition**: The opposing force that comes into play when one body moves or tends to move
over another.
- **Types**:
- Static friction
- Limiting friction
- Kinetic friction (sliding and rolling)
- **Advantages**:
- Enables walking
- Useful in braking, gripping tools, etc.
- **Disadvantages**:
- Causes wear and tear
- Wastes energy
- **Methods to Reduce Friction**:
- Lubricants
- Ball bearings
- Streamlined shapes
### **10. Centripetal Force**
- A force that acts towards the center of a circular path.
- **Needed** to keep an object moving in a circular path.
- Example: Tension in a string during circular motion.
### **11. Turning Effect of Force (Moment of Force)**
- **Definition**: The turning effect of a force about a point.
- **Formula**: moment = force × perpendicular distance from pivot
- SI unit: newton metre (N·m)
- **Clockwise moment**: Negative
- **Anticlockwise moment**: Positive
### **12. Principle of Moments**
- For a body in equilibrium: Sum of clockwise moments = Sum of anticlockwise moments
### **13. Couple**
- A pair of equal and opposite forces acting on a body but not along the same line.
- Produces rotational motion only.
### **14. Centre of Gravity**
- **Definition**: The point where the entire weight of the body appears to act.
- Depends on shape and distribution of mass.
- Can lie outside the object.
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### **Summary**
- Force changes motion and shape.
- Newton's laws explain motion and its causes.
- Friction is both useful and wasteful.
- Moments cause rotational effects.
- Conservation laws apply in closed systems.
- Understanding force is key to understanding mechanics.