NATURAL SCIENCES TERM 3
Types of forces
-A force can be defined as a pull, push, or twisting on an object.
- Force is measured in Newtons (N)
- Forces act in pairs ( when a force pushes an object forward another is acting in the
opposite. direction)
-A force can change the direction of an object, speed, shape, or stop an object in
motion.
Frictional Force:
The force that opposes the relative motion of two surfaces in contact. For example,
when you slide a book across a table, friction slows it down.
Normal Force:
The perpendicular force exerted by a surface against an object resting on it. It balances
the object's weight and prevents it from falling through the surface.
Tension Force:
The pulling force is transmitted along a string, rope, or cable when it is pulled tight by
forces acting from opposite ends.
Air Resistance Force:
Though often associated with non-contact forces, air resistance is technically a contact
force since it involves the collision of air molecules with the surface of a moving object.
Applied Force:
The force applied to an object by a person or another object. For instance, when you
push a door open, the force your hand exerts on the door is applied.
Spring Force:
The force exerted by a compressed or stretched spring on any object attached to it. This
is a type of contact force that follows Hooke’s Law.
Non-contact forces ( Field Forces)
- Field forces can act a distance from each other or create a field around them.
Magnetic Force
-Magnetic attracts magnetic materials such as iron, steel, cobalt, and nickel
- A magnet can a north a south pole with like poles repelling and unlike poles attracting
Mass: The amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg).
Magnet: An object that produces a magnetic field and can attract or repel other
magnetic materials.
Magnetic Field: The region around a magnet where magnetic forces can be detected.
Magnetic Force: The force exerted by a magnet on magnetic materials or other
magnets.
Electrostatic Force: The force between charged particles; like charges repel, opposite
charges attract.
Proton: A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Electron: A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom
Magnetic material: Iron, Nickel, Cobalt, Steel
Gravity
-There is a pulling force between objects which varies according to their masses. Such
a pulling force is observed between objects on Earth and the Sun, the Sun and their
planets moving around it
- The pulling force between objects is directly proportional to the masses of the objects.
- The force is also affected by the distance between the forces, the force is inversely
related to the distance between them.
Earth: 9.8
Moon: 1.6
W= m x g ( gravitational acceleration m.s^2)
Fnet. Same direction +
Different direction -
Electrostatic force
-Rubbing materials together results in a gain or loss of electrons
- The loss of the electrons leaves the material + and a gain of electrons results in the
material being - charged
- Like repel, unlike attract
Electric cells as energy systems
Electric cells
- An electric cell refers to a system where chemical reactions result in the flow of
electricity
- The flow of electricity occurs through the external circuit
- An electric circuit is a closed loop through which electric current flows
- A battery is made up of two or more cells connected
Cell; device that produces electricity by converting chemical energy into electrical
energy
Electrodes- a solid substance through which an electric current enters/ leaves a
cell
Volt(V)- a unit of measurement of the energy that a cell can produce
Current is the flow of electric charge (electrons) through a conductor, measured
in amperes (A). It's like the flow of water through a pipe.
Voltage is the difference in electric potential between two points, which drives the
current through a circuit, measured in volts (V). It's like the pressure that pushes
water through the pipe.
Current is the flow of electric charge through a conductor,
Resistance-uses of resistors
-A conductor allows electric current to pass through.
-Some of the energy in a conductor is lost as heat
-All conductors have some resistance but differs from one conductor to another
- A resistor controls the movement of the current it passes through
- Resistors change electric energy into useful energy
Resistance: the ability of a component in an electrical circuit to oppose the flow of
current
Conductor: A component made of material that allows electric current to flow
through
Rheostat- variable resistor- component that can change resistance
Diode- a component in an electrical circuit that controls the flow of current in a
particular direction
1) A cell is a chemical system in which certain chemical reactions can cause
the flow of electric charge to charge through an external circuit
2) When a cell is connected to an external circuit the substances react.
3) The reaction produces an electric charge with a high potential energy
Factors that affect resistance: Thickness, length, type of material and temperature
1. Thickness (Cross-sectional Area):
● Effect: The thicker the material (i.e., the larger the cross-sectional area), the
lower the resistance.
● Explanation: When the cross-sectional area is larger, there are more paths for
the electric current to flow through, which reduces resistance. Think of it like
water flowing through a pipe—if the pipe is wider, water flows more easily.
2. Length:
● Effect: The longer the material, the higher the resistance.
● Explanation: In a longer conductor, electrons have to travel a greater distance,
encountering more collisions with atoms along the way, which increases
resistance. It's similar to walking a longer distance—there’s more opportunity for
obstacles along the path.
3. Type of Material:
● Effect: Different materials have different levels of resistance.
● Explanation: Materials with more free electrons, such as metals like copper and
silver, have lower resistance. Materials with fewer free electrons, like rubber or
glass, have higher resistance. This property is intrinsic to the material and is
often expressed as its resistivity.
4. Temperature:
● Effect: As temperature increases, resistance typically increases for most
conductive materials.
● Explanation: When the temperature of a material rises, its atoms vibrate more
vigorously. This increased atomic movement causes more collisions between the
electrons and the atoms, hindering the current flow and increasing resistance.
However, in some materials like semiconductors, resistance can decrease with
increased temperature.
Series Circuits
- The circuit connected only one pathway for current to flow
Vtotal: V1+ V2+ V3+ V4….Vn
Atotal= A1=A2=A3=A4……An
Parallel circuits
V1=V2=V3=V3…Vn
Atotal= A1+A2+A3…An
More voltage more current
V= Ix R
R=V/I
I= V/R
Current increases, resistance decreases
Earth mWire: Safety wire that directs excess current to the ground to prevent electric
shock.
Neutral Wire: Completes the circuit by carrying current back to the power source;
normally at 0V.
Live Wire: Carries the current from the power source; typically at high voltage.
Fuse: A safety device that melts and breaks the circuit if the current is too high,
preventing damage.
