STUDY MATERIAL (PHYSICS) FOR CLASS – 6
(INSTEAD OF THE CHAPTER AIR AROUND US)
FORCE AS PUSH AND PULL
We often use the word force in everyday life as push, pull, stretch and squeeze. Push and
pull tend to move a body while stretch and squeeze tend to change the shape or size of the
body. Following examples will make it clear.
A. Force as push:
1. To open a door, we push it.
2. To move a pile of rubbish, it is pushed by a broom.
3. To remove a pile of rubble (i.e. rough and broken pieces of stone),it is pushed by a bulldozer.
4. To move a trolley (or a baby cart), it is pushed by the man ( or care taker) as shown in Fig1.
Fig 1: Force as push to move the baby cart
5. If a car does not start by its engine, we have to push it to move as shown in Fig2.
Fig 2: Force as a push to move a car
In the above examples, force is applied as a push.
B. Force as a pull:
1. To move a grass roller on a lawn, it is pulled by a gardener (Fig 3).
Fig 3: Force as pull by the gardener to move the roller
2. To move a luggage trolley, the coolie applies force as a pull on the trolley (Fig 5).
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Fig 5: Force as pull on a luggage trolley
3. We pull a door to open it.
4. A rickshaw man pulls on the rickshaw to move it (Fig 6).
Fig 6: Force as pull to move a rickshaw
In the above examples, force is applied as a pull.
Thus, movement of a body is obtained as a result of a push or a pull. This push or pull is termed as
force.
Thus, force is a cause (a push or pull) which tends to result in the movement of a body.
EFFECTS OF A FORCE
When a force is applied on a body, it can have the following effects:
1. A force can move a body originally at rest.
2. A force can stop a moving body.
3. A force can make a moving body to move faster.
4. A force can slow down a moving body.
5. A force can change the direction of motion of a moving body.
6. A force can change the shape or size of a body.
1. A force can move a body originally at rest: When a force is applied on a body originally at rest, the
body begins to move. For example, (Fig 2). A grass roller when pulled begins to move (Fig 3). A ball lying
on the ground moves, when it is kicked.
2. A force can stop a moving body: When a force is applied on a movi ng body in a direction
opposite to the direction of motion of the body, it can be made to stop. For example, a moving
bicycle, bus or train is stopped by applying the brakes . A moving cricket ball is stopped by the
fielder when he catches it, by applying a force with his hands in a direction o pposite to the
motion of ball. ( Fig 7)
Fig 7: Force applied by the fielder while catching a ball, stops the
moving ball
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3. A force can make a moving body to move faster: When a force is applied on a moving body
in the direction in which it is moving, the body begins to move faster. For example, the speed of
bicycle increases, when more force is applied on the pedal by the cyclist. A swing moves faster
when a boy gives a push to it.
Fig 8: Force (push) on swing m oves it faster
4. A force can slow down a moving body: When a force is applied on a moving body in a
direction opposite to the direction of motion of the body, the body slows down or stops. For
example, the speed of a moving vehicle is slowed down by applying brakes.
5. A force can change the direction of motion of a moving body: If a force is applied on a
moving body in a direction other than its direction of motion, the direction of motion of the body
changes. For example, a player kicks a moving football to change its direction of motion (Fig 9),
Similarly in tennis and badminton, the direction of motion of the ball or cock is changed by
hitting it in the opposite direction.
Fig 9: Force changing the direction of motion of football
6. A force can change the shape or size of a body: When a force is applied on a body which
is not allowed to move, it gets deformed, i.e., the shape or size of the body changes. For
example, on squeezing a piece of rubber, its shape changes (fig 4), on str etching a rubber, its
length increases.
Fig 10: A force (squeeze) on rubber piece changes its shape
From the above discussion, we can define force as follows:
A force is that cause which changes the state of a body (either the state of rest or the
state of motion or the direction of motion) or changes the size or shape of the body.
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KINDS OF FORCES
Depending upon the application of forces, they are classified in two categories:
1. Contact forces, and 2. Non contact forces
1. Contact forces: The force which acts on bodies by making an actual contact is called contact
force.
Examples:
a. The muscular force applied as push and pull (Fig 12).
Fig 12: Muscular force as a contact force
b. The force of friction or frictional force exerted by a surface on a body in contact with it, in a
direction opposite to the direction in which the body is moved on the surface (Fig 13).
Fig 13: Force of friction as a contact force
c. The force of tension in a string when a load is suspended from it (Fig14).
Fig 14: Force of tension as a contact force
d. The force of reaction normal to the surface when a body is placed on a surface (Fig.15)
Fig 15: Force of reaction as contact force
2. Non contact forces: Forces which act on bodies with no contact with them are called non-contact
forces or forces from a distance.
Examples:
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Gravitational force between two bodies at a distance, such as the force of attraction between
two heavenly bodies, the force of attraction on a body by earth, etc. the weight of a body is the
force by which earth attracts that body, so the weight of a body is also called its force due to
gravity. It is the force of gravity on a body due to which it tends to fall vertically downwards. The
leaves and fruits fall from a tree downwards towards the ground, water in a river flows
downstream, a ball thrown up goes to a height and then returns back on the ground( Fig 16) are
some examples of motion due to gravitational force.
Fig 16: Gravitational force on a ball
Electrostatic forces between two charged bodies at a distance either repel or attract each
other. Unlike charges attract while the like charges repel. If a plastic comb rubbed on dry hair
is brought near small bits of paper, we find that the bits of paper begin to move towards the
comb (Fig 17) because of electrostatic force of attraction between unlike charges.
Fig 17: Electrostatic force of attraction makes the bits of
paper move towards the comb
Magnetic force: between the poles of two magnets at a distance. Like poles repel each other
while the unlike poles attract each other (Fig 18).
Fig 18: Magnetic force between the poles of two bar
magnets
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RECAPITULATION
Force is a push or pull which can change the state of rest or motion of the body or can
change the size and shape of the body(i.e. it can deform a body)
A force has no effect on mass of the body on which it is applied.
A force has both magnitude and direction.
Forces are of two types: (1) contact forces and (2) non-contact forces (or forces at a
distance).
Contact forces are (i) the muscular force applied as push or pull, (ii) force of friction (iii) the
force of reaction normal to the surface and (iv)the force of tension in a string pulled by a
load.
Non- contact forces are (i) gravitational force (ii)electrostatic force and (iii) magnetic force
EXERCISES
1. Write true or false for each statement:
a) The frictional force acts in the direction of motion of the body.
b) A force can change the direction of motion of a moving body.
c) A force increases the mass of the body when applied on it.
2. Fill in the blanks:
a) Force is applied as _______________ or ________________.
b) On squeezing a gum tube, its _____________ changes.
c) A moving football when kicked, its _________________ changes.
d) On applying brakes on a moving car, its speed ___________ .
e) Friction __________ motion.
3. Match the following columns:
Column A Column B
a. Non contact force i. repel
b. Like poles ii. Gravitational force
c. Contact force iii force of tension
4. Select the correct alternative:
i. A body falls downwards because of:
a) Electrical force
b) Gravitational force
c) Mechanical force
d) Magnetic force
ii. A force does not change
a) Mass
b) Length
c) Shape
d) State of motion
iii. A force to be expressed correctly requires
a) Only the magnitude
b) Only the direction
c) Both magnitude and direction
d) None of the above
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iv. Friction
a) Promotes motion
b) Opposes motion
c) Acts in the direction of motion
d) Is always a nuisance
5. Short/ Long Answer Questions:
1. Name the term used for push or pull.
2. Give one example each of a force as (i) a push, (ii) as pull, and (iii) a squeeze.
3. Explain the meaning of the term force.
4. What effect can a force have on a stationary body?
5. What effects can a force have on a moving body?
6. What effect can a force produce on a body which is not allowed to move?
7. Give one example each to indicate that the application of a force
a) Produces motion
b) Slows down motion
c) Changes the direction of motion
d) Deforms a body.
8. State the effect produced by a force in the following cases:
a) A man pushes a heavy cart
b) A player uses his stick to deflect the ball
c) A cyclist applies brakes
9. Name the type of force which acts in the following cases:
a) A bicycle comes to rest slowly when the cyclist stops pedaling
b) A stone falls from a roof
c) A comb rubbed with silk attracts bits of paper
d) A horse moves a cart
e) A magnet attracts an iron pin
f) A boy opens a door
g) A man rows a boat
10. What do you mean by the gravitational force? Give an example to illustrate it.
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