IGCSE

&
CSEC
 Mr.Emile Wihby
Lecturer/
Instructor
 BSc.

Contact info:
 784-6377
 [email protected]
 CSEC & IGCSE Physics
Syllabus
6) ELECTRICITY
1) MECHANICS
7) MAGNETISM

2) THERMAL PHYSICS
8) PHYSICS OF THE ATOM

3) KINETIC THEORY
9) ELECTRONS AND ATOMS

4) WAVES
10) RADIOACTIVITY

5) OPTICS
SUBTOPICS IN
MECHANICS
1) SCIENTIFIC METHOD
2) MEASUREMENT
3) VECTORS AND SCALARS
4) STATICS (FORCES)
5) DYNAMICS : MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE
6) ENERGY
7) HYDROSTATICS
 Today’s Agenda
• EXPLAIN THE EFFECTS OF FORCES.

• IDENTIFY TYPES OF FORCES.

• DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF OBJECTS.

• SHOW HOW DERIVED QUANTITIES AND THEIR RELATED UNITS ARE PRODUCED.

• RECALL THE SPECIAL NAMES GIVEN TO THE UNITS FOR SOME DERIVED QUANTITIES.

• EXPRESS DERIVED UNITS USING THE INDEX NOTATION.

• IDENTIFY SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE APPLICATION OF A FORCE WILL RESULT IN A TURNING

EFFECT.
Lecture 4
SECTION A: MECHANICS
• STATICS (FORCES)

“Teachers who makes

physics boring are
criminals”
– Walter Lewin
 What is a
Force ?
How various forces are produced ?

Why does your pen move along the paper as your write? Because you
push it along the paper. If you do not push it, the pen will not move.
Why does a bow move and change shape when you pull the string
before releasing an arrow? Because you exert a pull on the string (and
also a push on the bow). If you do not pull the string, the bow and the
string will not move and change their shape. Why does a cricket ball
change direction when you hit it? Because you have pushed it with the
bat. So this shows pulling can cause bodies to move and to change
their shape, and pushing can cause a body to move or come to rest or
change its direction. The push on the pen, the pull on the bowstring
and the effect of the bat are all examples of forces. (Physics for CSEC
Examinations. 2014.)
 How various forces are
produced ?
 Forces are produced in a number of quite different ways. Some of these occur in
nature; others generally come about as a result of human action. Whatever the
influence, the term used to describe a force depends on the way in which the
force is brought about.

 The different types of force we will meet in our study of physics are:

• mechanical – the force between surfaces that are in contact with each other.

• elastic – the force in materials which can stretch or be compressed to a length

different from their natural length.

• gravitational – the attractive force between masses, however small these masses
may be.
How various forces are
produced ?

• electrostatic – the force between bodies which carry an electric charge.

• magnetic – the force between bodies that are magnetized.

• nuclear – the force between the neutrons and protons found in the nuclei of atoms.
 Contact forces and Non-contact
forces
 Each of these six types of force belongs to one or the other of two main
categories namely contact forces and non-contact forces. This classification is
shown in the classification map in figure1, which shows the contact forces
(mechanical forces and elastic forces) and non-contact forces (gravitational
forces, electrostatic forces, magnetic forces and nuclear forces). Each of these
types of force is produced in a particular way.
 Contact forces and Non-contact
forces
 Contact force

A ‘contact’ force is a force that exists between objects that are in contact. There are
countless instances in everyday life of such forces being involved. Such forces are present, for
example, when we stand, walk, use a rope to pull on a tree trunk or lean against a surface.

 Non-contact force
A ‘non-contact’ force is a force that exists between two objects that may be separated from
each other. We describe this effect as ‘action at a distance’ since, although the objects are
separated from each other, there is still a force between them. Examples of non-contact forces
are gravitational, electrostatic and magnetic forces.
 Contact forces
 Mechanical forces

These forces are produced when two bodies, come into contact with each other. The
action of one body, A say, pressing against another body, B, produces a thrust (a push)
and to this push of A on B there will be a resulting ‘push-back’ of B on A. These two
forces are equal and they act in opposite directions. They are called ‘paired forces. Such
forces occur constantly in our everyday experience. It is a very common type of force
and it occurs in different forms and in different circumstances. In almost every one of our
everyday activities this type of force is present. As long as, we touch objects, use
instruments and appliances, lie, sit, etc., one form of this type of force or another plays
an important part. We use one mechanical force to walk and meet another when we do
‘push-ups’ and yet a different type when we swim. What are the different forms of
mechanical force we use in performing our daily routine? (Physics for CSEC
Examinations. 2014.)
 The Elastic force
The other type of contact force is the elastic force. Although it is not as common as the first, it
is nevertheless very familiar. (Just imagine life without rubber bands!) What did we use
instead? This is the type of force upon which acrobats and gymnasts depend when they use
the trampoline. It is the type with which the exercise enthusiasts were concerned when they
‘pulled strands’ (not so common nowadays) or used resistance bands. What are some of the
situations in which the elastic force is present? The types of force with which we are most
familiar are probably the first three listed above namely mechanical, elastic and gravitational.
We have already discussed the first two, both of which are contact forces. We go now to the
non-contact forces. What is the importance of the gravitational force in our everyday lives? The
last three types of force, electrostatic, magnetic and nuclear, are much less familiar than the
first three. Although we may not be aware of their existence or their importance, they
nevertheless play a very important part in all the technology we use today. Much of it depends
on the important part played by electrons and protons in the electrical and electronic
components used in present-day technology.
(Physics for CSEC Examinations. 2014.)
 Non- Contact Forces
 Gravitational force

Since gravitational force is the type of force that exists between masses only, we
need first to understand the nature of ‘mass’ or what ‘mass’ means. Some say that
mass is ‘quantity of matter’, but we will agree that this ‘definition’ can be very
misleading when we ‘consider whether a large block of ‘Styrofoam’ has more mass
than a handful
(Physics of soil.
for CSEC Examinations. 2014.)
  Mass and weight
The mass of a body is the quantity of matter making up the body. The
weight of a body is the force of gravity on the body. The weight of a body
depends on the gravitational field strength that acts on it. On Earth, the
generally accepted value of the gravitational field strength is 10 N kg–1.
This is equal in value to the acceleration due to gravity = 10 m s–2. Both
are given the symbol g. The units are equivalent.
weight = mass × gravitational field strength

W = mg

An object of mass 1 kg therefore has a weight W = 1 kg × 10 N kg–1 = 10 N. A

breadfruit of mass 2.0 kg has a weight of 20 N on Earth but only just over 3.2 N
on the Moon where the gravitational field strength is much lower; it is completely
weightless in outer space where there is no gravity. The mass of the breadfruit is
the same at each location since it is comprised of the same quantity of matter.
What is a Gravitational force ?

Gravitational forces are attractive forces that exist between bodies

due to their masses. The gravitational force of a planet on an object is the
object’s weight. The Moon is kept in orbit around the Earth by gravitational
force.
(DeFreitas 2016)
The Magnitude of a Gravitational
Force
The magnitude of the gravitational force between two bodies
increases as the mass of each of the bodies increases,but
decreases rapidly as their separation increases. To
understand how this forces varies with the size of the
masses and their distance apart, see figure 2.

(a) When separation is d, gravitational force = F.

When separation changes to d/2, force
increases to 4F. Force varies inversely as the
square of separation.

(b) When at separation d one mass is increased by

4, the gravitational force increases to 4F. Force
varies directly as mass size.

(DeFreitas 2016)
The Magnitude of a Gravitational
Force
Gravitational forces are generally so very small that we may well be unaware that they
exist at all. This is so only because the masses we meet ordinarily are very small
compared with the mass of the Earth, which exerts an appreciable gravitational force
even on objects of small mass (for example a grain of sugar!) The gravitational force
between two objects acts on both of them (figure 3).

If the objects in question are A and B, then A attracts B with a certain force, F in one
direction, and B attracts A in the opposite direction with a force of the same size (and so
–F). This is what we mean when we say that forces occur in pairs. The presence of one
force, F, gives rise to the pairing force, –F. Note that these two forces act on different
bodies and are of the same nature namely, gravitational. Force F acts on body B and
force –F acts on body A.
 The Magnitude of a Gravitational
Force
 Mass and Gravitational
Force
The Earth, with its very large mass, must have a very large inertia. Objects on Earth, on the
other hand, all have a small inertia by comparison, because of their relatively small mass.
The force between the Earth and another body will act both ways, one on the body (due to
the Earth’s pull) towards the Earth and the pairing force on the Earth (due to the body’s pull)
towards the body (see figure 4). Since the inertia of the earth is so very great, its response to
the pull of bodies on Earth will be negligible and can be ignored. However, the force the
Earth exerts on the bodies on the Earth will be large enough to cause them to move
appreciably. Their movement will be in the direction of the attractive force, which is towards
the centre of the Earth. All bodies released from a point above the earth will therefore fall
towards the centre of the earth. This direction of fall is what we know as the vertical. The
space around the Earth in which masses feel a pull from the Earth is called the gravitational
field of the Earth. The force which the Earth exerts on one kilogram of mass is called the
gravitational field strength of the Earth. This quantity is represented by the letter g. (Kennett
and Duncan 2010)
Mass and Gravitational Force

Above the Earth’s surface, because

g2 < g1 , the weight of the mass m
is less than if it is at the Earth’s
surface.
 Mechanical Forces
 Mechanical forces are those that exist between bodies in contact. These can be
pushes, pulls, normal reactions, friction, etc. Friction is a mechanical force that
opposes the relative motion of the surfaces of bodies in contact with each other.

Examples of mechanical forces are:

• thrust – a ‘push’ exerted on a surface

• normal reaction – the thrust (called a normal

reaction), resulting from an initial thrust between
two solid surfaces in contact, the thrust being
always perpendicular (or normal) to the surface
exerting it.

• tension – a force in a thread, string, or chain,

called tension, which can act in opposite
directions (on different bodies).

• friction – a force between and parallel to two

solid surfaces which are in contact and are
moving relative to each other.
 Magnetic Forces
You have probably seen the arrangement shown in figure 5. This shows
two bar magnets hanging from two strings in line with each other with
the north poles facing away. These magnets are repelling (pushing away)
each other. The force of repulsion is a magnetic force, which can act at a
distance. This is clearly a noncontact force (Kennett and Duncan 2010)
 Elastic Forces
If an elastic band is pulled between the first finger and thumb of each
hand, it will stretch. The pull exerted by each hand changes the length of
the band. As the hand pulls one end of the band in one direction, the
tension in the band exerts an opposite force on that hand. This is another
example of forces acting in pairs and on different bodies. In the same
manner, a hanging rubber cord will stretch if a ball is attached to it,
becoming longer and thinner (figure 6). (Kennett and Duncan 2010)
 Nuclear Forces
Nuclear forces act between neutrons and protons within the nuclei of
atoms . They are the forces that hold the protons and neutrons of the
atoms together within the nucleus (figure 7). These are immensely strong
forces and they act only over short distances within the nucleus. You will
learn more about this force in your later study of physics. This is perhaps
the only type of force that we do not come across in our everyday
activities, since it is found only in the nuclei of atoms. (Kennett and
Duncan 2010)
 RECAP
 Today we learnt :

 We discussed the effects of forces.

 We identified the different types of forces.

 Determine the weight of objects.

 Show how derived quantities and their related units are produced.

 Recall the special names given to the units for some derived quantities.

 Express derived units using the index notation.

 Identify situations in which the application of a force will result in a

turning effect.
CLASSWORK

CSEC JUNE 2006

PASTPAPER
CLASSWORK
JUNE 2006
CSEC Past
paper
 CLASSWOR
K

JUNE 2005 CSEC Past paper

 Next Class

 In our next session, we will be covering:

 Dynamics : Motion in a straight line
 REFERENCES
DeFreitas, Peter. 2016. Physics - a Concise Revision Course for
CSEC (R). London, England: Collins.

Forbes, Darren. 2013. Physics for CSEC CXC. Cheltenham,

England: Nelson Thornes.

Kennett, Heather, and Tom Duncan. 2010. Physics for CSEC

Examination + CD. 2nd ed. London, England: Hodder
Education.

Physics for CSEC Examinations. 2014.

 THE END

Thank you for your

attention…….

Have a nice
day !!!!!