Forces

This cargo ship has a mass of about 100,000 tons.

However, it floats. Why does it float and not just
sink to the bottom of the ocean?
 Date:
LI: To learn about different types of
forces.

Learning Objectives
1. I can classify forces as either contact or non-
contact.
2. I can name different types of forces.
3. I can explain the effects of a force on an
object.
 Forces
The ship floats because of forces. There is a force
pulling it downwards, but another force pushing it
back up. These forces are balanced, so the ship
floats at the surface.
 Physics Topic 1: Forces
L1 – Forces
L2 – Force Diagrams
L3 – Weight
L4 – Air Resistance and
Friction
L5 – Streamlining
L6 – Speed
L7 – Pressure
L8 – Hooke’s Law
L9 – Turning Forces
L10* - Parachutes Project
L11 – Distance-Time Graphs
L12 – Investigating Motion
L13* - Bottle Rockets
 Fact of the Day
Isaac Newton is commonly
believed to have discovered
gravity after an apple fell on his
head while he was reading in
1666.
People already knew what the
effects of gravity were, Newton
was just the first person to
realise that the force of gravity
depends on the mass of two
objects and the distance
between them.
 What is a Force?
A force is an influence which can change the
motion of an object. Forces can change the
speed, direction or shape of an object. Forces are
either push or pull. The unit of force (F) is the
Newton (N).
 Contact Forces
Contact force occurs due to the physical contact
between two different objects. The objects are
physically touching, such as when you open a
door or kick a ball.
 Non-Contact Forces
Non-contact forces occur between objects which are not
in direct contact. If you jump out of a plane you will fall
towards the surface of the Earth, but the Earth does not
have to be touching you to make you fall.
 Types of Forces
On the next few slides you will learn the names
of different types of forces.

Your task is to make a table to show whether

each of these forces is a contact or a non-contact
force. Include a description of each force too.
 Gravity and Weight
Gravity is an effect caused
by any object which has
mass. It pulls objects
together. Even you create
your own gravity, but you
are far too small to notice
this effect.
Weight is the force caused
by gravity. This is what
causes you to fall.
 Thrust
Thrust is the force produced by engines, muscles
or anything that drives an object in a particular
direction.
It is sometimes called “driving force”
 Elastic Force
Elasticity means that materials can change their shape
when a force is applied and will return to their original
shape after this force is removed.
Rubber is a good example of how this works- when you
stop stretching a rubber band, it goes back to its original
shape.
 Magnetic Force
Magnetic force is found in magnets (surprise surprise). It
is caused by electric charges moving.
 Friction
Friction is caused when one object moves past
another and rubs against it. Friction always acts
in the opposite direction to the movement.
Friction is reduced on wet or smooth surfaces.
 Drag and Air Resistance
Drag and air resistance are both forms of friction. This
means they act in the opposite direction to movement.
Air resistance is caused by air particles colliding with the
moving object and pushing it backwards. Drag can refer
to friction in gases such as air, or liquids such as water.
 Electrostatic
Electrostatic force occurs between electrically
charged objects, such as protons and electrons
within atoms. Objects with the same charge
(positive-positive or negative-negative) repel
each other, and opposite charges attract.
 Upthrust
Upthrust is caused by the pressure in a fluid. Pressure
increases with depth so the bottom of an object will
experience more pressure than the top. This difference
in pressure results in a difference between the force on
the bottom and the top, known as upthrust. Boats float
at the surface of water because the weight of the boat is
balanced by the upthrust.
 Tension
Tension force is found in
ropes, strings and cables
when they are holding an
object against a force
such as weight.
 Question
When a person sits on the ground, or when a
book rests on a table, are there any forces acting
upon them? If so, which ones? If there are any
forces acting on them, why aren’t they moving?
 Normal Force
The last force we will look at is normal force, sometimes
called reaction force.
The normal force stops objects from passing through
one another. It is called normal because it acts at right
angles to the surface. It is equal in size and opposite
direction to the force applied to the solid surface.
 Taboo
One person from each group sits at the front of the class
facing away from the board.
A word will appear at the top of the screen. Your group
must describe this word to you without saying the
bullet point words.
You will get more points the faster you guess the word.

5 points: Under 10 seconds.

3 points: Between 10 and 20 seconds.
1 point: Between 20 and 30 seconds.
Weight
• Gravity
• Down
Contact Force
• Touch
• Physical
Friction
• Touching
• Moving
Electrostatic
• Positive
• Negative
Upthrust
• Water
• Float
Magnetic
• Attract
• Magnet
 Extension Task
The shape of an object can affect the size of the forces
acting upon it. Forces strongly affected by the shape of
the object include upthrust, drag and air resistance.
Investigate these forces further, how their shape affects
the size of the force and why objects which have to deal
with these forces are shaped the way they are.
 Key Terms
Force: A force is an influence which can change the motion of an object. Forces can
push, pull or twist an object.
Contact Force: Contact force occurs due to the physical contact between two different
objects. The objects are physically touching, such as when you open a door or kick a
ball.
Non-Contact Force: Non-contact forces occur between objects which are not in direct
contact.
Gravity: Gravity is an effect caused by any object which has mass. It pulls objects
together.
Weight: Weight is the force caused by gravity. This is what causes you to fall.
Thrust: Thrust is the force produced by engines, muscles or anything that drives an
object in a particular direction.
Elasticity: Elasticity means that materials can change their shape when a force is
applied and will return to their original shape after this force is removed.
 Key Terms
Friction: Acts opposite to the direction of movement, caused by uneven
surfaces. Contact force.
Drag: Friction in liquids or gases can also be called drag. Contact force.
Air Resistance: Another name for friction in air. Contact force.
Electrostatic: Non-contact force caused by electrically charged particles. Same
charges repel, opposite charges attract.
Repel: When two objects push each other away.
Upthrust: Force in liquids caused by pressure differences between top and
bottom of object. Keeps boats floating on the surface. Contact force.
Tension: Found in ropes and cables which are stretched, allows them to return
to original shape once applied force has been released. Contact force.
Normal Force: The force which acts through a solid surface to counteract an
applied force. Contact force.
 Test Your Knowledge
Test how well you’ve mastered this lesson using
the link to the quiz below:

https://
quizizz.com/embed/quiz/62c016b9eea2a7001de
90f65
 “Mr Luke, I Wasn’t Here When We Did This”

Introduction to Forces: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Uo7RufH4c

Contact and Non-Contact Forces (GCSE level so some parts go

into more detail than needed for KS3): https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCPTKRaScgE
 Learning Objectives

I can classify forces as either contact or

non-contact.

I can name different types of forces.

I can explain the effects of a force on an

object.
Past Paper Questions
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Past Paper Questions
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