Read the following passage and HIGHLIGHT any key words.

A definition is a group of words which has the following pattern:

A (word to be defined) is a (larger group to which it belongs) which/that/who (list the
characteristics which make the word different from the rest of the group). An example is
.. . (An example may not need to be added.)



Use this pattern along with the information above, to complete the definitions for the following:
1. A contact force is a ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. A non-contact force is a ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Study the pictures below and STATE whether a contact or non-contact force is acting.






There are many different types of forces. Some forces act by contact and are
called contact forces. For example, when you push something by hand, or pull
it with a rope, you are using contact forces. Other examples are the wind
blowing the trees, ocean waves crashing on the rocks, and tiny forces holding
a soap film together in a bubble.
Some forces do not need contact, and can act at a distance. These are non-
contact forces. For example, two magnets exert a force on each other without
even touching. Other examples of non-contact forces are gravity and electric
forces.
For example a definition for the word forces would be:
Forces are a push, pull or twist that changes the motion of an object. An example is a
blowing wind.
In each example above, draw an arrow to show which direction the force is acting in

Read the following passage to find out about balanced and unbalanced forces.





Highlight or underline the section(s) of the text above which answer the following questions. Use a
different colour for each question.
1. How do we find the total force acting?
2. What does it mean when the forces are balanced?
3. What type of motion is produced by balanced forces?
4. What does it mean when the forces are unbalanced?
5. What type of motion is produced by unbalanced forces?

Now complete the paragraph below by filling in the gaps.
Forces acting in the same direction are ___________________ to find the force. Forces acting in
______________________ directions are subtracted to find the total force. When the total force is
_________________ the forces are said to be balanced. When the ____________________
acting on an object are balanced, the object is stationary or travelling at a
_____________________ speed.

A force has a size and direction. Two or more forces can act on an object.
Consider a tug-of-war game, here there are two forces acting in the opposite
directions.
Forces acting in the same direction are added together to find the total force.
Forces acting in opposite directions are subtracted to find the total force. When
the total force is zero, forces are balanced.
When forces acting on an object are balanced, the object must be travelling at a
constant speed (which may mean they are not moving, as they have a speed of
zero).
When the forces on an object are unbalanced, the sum of all the forces will not
equal zero. As a result of this the object changes its motion by speeding up
(accelerating), slowing down (decelerating) or changing its direction.
Completing a Table
Look at the six diagrams in the table below. Notice the arrows showing the direction and strength
of the forces.
In the middle column STATE whether the forces are balanced or not. In the right-hand column
STATE what type of motion would be observed.
Situation
Are the forces
balanced
or unbalanced?
What motion is observed?















































Complete the following sentences using the words in the box.
pushes pairs shape seen unbalanced
pulls acts arrows opposite Newtons
Forces
Forces are essentially _________________ or ________________ . A force (measured in
___________________ or N) always has a direction in which it ____________. Forces cannot be
_________________. We use ______________________ to show the direction in which a force
is acting. You can measure force with a Newton meter (sometimes called a spring balance). As
well as changing the motion of an object, forces can also change the ______________ of objects.
Force pairs
Forces generally act in _______________. For example, a space rocket moves because of the
reaction force on it when hot gases are propelled out of its engine creating an
______________________ force.
When objects remain stationary (or moving at a constant speed) it is because the forces acting on
them are all equal and _____________________________ .



Theres a fraction too much Friction
Read the following passage below to find out about friction.







Highlight or underline the section(s) of the text above which answer the following questions. Use a
different colour for each question.
1. When does friction occur?
2. Does friction always act?
3. What does friction depend on?

Now complete the following generalisation about friction.




Friction is an example of a contact force. It occurs whenever two surfaces in contact
try to move past each other. Try rubbing your hands together quickly. Then try
again with soap and water on your hands. Your hands should move past each other
more easily the soap has reduced the frictional forces between them.
Friction always opposes motion. Suppose you try to push a bookcase full of books,
and it doesnt move. This is because of the friction between the bookcase and the
floor. This frictional force is just as large as your push but in the opposite direction.
If you get someone to help you, and your combined push is greater than the frictional
force, then the bookcase will move.
Even when you do not move an object, friction still pushes against the motion. Stop
pedalling a bike and the frictional forces soon bring the bike to a stop.
Friction occurs because objects are never completely smooth. The roughness of the
two surfaces means there are many points which catch and stick together.
Friction depends on the type of surfaces that are rubbing together. Rough surfaces
generally produce more friction than smooth surfaces. The friction also depends on
the weight of an object. For example, a bookcase full of books is much harder to
push than an empty one.
When you try to push a heavy object, the force acting against you is called
_____________________ . The _______________________ the surface, the less the
friction is. The rougher the surface, the _________________________ the friction is.
Reducing Friction
Read the following passage, and CIRCLE the keywords:






Using the general format below for a definition, complete the definitions that follow:
A (word to be defined) is a (larger group to which it belongs) which/that/who (list the
characteristics which make the word different from the rest of the group). An example is
.. . (An example may not need to be added.)
1. A lubricant is a ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. A streamlined shape is a ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Now think about why you slip on a wet floor, why oil is used in a car engine, why you use grease
on a bicycle chain, why you put soap on your finger to remove a tight ring, and why your mouth
produces saliva. Now complete the following sentences.
Water, oil, grease, soap and saliva are all substances which ___________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
These substances are called ______________________________ .

Friction can be reduced in a number of ways:
1. A rolling object meets less friction than a sliding one. Ball bearings are an example
of this principle as they reduce friction between a wheel and an axle.
2. Lubricants are substances such as oil or grease that are used to reduce friction
between moving parts, by placing a layer between the two surfaces. For example, in
the human body there is a lubricating fluid between bones in joints.
3. Surfaces in contact can be polished so that they slide over one another more
easily. For example, surfers wax their boards.
4. If air is blown between two surfaces, the friction becomes very small. This is how a
hovercraft works.
5. Air resistance is the friction between a moving object and the air it is moving
through. Modern vehicles like cars and planes have a streamlined shape to reduce
air resistance. Surfboards, motorbikes, speedboats, and many fish are also
streamlined.
2010 Question 4: Forces
The Three Stages of Kates Bike Trip
1. Kate biked along the road at a constant speed.
2. As she came towards a crossing she slowed down to a stop.
3. After the woman crossed, Kate started biking away from the crossing.

Discuss the forces acting on Kate and the bike during the 3 stages of her trip.
In your answer you should
Describe what a force is and state its unit
Identify the four forces acting on Kate as she bikes
Draw a force diagram showing four forces acting on the bike at stage one of the trip
State whether the net force is balanced or unbalanced at stage 1, 2 and 3 of her trip
Explain what happens when forces are balanced and unbalanced
Explain how the forces change between stages 1 and 2
Explain why the net force in stage 3 causes Kate to start moving

2011 Question 4: Forces
4a Friction is a type of force that we come into contact with every day.
Explain how Friction can affect motion (movement of an object).
In your answer you should:
Define friction
State the unit force is measured in
State in what direction friction acts on an object in motion.
Explain how friction damages objects
Name and explain two ways friction is reduced, outlining how they work using a specific example.