Chapter 2

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12
Forces And Motion

The Effects Of A Force

A force acting on an object Types of force
can change its • Frictional force • Gravitational force
• speed • shape • Mechanical force • Electrical force
• direction • size • Nuclear force • Magnetic force

Balanced Forces Unbalanced Forces

The forces on the person are balanced. The forces acting on the book are not balanced.
R The floor pushes The friction between the
upwards on the table/book surfaces exerts
person. a leftward force upon the R The table pushes
rightward-moving book. upwards on the book.
mg = R F
Gravity pulls
downwards on Gravity pulls
the person.
mg = R mg downwards on
mg the book.

Newtonʼs Second Law Of Motion

Force is directly proportional to the rate of change of momentum and it occurs in the
direction of the force.
mv – mu v–u F = ma F = ma
F∝ t = m ( t ) = ma
F
F = kma
F = ma (k = 1) The same force exerted on a larger
mass produces a correspondingly
Force of 1 N = 1 kg m s–2 F smaller acceleration

Question The figure shows that one end of a string is attached to a 3 kg load and
the other end is attached to a 2 kg load that is placed on a smooth table.
What is the tension of the string? (Acceleration due to gravity = 10 m s–2)
Solution a
For 2 kg mass, T = m1a ……... (1) T
m1 = 2 kg
For 3 kg mass, m2g – T = m2a …...… (2) T
(1) + (2), m2g = m1a + m2a a m2 = 3 kg
= (m1 + m2)a
m2g m2g
Acceleration a = = 3 × 10 = 6 m s–2
m1 + m2 2+3
Substitute a into (1), Tension of string T = 2 × 6 = 12 N

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