CHAPTER - 9

FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION

NOTES (PART 1)
INTRODUCTION – BALANCED AND UNBALANCED FORCES

Force: A push or pull on a body is called force.

 Forces are used in our everyday actions like pushing, lifting, pulling, stretching, twisting
and pressing.
 A force cannot be seen. A force can be judged only by the effects which it can produce
in several bodies (or objects) around us.

Effects of Force:
 Force can make a stationary body in motion. For example a football can be set to move
by kicking it, i.e. by applying a force.
 Force can stop a moving body – For example by applying brakes, a running cycle or a
running vehicle can be stopped.
 Force can change the direction of a moving object. For example; by applying force, i.e.
by moving handle the direction of a running bicycle can be changed. Similarly by moving
steering the direction of a running vehicle is changed.
 Force can change the speed of a moving body – By accelerating, the speed of a running
vehicle can be increased or by applying brakes the speed of a running vehicle can be
decreased.
 Force can change the shape and size of an object. For example; by hammering, a block
of metal can be turned into a thin sheet. By hammering a stone can be broken into
pieces.

Some Common Forces

 Muscular Force: The force exerted by the human body muscles is called muscular force.
 Gravitational Force: The force of attraction applied by earth on an object in downward
direction is called gravitational force.
 Frictional Force: The force which opposes the motion of an object while being in contact
with the other object, is known as frictional force.

Balanced Forces: If the resultant of applied forces is equal to zero, it is called balanced forces.

Characteristics:
 Balanced forces do not cause any change of state of an object. For example: In the tug of
war game when the force applied by both teams is equal in magnitude then the rope
does not move in either side. This is due to the balanced forces in which resultant of
applied forces comes out to be zero.
  Balanced forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
 Balanced forces can change the shape and size of an object. For example - When forces
are applied from both sides over a balloon, the size and shape of balloon is changed.

Unbalanced Forces: If the resultant of applied forces are greater than zero the forces are called
unbalanced forces. An object in rest can be moved because of applying unbalanced forces. So,
the resultant force will not be zero and will also make the body move in the direction of greater
force applied.
Characteristics:

 Move a stationary object.

 Increase the speed of a moving object.
 Decrease the speed of a moving object.
 Stop a moving object.
 Change the shape and size of an object.

Refer to the site: https://www.examfear.com/free-video-lesson/Class-9/Physics/Force-and-Laws-of-

Motion/part-1.htm
 CHAPTER - 9
FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION
NOTES (PART 2)
NEWTON’S FIRST LAW OF MOTION & INERTIA OF REST

Newton’s First Law of Motion or Law of Inertia

An object remains in a state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to
change that state by an applied force.

Inertia: Inertia is a property or tendency of every object to resist any change in its state of rest
or of uniform motion along a straight line.
Thus, Newton’s First Law of Motion defines inertia and is rightly called Law of Inertia.
It is measured by mass of an object. The heavier the object, the greater will be its inertia.

Inertia of rest: Inertia is a property or tendency of every object to resist any change in its state
of rest. This means that the body at rest remains at rest and cannot start moving on its own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpi6HjSYKcY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erghLWXDScI

Examples:
1. Why do passenger tend to fall back when it's starts suddenly?
Ans. When a bus or a train starts suddenly, the passengers sitting inside tend to fall backwards.
This is so because the lower part of his body starts moving with the bus or train but the upper
part tries to remain at rest due to inertia of rest.

2. When a tree is shaken, its fruits and leaves fall down why?
Ans: This is due to shaking, the fruits and leaves try to remain in rest due to inertia of rest .But
the branch and trunk comes into motion which causes the fruits and leaves to separate from its
branch. Hence, the fruits and leaves fall when a tree is shaken.

3. When a hanging carpet is beaten with a stick, the dust particles are removed from it. Why?
Ans: When a hanging carpet is beaten with a stick, the dust particles are removed from it
because the carpet on beating suddenly moves forward and the dust particles due to inertia of
rest continue to remain at rest. Hence the dust particles fall down and the carpet gets cleaned.

4. A bullet fired against a glass window pane makes a hole in it and the glass pane does not
get cracked. But on the other hand when a stone strikes the same glass pane it gets smashed.
Why does this happen?
Ans: When the bullet strikes the glass pane, the part of the glass pane which comes in contact
with the bullet immediately shares the large velocity of bullet and makes a hole. While the
remaining part of the glass remains at rest and is therefore not smashed due to inertia of rest.
But when a slow moving stone strikes the same glass pane, the various parts of the glass pane
gets enough time to share the velocity of the stone, and thus the glass is smashed.

5. If a piece of paper placed under a pile of books is suddenly pulled, it does not disturb the
pile of books. Give reasons.
Ans: When the piece of paper placed under a pile of books is suddenly pulled it is set into
motion, while the pile of books remain in the state of rest due to inertia of rest. Thus, the pile
of books does not move.
 CHAPTER - 9
FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION
NOTES (PART 3)
INERTIA OF MOTION AND DIRECTION

Inertia of Motion: Inertia is a property or tendency of every object to resist any change in its
state of motion. This means that the body cannot come to rest by its own.

Examples:
1. Why a person travelling in a bus falls forward when the bus stops suddenly?
Ans: When the bus or train stopped suddenly, a passenger sits inside tends to fall forward.
Because the lower part of the body comes to rest with the bus while the upper part tends to
continue its motion due to inertia.

2. Why is it dangerous to jump out of a moving bus?

Ans: A man jumping out from a moving bus holds the inertia of motion. As the man lands on the
ground, feet come to rest instantly while the upper part of the body continue to move due to
inertia of motion. Therefore the person may fall forward. So, it is very dangerous to jump out of
a moving bus.

3. Why does an athlete run a certain distance before taking a long jump?
Ans: An athlete runs before jumping to gain momentum. Because it helps in jumping higher and
longer because of inertia of motion gained due to the motion. When the athletes jump they
already have a forward motion that would be greater than that of a jump made from standing
in one spot.

4. Why does cyclist riding along a levelled road does not come to rest immediately after he
stops pedalling?
Ans: The reason is that the bicycle continues to move due to the inertia of motion even after
the cyclist stops pedalling. But it comes to rest afterwards as a result of the retarding force of
friction between the tyres of bicycle and the ground.

5. Why is it advised to tie any luggage kept on the roof of a bus with a rope?
Ans: A luggage is usually tied with a rope on the roof of buses. When a moving bus
suddenly stops, the luggage on its roof tends to continue in the state of motion due to
inertia of motion. Hence the luggage fall down from the roof of the bus.
Similarly, when a bus suddenly starts, the luggage on the roof of the bus tends to
continue in the state of rest and hence fall down from the roof of the bus. Thus, to avoid
the falling of the luggage, it is tied with a rope on the roof of a bus.

Inertia of Direction: Inertia is a property or tendency of every object to resist any change in its
state of direction. This means that the body cannot change its straight line motion by its own.
1. Why does bicycle splatter mud and water off the tyres?
Ans: It is due to inertia of direction. When the tyre starts moving the particles will have a
tendency to move tangentially (any object moving in a circular path has a tendency to,
move in a straight line in the direction of rotation). So the particles leave the rim,
tangentially when the tyre moves. In order to prevent mud from splashing, mudflap are
used.

2. Why do passenger fall towards the centre of the curved road when taking a curve?
Ans: When a fast moving bus comes across curve, the passenger fall towards the centre
of the curved road because the passengers body continues to be in straight line because
of inertia of direction.
 CHAPTER - 9
FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION
NOTES (PART 4)
MOMENTUM AND SECOND LAW OF MOTION

Momentum: It is the measure or the amount of motion contained in body. It is equal to

the product of mass and velocity of a body.
𝑝 =𝑚∗𝑣
The unit of momentum is kg m/s. It depends upon velocity. Its direction is the same as
that of velocity, v. As we know, velocity is a vector quantity so, momentum is a vector
quantity.

NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION: The second law of motion states that the rate of
change of momentum of an object is proportional to the applied unbalanced force in the
direction of force.
MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION OF SECOND LAW OF MOTION
Consider a ball of mass ‘m’ moving with initial velocity ‘u’. It is uniformly accelerated to
a final velocity ‘v’ in time ‘t’ by the application of constant force ‘F’, so the momentum
of the body would be –

𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚(𝑝 ) = 𝑚𝑢
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚(𝑝 ) = 𝑚𝑣

𝑆𝑜, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚 ∝ 𝑝 − 𝑝

∝ 𝑚𝑣 − 𝑚𝑢
∝ 𝑚(𝑣 − 𝑢)

The rate of change in momentum ∝

( )
The rate of change in momentum ∝

From, second law of motion: 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝐹 ∝ The rate of change in momentum

𝑚 (𝑣 − 𝑢 )
𝐹 ∝
𝑡

𝑘 𝑚 (𝑣 − 𝑢 )
𝐹=
𝑡
 (k is a constant of proportionality)

From 1st equation of motion: 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡 ; 𝑎 =

𝑆𝑜, 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑚𝑎

If F = 1N, m = 1 kg and a = 1 ms-2, then,

1 = 𝑘 ∗ 1 ∗ 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑘 = 1
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛, 𝐹 = 1 ∗ 𝑚𝑎
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
This is the Second Law of Motion.

Unit of Force: The SI unit of Force is Newton (N).

From the formula for force, we get:
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
1 𝑁 = 1 𝑘𝑔 ∗ 1𝑚𝑠

Definition of Unit: Force is said to be one Newton, when it acts on a body of mass 1kg,
producing an acceleration of 1 ms-2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvPrn3aBQG8
 CHAPTER - 9
FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION
NOTES (PART 5)
APPLICATIONS OF SECOND LAW OF MOTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YhYqN9BwB4

1. Explain how, a karate player can break a pile of tiles with a single blow of his hand
Ans: A karate player can break a pile of tiles with a single blow of his hand because a karate
player strikes the pile of tiles or slab of ice with his hand very fast. So, large momentum of his
hand is reduced to zero in a short interval of time which exerts a very large force on the pile of
tiles to break them.

2. A cricket player lowers his hand while catching a fast moving ball explain why?
Ans: A cricket player lowers his hand while catching a fast moving ball because in this way he
increases the time of catch to reduce the momentum of the ball to zero. As,
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒎
𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 = . Therefore player has to apply a smaller force against the ball
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
to stop it. The ball in turn exert a smaller force on his hand and thus the hands are not injured.

3. Why shockers are provided in the vehicle?

Ans: Shockers are provided in the vehicle to decrease the rate of change of momentum by
increasing the time interval & hence reducing the impact force during jerks. This also reduces
the hardness of the shocks in vehicles move over an uneven road.

4. All the cars are provided with seat belts. Give reason.
Ans: All the cars are provided with seat belts to decrease the rate of change of momentum by
increasing the time interval, hence reducing the impact force during jerks and to prevent
accidents. The job of the seat belts is to hold the passenger in place so the passenger is almost
part of the car which prevents the passenger from flying forward as the car stops abruptly in
the case of a collision.

5. Give reason in high jump athletes’ jump on mattress.

Ans: In a high jump athletic event, the athletes’ are made to fall either on a cushioned bed or
sand bed. This is to increase the time of the athletes’ fall to stop after making the jump. This
decreases the rate of change of momentum and hence, the force. As a result, the athlete does
not get injured.

6. Why are glass wares wrapped with thick layer of straw or bubble wraps?
Ans: The glassware is wrapped with straw or bubble wraps especially during transportation.
This is important in reducing the force at which the glasses knock each other. Since the straw or
bubble wraps have a softer surface, the rate of change in momentum is thus lowered in case of
bumps and hence the force generated is low. This ensures that the glassware do not break
while being transported.

Derivation of First Law of Motion from Second Law of Motion

We know,
Newton's second law of motion states that rate of change of momentum of an object is directly
proportional to the applied force and takes place in the direction in which the force acts.
Thus,

Where, F - Force applied, m – mass, v - final velocity of an object, u = initial velocity of an object
If there is no force acting on the body, the equation (1) can be written as,

So, 𝑣 = 𝑢 …..(2)

This means initial velocity is equal to final velocity when no force acts on the body. Thus,
equation (2) represents Newton's first law of motion.
Newton's first law of motion states that a body at rest will remain at rest and body in motion
will remain in motion in straight line with a uniform speed, unless an external force acts on it.

In this way, we can derive Newton's first law of motion from Newton's second law of motion.
 CHAPTER - 9
FORCE AND LAWS OF MOTION
NOTES (PART 6)
THIRD LAW OF MOTION AND APPLICATIONS

The third law of motion states that when one object exerts a force on another object, the second
object instantaneously exerts a force back on the first.

The alternative statement of the third law of motion i.e., to every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.

However, it must be remembered that the action and reaction always act on two different
objects. It means that for every interaction between objects there are always 2 forces acting.
The forces must be equal in magnitude. That is they must both be equally "strong." They also
must be opposite - working in opposing directions.

1. Why does a gun recoil when a bullet is fired?

Ans: When a bullet is fired from a gun, the gun exerts a force on the bullet in the forward
direction. This is force is called as the action force. The bullet also exerts an equal and opposite
force on the gun in the backward direction. Therefore a gun recoils when a bullet is fired from
it.

2. How does a boat move forward into the water when the boatman presses one end of the
pole against the ground?
Ans: A boatman pushes his oars against the water in the river so as to move his boat forward
due to Newton's third law of motion i.e. to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When the boatman pushes against the water the water exerts a reaction force and thus the
boat moves forward.

3. How does a person move forward during swimming?

Ans: According to the Newton's third law - for every action there is equal and opposite reaction.
In this case we push the water backwards and the water reacts opposing us to move forward
but in equal amount.

4. Explain, how a man walks on ground in terms of physics.

Ans: Newton's 3rd law of motion states that: For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. When we walk our foot pushes on the floor and the floor pushes back on us - in the
opposite direction, resulting in our moving in the direction we are walking.

5. If action is always equal to the reaction, explain how a horse can pull a cart.
Ans: A horse pushes the ground in the backward direction. According to Newton’s third law of
motion, a reaction force is exerted by the Earth on the horse in the forward direction. As a
result, the cart moves forward.