SCIENCE 8

LEARNING SEGMENT KIT

Quarter 1- Week 2-Lesson 2
When the Balanced Force Strikes
Grade Level Standard: The Learner demonstrates understanding of Newton’s three laws of motion
Most Essential Learning Competency: Investigate the relationship between the amount of force
applied and the mass of the object to the amount of change in the object’s motion
Learning Outcomes:
• To explain what net force means and what occurs when forces applied to an object are
unbalanced.
• To demonstrate how a body responds to changes in motion
• To be able to relate the presence of balanced or unbalanced forces to the state of motion
of an object in our daily life.

Direction: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. A combination of all the forces acting on an object is called:
a. unbalanced force c. balanced force
b. gross force d. net force
2. When the net force on an object is zero, we say that the two forces are:
a. balanced c. unbalanced
b. gross d. cancelled out
3. A force is a ______.
a. push c. pull
b. both A and B d. none of the above
4. When forces are balanced, they:
a. have no effect on the object c. don't cause any change in the motion
b. might crush the object of an object
1. A
d. both b and c are correct 2. C
5. When the net force on an object is greater than zero, the forces are ____? 3. D
a. balanced c. unbalanced 4. D
b. gross d. cancelled out 5. C

WELCOME! Isaac Newton built on Galileo's thoughts about motion. Newton's first law of motion declares
that a force is not needed to keep an object in motion. Slide a book across a table and watch it slide to a rest
position. The book in motion on the table top does not come to a rest position because of the absence of a
force; rather it is the presence of a force - that force being the force of friction - that brings the book to a rest
position. In the absence of a force of friction, the book would continue in motion with the same speed and
direction - forever! (Or at least to the end of the table top.) A force is not required to keep a moving book in
motion. In actuality, it is a force that brings the book to rest.
Newton's second law of motion pertains to the behavior of objects for which all existing forces
are not balanced. The second law states that the acceleration of an object is dependent upon two variables -
the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. The acceleration of an object depends directly
upon the net force acting upon the object, and inversely upon the mass of the object. As the force acting upon
an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is increased. As the mass of an object is increased, the
acceleration of the object is decreased.

WHAT IS FORCE?
A force is a push or a pull on an object. Forces are at work all around you all the time. More than one
force can-and usually does- act on an object at the same time. Sometimes two forces act in the same direction.
Force is a quantity that is measured using the standard metric unit known as the Newton. A Newton is
abbreviated by an "N." To say "10.0 N" means 10.0 Newton of force. One Newton is the amount of force
required to give a 1-kg mass an acceleration of 1 m/s/s. Thus, the following unit equivalency can be stated:
1 Newton = 1 kg • m/s2
An example is when two people work together to push a heavy object. Sometimes the forces act in
different directions. Imagine a tug-of-war between you and one friend. If you are stronger, you apply more force
to the rope. You pull your friend across the line, and you are the winner! If your friend is stronger, he might pull
you across the line. Sometimes the forces are equal. Neither you nor your friend moves across the line. The two
forces are balanced. We say that the net force on an object is the combination of all the forces acting on it. To
find the net force of forces that are acting in the same direction, add them together.
Sample Problem No. 1: Compute the net force acting on a 1 200-kg car accelerating at 3.4 m/s2.
Given: m= 1 200 kg
a = 3. 4 m/s2
Required: Fnet
Equation: Fnet = ma

Solution: Fnet = ma

Fnet = (1 200kg) (3.4 m/s2)

Fnet = 4080 N
(Note: See page 14 for more Sample Problem – Practical Science 8)
Balanced Forces
When the net force on an object is zero, the two forces are
balanced. Balanced forces don't cause any change in the motion of
an object. Balanced forces are equal and in opposite directions. If
the object is not moving and two forces are applied to it that equal
zero when combined, then the object will not move. If the object is
already moving and two balanced forces are applied to it, the object
will continue moving at the same speed and in the same direction
that it was before the forces were applied. That doesn't mean that
balanced forces have no effect on an object, however. Think about
what would happen to an empty soda can if you pushed against it
in one direction, and a friend pushed against it in the opposite
direction with an equal amount of force. If the amount of force was
equal, the can wouldn't move. But the two opposing forces would
probably crush the can.
When the net force on an object is greater than zero, the
forces are unbalanced. Unbalanced forces cause the object to
move. An object that is not already moving will begin to move in the
direction of the larger force. An object that is already moving will change its speed and/or its direction.
Remember that two forces applied to an object in the same direction will combine by adding the two together.
Two forces applied to an object in opposite directions will be subtracted. The net force is the combination of the
two forces, whether by addition or subtraction. If the net force is zero, no change will happen to the object's
motion. If the forces are unbalanced, meaning there is some amount of net force, then the object will move in
the direction of the force. Unbalanced forces cause accelerations. In this case, the unbalanced force is directed
opposite the book's motion and will cause it to slow down.
To determine if the forces acting upon an object are balanced or unbalanced, an analysis must first be
conducted to determine what forces are acting upon the object and in what direction. If two individual forces are
of equal magnitude and opposite direction, then the forces are said to be balanced. An object is said to be acted
upon by an unbalanced force only when there is an individual force that is not being balanced by a force of
equal magnitude and in the opposite direction.

TRY THIS AT HOME! Write your answer/observation on a sheet of a yellow paper.

1. Acquire a metal coat hanger for which you have permission to destroy. Pull the
coat hanger apart. Using duct tape, attach two tennis balls (or any small and light
weight plastic ball) to opposite ends of the coat hanger as shown in the diagram at
the right. Bend the hanger so that there is a flat part that balances on the head of a
person. The ends of the hanger with the tennis balls should hang low (below the
balancing point). Place the hanger on your head and balance it. Then quickly spin
in a circle. What do the tennis balls do?

2. Look at the pictures below identify if the forces shown are balanced or unbalanced and write your answer
at the bottom of every images.
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
 Newton’s First Law of Motion assumes that the forces acting on the object are balanced. When a book is
at rest on a table, the force of gravity pushing down on the book is equal to the force of the desk pushing
up. The forces acting on the book are balanced, so the book stays put. The same is true of objects in
motion. If the forces acting on a moving object are balanced, and no other outside forces interfere, the
object would keep on moving forever. Unbalanced forces cause a change in position or motion. If two
people are arm wrestling and both exert the exact same amount of force, their arms will be deadlocked in
the same spot. The balanced forces cancel each other out, causing a state of equilibrium where there is
no motion or change. As soon as one person exerts more force, the forces become unbalanced.
Unbalanced forces always result in motion. In the case of the arm wrestling, the stronger arm will
overtake the weaker arm and push it down. Once an object is set into motion, we can measure how fast it
travels and calculate its speed. We can also calculate the velocity, which describes the speed and
direction of a moving object. If the moving object travels at the same, unchanging velocity, it has a
constant speed. A change in velocity (speeding up) causes acceleration.
Kinetic & Potential Energy Energy
 Kinetic & Potential Energy Energy is the ability to do work. An object doesn’t have to be in motion to
possess energy. Potential energy is energy that’s stored in an object. (In fact, it’s also referred to as
stored energy.) An object’s position or circumstances give it potential energy. A spring on the bottom of a
pogo stick has potential energy when someone is standing on the pogo stick. The coil of the spring
compresses when pressure is applied, storing up energy that will later be released. The more height and
mass an object has, the more gravitational potential energy it has. Once an object is in motion, it has
kinetic energy. When the spring compresses and releases, the kinetic energy of the spring pushes the
pogo stick and its rider up into the air. When the person jumps on the pogo stick and the spring
compresses again, more potential energy is stored in the spring. When the spring releases, the kinetic
energy of the spring pushes the rider up once again.

ADDITIONAL LEARNING GUIDE: Practical Science 8 Textbook Page 2-10.

 Practical Science 8 Textbook

 https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-1/Balanced-and-Unbalanced-Forces
 https://www.wcpss.net/cms/lib/NC01911451/Centricity/Domain/3886/forces%20articles.pdf
 https://clarkscience8.weebly.com/action--reaction.html
 https://openstax.org/books/college-physics/pages/4-3-newtons-second-law-of-motion-concept-of-a-system
 motion activity tub.pdf
 NAME:
GRADE AND SECTION:

SCIENCE 8
Week 1 & 2 (Summative Assessment)

ANSWER ME OUT!
Match each vocabulary word with its definition. Then write your answer on the space provided.
1. Acceleration ______ A. An object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will stay
2. Equilibrium ______ in motion unless force is introduced.
3. Force ______ B. How fast and in what direction an object is traveling.
4. Friction ______ C. A force that pulls anything on the Earth’s surface toward the
5. Gravity ______ center of the Earth.
6. Inertia ______ D. Something that changes an object’s states of rest or motion
7. Kinetic energy _____ E. An increase in an object’s velocity.
8. Momentum _____ F. Energy that is stored up an object because of its position.
9. Potential energy ___ G. A tendency of an object to keep moving when its in motion.
10. Velocity _____ H. The energy an object has because it is moving.
I. The force that results form two surfaces rubbing against one
another.
J. A state of balance where opposing forces on an object simply
cancel each other out, and the object remains stable and
uncharged.
Choose and encircle the letter of the correct answer:
11. Which law of motion states that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction?
a. Newton’s First Law of Motion. c. Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
b. Newton’s Second Law of Motion. d. The law of reaction.
12. What is an example of how friction can be helpful?
a. A skateboard ramp. c. The brakes on a car.
b. A seatbelt in a car. d. The wheels on a bicycle
13. If you kick a bowling ball and a tennis ball with the same amount of force, according to Newton’s Second
Law of Motion, what will happen?
a. The tennis ball will travel farther than the bowling ball.
b. The bowling ball will travel farther than the tennis ball.
c. The bowling ball will travel faster, but cover a shorter distance.
d. The balls will travel the same distance.
14. According to Newton’s First Law of Motion…
a. An object in motion will slow down when moving down a hill.
b. An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
c. An object in motion will always move sideways when acted upon by an outside force.
d. An object in motion will stay in motion when it is acted upon by an outside force.
15. Which is the best example of kinetic energy?
a. A diver standing on the edge of a high dive.
b. A skier moving swiftly down a hill.
c. A car sitting in a driveway.
d. A runner who is waiting to start a race.
Fill in the blanks.
16. A skateboarder at the top of a ramp has _______________ energy.
17. The scientific study of energy and matter and how they interact with each other is called ____________.
Answer the following in complete sentences.
18. Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Give
an example of this law.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
19. During the cart launcher experiment, the elastic cord was stretched back to launch the cart. Tell how this
affected the cart and why.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
20. If you kick a bowling ball and a golf ball with the same amount of force, tell which ball will go farther and
which law of motion explains why.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
ANSWERS KEY:
1. E
2. J
3. D
4. I
5. C
6. A
7. H
8. G
9. F
10. B
11. C
12. C
13. A
14. B
15. B
16. Potential or stored
17. Physics
18. May vary
19. May vary – may include: there was more potential energy when the elastic was stretched more. Pulling
the elastic back gave the cart more acceleration and force.
20. The golf ball will go further due to Newton’s second law of motion, which states that acceleration depends
on force and mass. The bowling ball has greater mass and will move slower and go a shorter distance.