A person sliding down a

FORCES ramp/ slope, has

NOTES friction that opposes
A force is any phenomenon that changes the shape their motion. Their
and size, motion and direction of an object. It is known weight acts vertically
as a push or pull. downwards.

 It is measured in Newtons (N). This unit is The rougher the surface, the greater the Friction, so a
named after the Scientist Sir Isaac Newton, who bumpy road will have more friction and thus, will take
discovered the pull of gravity. longer to climb up or come down.

MASS AND WEIGHT

Gravity acts toward the
Mass is the amount of matter or particles that an
centre of planets, such
object/ body has. It remains the same from place to
as Earth, keeping us
place or planet to planet. [unit for mass= Kilogram (kg)]
grounded and
Mass is measured using a triple beam balance in a lab.
preventing us from
falling off the earth.

Triple beam
balance

Weight is the pull of gravity on an object. It is a force

that acts vertically downwards. [unit for weight=
 It is represented as a straight line with an arrow Newton (N)] Weight can be measured
to show direction 3N (right)
using a Newton balance or
 We can use the number line to add forces or
spring balance (shown left)
find the Resultant force (we take right as + and
left as -).

Eg. Find the resultant of : Resultant = 5N

2N
a) 3N =

+ 2N Resultant = + 2- 3 =
b) =
- 3N -1N (or 1 N left) It was this force that helped Newton to explain gravity.
Weight depends on the strength of gravity on each
CLASSES OF FORCES
planet. This strength of gravity is called the
Forces can either be 1) Contact Or 2) Non-contact
gravitational field strength and it is given by g.
Contact forces involve the objects touching e.g. Friction
Non-contact forces do not involve the objects touching
Weight = mass x gravitational field strength
E.g. reaction
W = mg
Friction: Friction acts between surfaces and always
oppose motion of the object.
If g increases, Weight (W) increases also, since mass is
constant.