UNIT 4: FORCES OF NATURE

FORCES

A force is any cause that has an effect, with either produces changes in the state of
motion of, or produces a deformation in, a material system. A body does not have
force; rather,

it exerts it.

FORCE AND MOTION

One of the effects of force is related to motion. It influences changes in the state of
motion.

FORCE AND DEFORMATION

The other effect of force is related to deformation.They are classified as rigid, plastic
and elastic based on this reaction.

TYPES OF FORCES

-Contact forces: When it is necessary for there be contact between bodies.

-Action at a distance forces: This is when contact is not necessary.

FRICTIONAL FORCE

When one body rubs against another there is some resistance to the motion.

This is because these surfaces, have irregularities that lock with each other when one
body rubs against another, causing frictional force.

WEIGHT

Gravitational attraction by the Earth.

ELASTIC DEFORMATION. HOOKE´S LAW

The deformation that an elastic system experiences is proportional to the force

exerted on it. In mathematical language:

F= k · ΔL = k (l – l0)
-It only happens when we rub one body against another.

-It has the same direction as the motion, but the opposite orientation (it opposes the
motion).

-Its intensity depends on the pressure between the surfaces that rub, as well as on the
characteristics of these surfaces.

LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION

The gravitational force by which any two bodies of the universo are attracted is directly
proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance that separates them. Mathematically: r2

M·m
F=G·
r2

- M and m are the masses of the two bodies.

- r is the distance that separates their centres.

- G is the constant of universal gravitation, with a valueof 6.67 · 10–11 in SI units. By

being universal it means that it has the same value everywhere in the universe.