Unit 5.

Forces

1. Forces and their effects Maths glossary

2. Simple machines
3. Types of forces
4. Common forces IES Maestro Haedo
Dpto. Física y Química
Prof. Ángel Viñas San Narciso
 Key words for glossary
1. Each other: Entre sí
2. Upward: Hacia arriba / subir
3. Lever Palanca
4. Fulcrum Punto de apoyo
 PHYSICAL MAGNITUDES AND THEIR FORMULAE

Magnitudes Symbol S.I. Unit Formula

Force F Newton (N)

Weight force P Newton (N)

Acceleration of g m/s2
gravity
Mass m Kilogram (kg)

𝑹 ∙ 𝒅𝑹
Lever effort force 𝐹 Newton (N) 𝑭=
𝒅𝑭
1. Forces and their effects
a) Forces:
─ What is a force?
A force is the direct cause of changes in speed and
deformation a body can experience.
– Factors that influence on the effect of a force are:
• Intensity of the force (strong or weak)
• Where you apply the force or point of application
(which part of the object)
• The direction you apply the force (and orientation)
• The way you apply the force
─ Forces are vector magnitudes because they have
a magnitude and a direction.
• A vector magnitude is represented with an arrow
called vector.
• The length of the vector represents the value
(modulus) of the force.
• The direction of the vector indicates the direction and
orientation of the force.
– The SI force unit is Newton (N)
 – Types of forces: according to the way a body applies a
force to another, they interact:
• By contact
• At a distance (if the interactive bodies do not touch)
b) The two effects of forces on the equilibrium of bodies:
movement and deformation.
─ Movement variation: according to Newton’s 1st law, “An
object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays
in ULM with the same speed and in the same direction
unless acted upon by a force”. This means that:
• When you apply a force to a body in motion it
accelerates
• When you apply a force to a body at rest it can start
to move
 • In both cases the body will follow a fundamental law
of physics (Newton’s 2nd law): 𝐹 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝑎
• This law means that the force (F) needed to produce
an acceleration (a) to an object with mass (m) is F. In
other words, the acceleration gained by the object is
directly proportional to the force applied.
• According to this law: 1 Newton = 1 kg • 1 m/s2
– Deformations:
• Forces produce alterations to bodies, depending on
the nature of the object:
– Rigid bodies: no noticeable change is produced in
appearance (rocks)
– Plastic bodies: these remain deformed after the force
stops (plasticine)
– Elastic bodies: these recover their original shape,
once the force stops (springs). The springs
deformation is of special interest because follow a
physics law for measuring the force:
» Hooke’s law: “The deformation of a spring will be
directly proportional to the force exerted on it”.
The ratio between the force (mass) applied and
the elongation (∆𝑙 = 𝑙 − 𝑙0) is constant and it is
𝐹
called the spring constant (𝑘). 𝑘 =
∆𝑙
» Dynamometer: is the instrument for measuring
the force. Consists of a spring (or any other elastic
material) attached to a scale such that marks show
the force corresponding to its elongation.
Dynamometer
2. Simple machines
a) Definition: a simple machine is a mechanical device that
reduces a force enough to make a work, transforming a
movement into another.
─ Simple machines help us with common tasks because
they enable us to overcome great forces with small
forces.
─ The convention is to call:
• The force we apply: the effort (F),
• The force we must overcome: the resistence (R),
• And the point of attachment: the fulcrum.
b) Examples:
─ Levers:
• Consist of a rigid bar attached at one end that can pivot freely
from that end. It is used commonly to uplift heavy objects.
• The effort force (F) applied multiplied by its distance to the
fulcrum (dF) is equal to the resistance force (R) multiplied by
𝑅∙𝑑𝑅
its distance to the fulcrum (dR): 𝐹 ∙ 𝑑𝐹 = 𝑅 ∙ 𝑑𝑅 ; 𝐹 =
𝑑𝐹
─ Pulleys:
• Consist of a wheel with a channel that passes a rope.
• The effort force (F) we must apply is equal to the resistance
force (R) : 𝐹 = 𝑅
• The advantage is that we can choose the direction in which
we apply the effort force.
3. Types of forces
a) We can classify forces in nature in three fundamental
forces: gravitational, electromagnetic and nuclear
– Gravitational:
• It is due to the mass of matter.
• It is always an attractive force with an infinite reach.
• It is responsible for weight and for how celestial
objects keep moving on their orbits around other
celestial bodies and the stars grouped together.
– Electromagnetic:
• They are due to the electrical and magnetic
properties of matter, the origin of which is the
property we call electric charge.
• They can be attractive or repulsive.
• They are responsible for keeping the electrons of atoms
around the nucleus, lightning, the most common forces
in nature such as friction or elastic, and the behavior of
compasses, electromagnets…
• Electricity and magnetism are the two sides of the
same phenomenon.
– Nuclear:
• They are due to the particles of the nuclei of atoms.
• They are involved in radioactivity, the energy of the
stars and of the nuclear power plants.
4. Common forces
a) Gravity: this attractive force is due to the mass of matter
and is responsible for weight and the movement of
celestial bodies.
─ Differences between weight and mass are:
• Weight (𝑃) is a force between a body and a celestial
body (e.g. the Earth) or any other type of matter.
• Mass (m) measures the inertia of a body or the
amount of matter it has. Its value is always the same.
─ Weight (𝑃) and mass (𝑚) are linked to another physical
magnitude, the acceleration of gravity (𝑔), through the
equation:
𝑃 =𝑚 ∙𝑔
‒ The acceleration of gravity is the acceleration a body
experiments due to the presence of another body , and
𝑔 is its symbol.
‒ The intensity of this attraction decreases as the distance
increases, so it is sometimes difficult to perceive
(depending on the mass/distance):

• The greater the mass (m1 and m2) of the bodies, the
greater the force (P or F).
• The greater the distance (d) between the bodies, the
weaker the force (P or F).
─ This equation derives from the law previously studied:
𝐹 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝑎 , where the force is the weight (𝑃) and the
acceleration is the acceleration of gravity (g).
─ On the Earth’s surface, g = 9.8 m/s2, so a body of 62 kg
of mass would weight:
𝑃 = 62 𝑘𝑔 ∙ 9,8 𝑚/𝑠 2 = 607,6 N
Can you calculate
the weight on every
planet?
As a cannonball fired at enough speed (E) from the top of a mountain, the Moon (M) orbits the
Earth forever because it has the appropriate speed for the distance to the Earth. This is why
gravity is responsible for keeping celestial objects moving in their orbits around other celestial
bodies.
b) Frictional force
─ It is the reason why when you ride a bicycle and stop
pedaling, you will eventually stop moving. The wheels in
contact with the asphalt experience friction.
─ Friction is a force that acts against movement at the
surfaces where objects are in contact.
─ The vector of friction has a direction that is always
parallel to the contact surface and an opposite
orientation to the object movement.
c) Electricity
─ It is the presence and flow of electric charge (mainly
electrons) in one direction.
─ Charges: in a neutral atom (where nº electrons = nº
protons), the electrons with a negative charge can be
transferred to another atom, causing them to change
their charges. The atom loosing electrons will have a
positive charge, and the one gaining them, a negative
charge.
─ Electrification: is the phenomenon in which a body
acquires electrical properties because of the transfer of
electrons from another.
─ Forces between electrical charges: are the forces of
attraction or repulsion between two bodies with a net
electrical charge, and similarly with gravity:
• The higher the charges, the more intense the force.
• The greater the distance, the weaker the force.
d) Magnetism
─ It is the property of certain materials or the flow of an
electric charge to attract certain metals (mainly iron).
We call these materials magnets.
─ Magnets have two poles where the magnetic forces are
stronger, they are known as north or N and south or S.
─ Magnets put together by the same poles repel. Poles
with different signs attract one another. This means that
the magnetic forces can be repulsive or attractive.
─ Magnetic forces: are the forces of attraction or
repulsion between two magnets or the flow of an
electric charge.
• The forces exerted by the two poles of a magnet are
equal in quantity.
• Similarly with electrical forces, the greater the
distance, the weaker the force.
─ Electromagnetism studies how electricity and
magnetism are closely linked:
• An electrical current behaves as a magnet because
the movement of electrons or any other electric
charge produces a magnetic force and vice-versa.
• An electromagnet consists of wire wrapped around
an iron core and the higher the amount of electrical
current, the strongest the magnetic force.