CLASS: VIII

SECTION: ALL
SUBJECT: SCIENCE
SESSION: 2022-23
CHAPTER-11
FORCE AND PRESSURE
NOTES

FORCE

Force is a push or a pull that occurs due to the interaction of two bodies.
-It has magnitude as well as direction.
-S.I. unit of force is Newton.

NET OR RESULTANT FORCE

When multiple forces are applied on a body, the resulting force is called net force.
a) If the two forces act in the same direction on an object, the net force acting on it is the sum of the two
forces.

FORCE A NET FORCE = FORCE A + FORCE B

8N =8N+6N
FORCE B =14N

6N
b) If the two forces act in opposite directions on an object, the net force acting on it is the difference between
the two forces.

NET FORCE = FORCE A - FORCE B

8N =8N-6N

=2N
FORCE A 6N

FORCE B

c) If the two opposing forces are equal, the net force is zero. NET FORCE = 5N-5N = 0

5N 5N

EFFECTS OF FORCE
1. A force can move a stationary object. E.g. kicking a stationary football.
2. A force can stop a moving object. Eg- ball caught by a fielder in a cricket match.
3. A force can change the speed of a moving object.
If the force applied to the object is in the direction of the motion, its speed increases and if it is against the
direction of motion, its speed decreases. E.g.-if we throw a ball upwards, its speed keeps on decreasing due to
the gravitational pull of the earth.
4. A force can change the direction of a moving object. E.g-direction of a moving ball changes, when hit by a bat.
5. A force can change the shape and size of an object.
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 PRESSED RUBBER BALL
RUBBER BALL
FORCE 1 FORCE 2

NOTE- Force is an external effort in the form of stretching, compressing, pushing, pulling etc. which may move a
body at rest or stop a moving body; change the speed of a body; change the direction of a moving body; change the
shape and size of a body.

TYPES OF FORCES

CONTACT FORCES NON-CONTACT FORCES

Q1- Explain the various contact forces with an example.

Ans 1-A contact force is any force that requires contact to occur between objects.
a) Muscular Force- The force resulting due to action of muscles is known as the muscular force. Since muscular
force can be applied only when it is in contact with an object, it is categorized as contact force. E.g.- When
we push an object or lift a bucket of water, we apply muscular force.
b) Friction Force- The force which always opposes the motion of one body over another body is called frictional
force. E.g. - A moving ball gradually comes to rest due to the force of friction.
NOTE- The frictional force always acts on all the moving objects, and its direction is always opposite to the
direction of motion.

Q2- Explain the various non-contact forces with an example.

Ans2- The force that acts on objects without coming in contact with them is called a non-contact force.
OR
A force which can be exerted by an object on another object even from a distance (without touching each other) is
called a non-contact force.
a) Magnetic Force: The force exerted by a magnet is called magnetic force. A magnet can exert force on
another magnet without being in contact with it. E.g- Magnets are used in cranes to carry heavy loads.
b) Electrostatic Force: The force exerted by a charged body on another charged or uncharged body is known as
electrostatic force. E.g.- A straw rubbed with paper attracts another straw but repels it if it has also been
rubbed with a sheet of paper.
NOTE-Like charges (++), (--) repel each other.
Unlike charges (+-), (-+) attract each other.
c) Gravitational Force: Objects or things fall towards the earth because it pulls them. This force is called the
force of gravity or gravitational force. This is an attractive force. E.g.- Water begins to flow towards the
ground as soon as we open a tap. A ball thrown upwards, falls back to the earth due to the force of gravity.
PRESSURE
The force acting on a unit area of a surface is called pressure.
Pressure= Force

Area on which it acts

SI unit of pressure is N/m2 or Pascal (Pa).

Q3- Explain the ways to increase and reduce pressure with examples.
Ans 3-
❖ To reduce pressure, we increase the area for a given force (as pressure and area are indirectly related)

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 • Trucks and buses have double tyres.
• School bags have broader straps.
• Base of the buildings are made broader.

❖ To increase pressure, we reduce the area for a given force.

• All cutting and piercing tools are sharp.
• Iron nails have pointed ends.
• Tip of a sewing needle is sharp.

Q4- How does the pressure of a liquid depend on its depth? Explain with a diagram.
Ans 4- AIM: Pressure exerted by water at the bottom of the container depends on the height of its column.
Materials required: Glass tubes, rubber sheet.
Procedure:
1. Stretch the rubber sheet slightly over one end of the pipe.
2. Hold the pipe in the middle, keeping it in a vertical position and observe the bulge of the rubber sheet.
3. Pour some more water into the pipe and observe the bulge in the rubber sheet again.

Observations: Rubber sheet bulges out more when there is more water in the glass tube.
Conclusion: Pressure exerted by water at the bottom of a container depends on the height of its column.

Figure 1-Pressure exerted by water at the bottom of a container depends on the height of its column.

Q5- Describe an activity to show that liquid exerts pressure on the walls of a container.
Ans 5-AIM: To show that liquid exerts pressure on the walls of a container.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Plastic bottle, glass tube, rubber sheet.
PROCEDURE:
1. Take a plastic bottle and fix a cylindrical glass tube a few centimetres long near its bottom.
2. Cover the mouth of the glass tube with a thin rubber sheet.
3. Now fill the bottle up to half with water and observe the bulge.
4. Pour some more water into the bottle and observe the bulge again.

OBSERVATION: The rubber sheet bulges out when a bottle is filled with water.
CONCLUSION: A liquid exerts pressure on the walls of a container.

Figure 2- Liquid exerts pressure on the walls of

a container.

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Q6- Write an activity to show that liquids exert equal pressure at the same depth.
Ans 6- AIM: To show that liquids exert equal pressure at the same depth.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Plastic bottle
PROCEDURE:
1. Take an empty plastic bottle and drill four holes all around near the bottom of the bottle.
2. Make sure that the holes are at the same height from the bottom.
3. Now fill the bottle with water and observe the streams of water coming out of the holes.

OBSERVATION: Different streams of water coming out of the holes fall at the same distance from the bottle.
CONCLUSION: Liquids exert equal pressure at the same depth.

Figure 3- Liquids exert equal pressure at the same depth.

Q7- Explain by giving examples that gases also exert pressure.

Ans 7- Gases also exert pressure on the walls of a container.
i) Air in the bicycle tube escapes out when it has a puncture.
ii) We cannot inflate a balloon with a hole.
iii) These observations suggest that air exerts pressure on the inner walls of an inflated balloon or a tube.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
The envelope of air around the earth’s surface is known as the atmosphere. The pressure exerted by this air is
known as atmospheric pressure.

Q8- Why a rubber sucker sticks to the surface when pressed on it?
Ans 8- When we press the sucker, most of the air between its cup and the surface escapes out. The sucker sticks to
the surface because the pressure of the atmosphere acts on it.

Q9- Can we get crushed under atmospheric pressure?

Ans 9- No, we cannot get crushed. It is so because the pressure inside our bodies is also equal to the atmospheric
pressure and balances it.

Q10- A force of 200 N is applied to an object of area 5m2. Calculate the pressure.
Ans 10- Force= 200 N
Area=5 m2
Pressure= Force = 200 N
Area 5m2
2
= 40 N/m
Or 40 Pa.

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