Phy 4.1

CIE A Level Physics (9702) 2019-2021 Revision Notes savemyexams.co.
uk
YOUR NOTES
5.1 Force & the Turning Effect ⬇
CONTENTS
5.1.1 Types of Force
5.1.2 Turning Effects of Forces
5.1.1 TYPES OF FORCE

Forces in Gravitational & Electric Fields
A gravitational field provides a force of attraction between masses
A uniform gravitational field is one where the gravitational field lines are parallel and always
the same distance apart – this is almost true close to the Earth’s surface
Force on a mass in a uniform gravitational field
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CIE A Level Physics (9702) 2019-2021 Resources Page 1
REVISION NOTES TOPIC QUESTIONS PAST PAPERS
CIE A Level Physics (9702) 2019-2021 Revision Notes savemyexams.co.uk
YOUR NOTES
The force depends on the mass m and the gravitational field strength g which varies
depending on the planet
On Earth, g is 9.81 N kg-1
An electric field provides a force of attraction, or repulsion, between charges
A uniform electric field is one where the electric field lines are parallel and always the same
distance apart – this is true in two parallel conductive plates such as in a capacitor
Force on a charge in a uniform electric field
The force depends on the size of the charge q and the electric field strength E

YOUR NOTES
Gravitational v electric fields table
Upthrust
Upthrust is a force which pushes upwards on an object submerged in a fluid i.e. liquids and
gases
Also known as buoyancy force, upthrust is due to the difference in hydrostatic pressure
at the top and bottom of the immersed object
The force of upthrust is significantly larger in liquids than in gases, this is because liquids are
much denser than gases
Recall that hydrostatic pressure depends on the height (h) or depth that an object is
submerged in from P = ρgh
Therefore, the water pressure at the bottom of an object is greater than the water pressure
at the top, as shown in the diagram below:

YOUR NOTES
This can will experience upthrust due to the hydrostatic pressure difference
Upthrust is a force and is directly proportional to the pressure. The force on the bottom of the
can will be greater than the force on top of the can
This resultant pressure causes a resultant upward force on the can known as upthrust
Upthrust is why objects appear to weigh less when immersed in a liquid. If the upthrust is
greater than the weight of the object, the object will rise up
For an object to float, it must have a density less than the density of the fluid its immersed in

YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
2
A steel cube with cross-sectional area of 2 m is totally immersed in water.
The scale balance reading is reduced when the cube is immersed.
The cube experiences pressures of 3000 Pa and 7700 Pa at the top and bottom of the cube
respectively.
Which value is equal to the upthrust on the cube during immersion?
A. 9400 N B. 6000 N C. 15400 N D. 92210 N

YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
Since upthrust is force it is influenced by pressure, not by the density of the object as
commonly misunderstood.
Drag Forces
Drag forces are forces acting the opposite direction to an object moving through a fluid
(either gas or liquid)
Examples of drag forces are friction and air resistance
A key component of drag forces is it increases with the speed of the object. This is shown in
the diagram below:

YOUR NOTES
Frictional forces on a car increase with its speed

YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
A car of mass 800 kg has a horizontal driving force of 3 kN acting on it.
Its acceleration is 2.0 m s-2.

What is the frictional force acting on the car?
Exam Tip
Remember to consider drag forces in your calculation for the resultant force. More details of
this are in the notes “Force and acceleration”.

YOUR NOTES
Centre of Gravity
The centre of gravity of an object is the point at which the weight of the object may be
considered to act
For example, for a person standing upright, their centre of gravity is roughly in the middle of
the body behind the navel, and for a sphere, it is at the centre
For symmetrical objects with uniform density, the centre of gravity is located at the point of
symmetry
The centre of gravity of a shape can be found by symmetry

YOUR NOTES
Stability
The position of the centre of gravity of an object affects its stability
An object is stable when its centre of gravity lies above its base
The object on the right will topple, as its centre of mass is no longer over its base

YOUR NOTES
The wider base an object has, the lower its centre of gravity and it is more stable
The narrower base an object has, the higher its centre of gravity and the object is more
likely to topple over if pushed
The most stable objects have wide bases and low centres of mass

YOUR NOTES
Centre of gravity v centre of mass

In a uniform gravitational field, the centre of gravity is identical to the centre of mass
The centre of mass does not depend on the gravitational field
Since weight = mass ✕ acceleration due to gravity, the centre of gravity does depend on the
gravitational field
When an object is in space, its centre of gravity will be more towards the object with larger
gravitational field for example, the Earth’s gravitational field on the Moon
The Earth’s stronger gravitational field pushes the Moons centre of gravity closer to
Earth
Exam Tip
Since the centre of gravity is a hypothetical point, it can lie inside or outside of a body. The
centre of gravity will constantly shift depending on the shape of a body. For example, a
human body’s centre of gravity is lower when learning forward than upright

YOUR NOTES
5.1.2 TURNING EFFECTS OF FORCES

What is a Moment?
A moment is the turning effect of a force
Moments occur when forces cause objects to rotate about some pivot
The moment of a force is given by
Moment (N m) = Force (N) × perpendicular distance from the pivot (m)
The SI unit for the moment is Newton metres (N m). This may also be Newton centimetres (N
cm) depending on the units given for the distance

YOUR NOTES
The force might not always be perpendicular to the distance
An example of moments in everyday life is opening a door. The door handle is placed on the
other side of the door to the hinge (the pivot) to maximise the distance for a given force and
therefore a greater moment (turning force). This makes it easier to push or pull it

YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
A uniform metre rule is pivoted at the 50 cm mark.

A 0.5 kg weight is suspended at the 80 cm mark, causing the rule to rotate about the pivot.
Assuming the weight of the rule is negligible, what is the turning moment about the pivot?

YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
If not already given, drawing all the forces on an object in the diagram will help you see
which ones are perpendicular to the distance from the pivot. Not all the forces will provide a
turning effect and it is not unusual for a question to provide more forces than required
Couples
A couple is a pair of forces that acts to produce rotation only
Unlike moments of a single force, the moment of a couple doesn’t depend on a pivot, only on
the perpendicular distance between the two forces
A couple consists of a pair of forces that are:

Equal in magnitude
Opposite in direction
Perpendicular to the distance between them
Diagram of a couple
Couples produce a resultant force of zero, so, due to Newton’s Second law (F = ma), the
object does not accelerate
The size of this turning effect is given by its torque

YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
Which pair of forces act as a couple on the circular object?
ANSWER: A
In diagram A, the forces are:

Equal in size
In opposite directions
Perpendicular to the distance between them
B is incorrect as the forces are in the same direction
C is incorrect as the forces are different in size
D is incorrect as the distance between the forces is not perpendicular

YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
The forces that make up a couple cannot share the same line of action which is the line through
the point at which the force is applied. An example of this is shown in the diagram below
Torque
The moment of a couple is known as a torque
You can calculate the torque of a couple with the following equation
Torque τ (N m) = one of the forces (N) × perpendicular distance between the forces (m)

YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
A steering wheel of diameter 40 cm and the force of the couple needed to turn it is 10 N.
Calculate the torque on the steering wheel.

YOUR NOTES
Worked Example
A rule of length 0.3 m is pivoted at its centre.

Equal and opposite forces of magnitude 4.0 N are applied to the ends of the ruler, created a couple
as shown below.
What is the magnitude of the torque of the couple on the ruler when it is at the position shown?

YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
The forces given might not always be perpendicular to the distance between them. In this
case, remember to find the component of the force vector that is perpendicular. You can
learn more on how to do this in the ‘Resolving Vectors’ section of ‘Scalars & Vectors’
Exam Question: Easy

YOUR NOTES
Exam Question: Medium
Exam Question: Hard

YOUR NOTES
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CIE A Level Physics (9702) 2019-2021 Revision Notes savemyexams.co.

5.1.2 Turning Eﬀects of Forces

5.1.1 TYPES OF FORCE

A gravitational ﬁeld provides a force of attraction between masses

Force on a mass in a uniform gravitational ﬁeld

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

On Earth, g is 9.81 N kg-1

An electric ﬁeld provides a force of attraction, or repulsion, between charges

Force on a charge in a uniform electric ﬁeld

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

Gravitational v electric ﬁelds table

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

Examples of drag forces are friction and air resistance

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Frictional forces on a car increase with its speed

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

A car of mass 800 kg has a horizontal driving force of 3 kN acting on it.

Its acceleration is 2.0 m s-2.

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

The centre of gravity of a shape can be found by symmetry

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

Centre of gravity v centre of mass

The centre of mass does not depend on the gravitational ﬁeld

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5.1.2 TURNING EFFECTS OF FORCES

A moment is the turning eﬀect of a force

The moment of a force is given by

Moment (N m) = Force (N) × perpendicular distance from the pivot (m)

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The force might not always be perpendicular to the distance

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A uniform metre rule is pivoted at the 50 cm mark.

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A couple is a pair of forces that acts to produce rotation only

A couple consists of a pair of forces that are:

Perpendicular to the distance between them

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Which pair of forces act as a couple on the circular object?

In diagram A, the forces are:

Perpendicular to the distance between them

B is incorrect as the forces are in the same direction

C is incorrect as the forces are diﬀerent in size

D is incorrect as the distance between the forces is not perpendicular

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The moment of a couple is known as a torque

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© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

A rule of length 0.3 m is pivoted at its centre.

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Exam Question: Easy

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Exam Question: Medium

Exam Question: Hard

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

> CHECK YOUR ANSWERS AT SAVEMYEXAMS.CO.UK

© 2015-2021 Save My Exams Ltd

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