IGCSE Physics Notes: Grade 9
Topic: Forces and Motion
Key Concepts
1. Force
o Definition: A push or pull that can cause an object to accelerate.
o Unit: Newton (N)
o Types of Forces:
▪ Contact Forces: Friction, tension, normal, applied.
▪ Non-Contact Forces: Gravitational, magnetic, electrostatic.
2. Newton's Laws of Motion
o First Law: An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion
at constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force.
o Second Law: F = ma (Force = mass × acceleration). The acceleration of an object
is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to
its mass.
o Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
3. Mass and Weight
o Mass: The amount of matter in an object (measured in kg).
o Weight: The force of gravity acting on an object (W = mg, where g = acceleration
due to gravity ≈ 9.81 m/s² on Earth).
4. Acceleration
o Change in velocity over time.
o Formula: a = (v_final - v_initial) / t
5. Velocity and Speed
o Speed: Scalar quantity (distance/time).
o Velocity: Vector quantity (displacement/time, includes direction).
Important Equations
1. Distance and Displacement
o Distance = Speed × Time
o Displacement = Final position - Initial position
2. Acceleration Formula
o a = (v - u) / t (where u = initial velocity, v = final velocity)
3. Force Calculation
o F = ma
Diagrams and Graphs
Free-Body Diagrams: Show all the forces acting on an object.
Velocity-Time Graphs: Slope represents acceleration. A horizontal line indicates constant
velocity.
Practical Applications
Everyday Examples: Discuss how forces affect motion in real-life scenarios, such as
driving a car, playing sports, or riding a bike.
Experiments: Simple experiments to measure the effects of different forces using spring
scales or toy cars.
Summary
Understand the relationship between mass, weight, and gravity.
Apply Newton's laws to predict how objects will move.
Calculate forces, mass, acceleration, and understand their interrelationships.
Study Tips
Practice solving problems related to forces and motion.
Use diagrams to visualize concepts.
Review key terms and definitions regularly.
Work on past paper questions to familiarize yourself with exam format.
Homework
Complete the worksheet on calculating force, mass, and acceleration.
Read Chapter 2 of your textbook and summarize key points.
