Common forces in mechanics

Contact forces
Contact force is a force that is applied by objects in contact with each other.
The contact force acts on a point of direct contact between the two objects. This
force can either be continuous as a continuous force or can be momentary in the
form of an impulse.

Explanation:
Newton's second law of motion was discussed. It claims that applying force to a body of mass
‘m' causes it to accelerate.
If the mass of the body is ‘m,' and the acceleration it achieves after being subjected to force is
‘a,' then the force equation is:
F = ma
However, when we add force to the body, it develops momentum, resulting in a rate of change in
momentum equal to the force applied. This equation F = Δp/Δt.
Types of Contact Forces
Below is the list of the types of contact forces:
• Surface tension
• Air resistance
• Friction
• Upthrust or Buoyancy force
• Drag force
• Applied force
• Normal force
• Muscular force

Application in life
1. : Throwing a football and it flies in the sky and then reaches the ground.
2. pushing and pulling the drawer of a table
Non- contact forces
• NON –CONTACT FORCES

A non-contact force is a force applied on an object by another body without being in direct contact
with the object .It is the force applied to an object by another body without any contact.

1.GRAVITATIONAL FORCE

When an object is resting on a surface it is exerting a downward force equal to its weight and this downward
force is known as Gravitational force.

Examples:

An apple falling down from a tree

A ball flying in the sky eventually comes to the ground because of the effect of gravity
2. Magnetic Force

Magnetic force is the force that causes the interaction between electrically charged particles; the areas in which this
happens are called electromagnetic fields. Magnetism attracts two magnets together or makes them push each other apart

Examples

Iron pins attracted in the presence of a magnet bar without any physical contact.

Two magnets are placed close to each other is also a non-contact force example.
3. Electrostatic Force The electrostatic force acts between two charged bodies.
examples

If you rub a comb on your clothes and then hold it near tiny pieces of paper you will see the bits of paper standing on their
end attracted to the comb. We are made of tiny positive, negative and neutral particles. The opposite charges attract each
other and like charges repel.
Spring force
Spring Force

The spring force is the force exerted by a compressed or stretched spring upon any object that is attached to it. An
object that compresses or stretches a spring is always acted upon by a force that restores the object to its rest or
equilibrium position.

Applications of spring:

1) Spring is used in brakes and clutches.

2) It is used as a Measuring force, as in the case of a spring balance to measure weight
3) It is used in watches and toys to store and release energy
4) It is used as a shock absorber in vehicles and machine foundations.

The Spring force formula is given by,

F = k(x – x0)
The Spring force formula is given by,
F = k(x – x0)
Problem 1: A spring has length 22 cm/s. If it is loaded with 2 kg, it gets stretched by 38 cm/s. Compute its spring
constant.
Answer:
(Mass) m = 2 kg
(initial length) xo = 22 cm
(displacement) x = 38 cm
Final displacement = x – xo = 38 cm – 22 cm = 16 cm = 0.16 m
The spring force is articulated as,
F = ma
F = 2 kg × 0.16 m
F = 0.32 N
The spring constant is articulated as,

k = – 2 N/m
Thus, the spring constant is -2 N/m.
Problem 2: If a body is stretched by 2m with force 100 N. Calculate its spring constant.
Answer:
Known:
(Displacement) x = 2m
(force) F = 100 N
The spring constant is articulated as,

k = – 50 N/m
Thus, the spring constant is -50 N/m.
Frictional force
Frictional Force
Friction is the force that resists motion when the surface of one object comes in contact with the surface of
another.
A few factors affecting the frictional force:
• These forces are mainly affected by the surface texture and amount of force impelling them together.
• The angle and position of the object affect the amount of frictional force.
• If an object is placed flat against an object, then the frictional force will be equal to the weight of the object.
• If an object is pushed against the surface, then the frictional force will be increased and becomes more than
the weight of the object.

Friction is seen everywhere in our daily lives, while walking, writing, driving etc, there is contact of surfaces,
moving in opposite directions.
Formulae
Ffrict = µ • Fnorm
The normal force is the support force exerted upon an object that is in contact with another stable object.
The normal force can be simply described in most cases by the following formula: N = mg
In case of an inclined surface, the strength of the normal surface is reduced the more the surface is inclined, hence the
formula becomes: N = mg cos(θ)

Numerical
• Question. A large block of ice is being pulled across a frozen lake. The block of ice has a mass of 300 kg. The
coefficient of friction between two ice surfaces is small: μk = 0.05. What is the force of friction that is acting on the
block of ice?

• Solution: On a flat surface, the normal force on an object is given by N = mg.

With this, we can find the force of friction as follows:
Ff =μN
Ff =μmg
Substituting the values in the above equation we get,
Ff =0.05 × 300 kg × 9.8 m/s2
= 147 kg-m/s2 or 147 N.
The force of friction acting in the opposite direction as the block of ice is pulled across the lake is 147 N.
Tension force
Tension Force:

The tension force is the force that is transmitted through a cable, rope, wire or string when it is pulled tight by forces
acting from opposite ends. It is directed along the length of the cable and pulls equally on the objects on the opposite
ends of the wire.

Tension may also be described as the action-reaction pair of forces acting at each end of the said elements. Tension
could be the opposite of compression.

Formula:
The tension on a body can be expressed numerically as:
T = mg + ma
Application:
Cables and ropes can be used for exerting forces since they can transfer force over a specific distance efficiently.
Tension is the pulling force since the ropes cannot push effectively. Pushing with a rope causes the rope to go slack and
lose tension that allowed it to pull it in the original place.

Numerical:
There is a 10 kg mass hanging from a rope. What is the tension in the rope if the acceleration of the mass is zero?
Solution:
We know that the force of tension is calculated using the formula T = mg + ma.
Substituting the values in the equation, we get T= (10 kg) (9.8 m/s2) + (10 kg) (0)
T = 108 N
(i)Now, assume that there is an acceleration +5 m/s2 upwards. Substituting, we get T= (10 kg) (9.8 m/s2) + (10 kg) (5
m/s2)
T=148 N
(ii) Assume a downwards acceleration of a = -5m/s2
Substituting, we get T= (10 kg) (9.8 m/s2) + (10 kg) (-5)
T= 48 N
 Riddhima Biswas
Rahul Pataskar
Sarthak Das
Sanjana Jirankali
Ridhi Bansal

Project done by : Rhea Kini

Shaurya Kumar