Forces

Forces and motion

Gravitational force

Acts on all masses

Attracts only
 Electromagnetic force

Acts on electric charges

Forces are either attractive or repulsive

Q1Q2
F
4 0 r 2
 Upthrust

upthrust  F2  F1
F1  h2  gA  h1  gA
  gA(h2  h1 )
F2
  gV
Archimedes’ Principle:  mg
The upthrust on an object immersed  G in a liquid is equal
to the weight of the liquid displaced by that object.
Solids , liquids and gases

solids

liquids
fluids
gases
 Drag forces

frictional force solids

liquids
viscous drag fluids
gases

air resistance
frictional force
 viscous force

Viscous drag on a small sphere at low

speeds:
F = 6πrηv
Air resistance
 Weight

 The force of gravity which acts on an object is called the weight of

the object.
 W=mg
 The weight of a body is an example of the force acting on a mass
in what is called a Field of force.
 Problem solving

 Label each force with its magnitude, or with a symbol if you do

not know the magnitude.---a free-body diagram.
Eg
A box of mass 5.0 kg is pulled along a horizontal floor
by a force P of 25N, applied at an angle of 20°to the
horizontal. A friction force F of 20 N acts parallel to the
floor.
Calculate the acceleration of the box. R
20°

W
 Moment of a force

The turning effect of a force is called the moment of the

force.
The moment of a force is defined as the product of the
force and the perpendicular distance of the line of action
of the force from the pivot.

l
F
Moment of force  F  d  F  l cos 
The direction of the moment: clockwise and anticlockwise

Moment of F about P = Fd
= 10 x 0.50
= 5.0 Nm clockwise
 Eg
 A light rod AB of length 45 cm is held at A so that the rod makes
an angle of 65°to the vertical. A vertical force of 15 N acts on the
rod at B. calculate the moment of the force about the end A.

65°
B
45 cm
A
 Couples

 A couple consists of two forces, equal in magnitude but opposite

in direction whose lines of action do not coincide.
 Two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines:
 The effect of a couple is producing rotation.
 torque

The torque of a couple is calculated by multiplying the size of

one of the force (F) by the perpendicular distance between
the two forces (s).

Moment of Couple = Fs
torque  force  separation of force
 torque and moment

dynamic force torque

static force moment

torque moment
 Eg
 Calculate the torque produced by two forces, each of magnitude
30N, acting in opposite direction with their lines of action
separated by a distance of 25 cm.
 The principle of moments

 When a body has no tendency to change its speed of rotation, it is

said to be in rotational equilibrium.
 For a body to be in rotational equilibrium, the sum of the
clockwise moments about any point must equal the sum of the
anticlockwise moments about that same point.---principle of
moments.
 Eg
 Some weights are hung from a light rod AB. The rod is pivoted.
Calculate the magnitude of the force F required to balance the rod
horizontally.

35 cm

A B
40 cm 25 cm
 Centre of gravity

 Although all parts of the object have weight, the whole weight of
the object appears to act at this balance point. This point is called
the centre of gravity of the object.

 The centre of gravity of an object is the point at which the whole

weight of the object may be considered to act.
 Equilibrium

 For a body to be in equilibrium:

 The sum of the forces in any direction must be zero
 The sum of the moments of the forces about any point must be
zero.