1.2.1 & 1.2.2 Chapter 12.

1 Forces

Force - an interaction between two objects that

can change the motion of those two objects
Can cause a resting object to move
Can accelerate a moving object by changing
its speed or direction
For example: force of gravity, friction (a force
that opposes motion of objects that touch as
they move past one another)
Measured in newtons (N); i.e. weight of apples
Net force the overall force acting on an object
after all the forces are combined
Balanced forces-forces on an object that are equal
in size and opposite in direction
Net force equals zero
No change in objects motion
i.e. balanced sides in tug of war
------> <------
50N 50N
East West
Unbalanced forces -
A force that is not equal in size and opposite in
direction
Will result in a net force; object accelerates
(i.e. change in speed or change in direction or
change in both)
--------> <--
100N 10N
East West
Balanced forces = no movement
Unbalanced forces = movement in the direction of
the greater force

Friction - the force that opposes motion between

two surfaces that are touching each other
Depends on the kinds of surfaces and the force
pressing the surfaces together
Without friction, every surface would be more
slippery than a sheet of ice
So walking would be impossible; cars would
just slide around
Why does a rolling ball eventually stop? b/c of
friction! Friction occurs b/w any 2 surfaces in
contact
1) static friction: force required to overcome
inertia, to start moving something, its the hardest
(i.e. a book sitting on a table)
2) sliding friction: force required to keep an object
moving, less than static b/c the object is already
moving (i.e. a box pushed across the floor)
3) rolling friction: force required to keep an object
rolling, easiest to overcome (i.e. a ball rolling
across the floor
4) fluid: force required to keep moving in a fluid
(i.e. an object in free fall, swimming)

Air resistance fluid friction acting on an object

moving through the air or force air exerts on a
moving object.
Gravity causes objects to accelerate
downward, but air resistance acts in an upward
direction and reduces acceleration
i.e. flying squirrel uses air resistance to slow
his acceleration to the Earth; spreads his arms
and legs to achieve maximum surface area
Air resistance affects anything that moves in
Earths atmosphere.
This force acts in the opposite direction to that
of the objects motion.
In the case of a falling object, air resistance
pushes up as gravity pulls down.
The amount of air resistance on an object
depends on the speed, size, shape and density
of the object.
Larger surface area = greater the amount of
air resistance on it
Gravity - force that acts between any two masses
It is an attractive force (pulls objects together)
i.e. the force of gravity is what holds us on
Earth
 The amount of gravitational force between
objects depends on: mass and distance
The greater the mass = the stronger the
gravitational force
The greater the distance = the less effect
gravity will play
Earths gravity keeps the moon in a nearly
circular orbit around Earth
Therefore, it a centripetal force.
A centripetal force is a center-directed force
that continuously changes direction of an
object to make it move in a circle.
This force has only causes a change in
direction
Examples: car going around a curve or a toy
plane spun in a circle by a string
Weight- measure of the force of gravity on an
object
Weight = mass x acceleration due to gravity
W = mg written on formula sheet as Fg = mg,
W = m (in kilograms) x g (9.8 m/s2)
Greater mass = greater gravitational force =
greater weight
Weight is measured in newtons (N)
A kilogram of mass on Earths surface weighs
9.8N.
Weight depends on where you are
Earth has more mass than the moon = more
gravitational pull
 Therefore, objects weigh more here than on
the moon
Mass of objects doesnt change with changes
in gravity

Samples:
1. What causes a rolling object to stop moving?
A. an opposing force such as friction
b. the force of gravity
c. the weight of the object
d. the mass of the object

2. The mass of a kangaroo is 125 kg. What is the

weight of the kangaroo?

3. What is the resultant force of a 50N force in a

northerly direction and a 40N force in a southerly
direction?

4. A car works harder to accelerate from 0 to

10km/hr than it does to maintain a 10km/hr
speed. Why is this?
A. b/c static friction is harder to overcome than
kinetic or rolling friction.
B. b/c static friction is easier to overcome than
kinetic or rolling friction.
C. b/c static friction is harder to overcome than
potential energy.
D. b/c static friction is easier to overcome than
gravity.
5. Which of the following might be the effect of an
unbalanced force acting on an object?
A. An unbalanced force can only cause an object
to slow down.
B. An unbalanced force can cause an object to
speed up only.
C. An unbalanced force can cause on object to
speed up, slow down, or change direction.
D. An unbalanced force can only cause a change
in direction of motion.
6. A beach ball rests on the sand. When the wind
blows, the ball rolls away. Which statement
correctly assesses the reason for this change in
motion?
A. The ball moved b/c an unbalanced force acted upon
it.
B. The ball moved b/c a balance force acted upon
it.
C. The ball moved b/c the force of gravity was
overcome.
D. The ball moved b/c there was no friction to
overcome.

7. Aisha and Kaleb are playing tug of war. Aisha is

pulling with a force of 21N east. Kaleb is pulling
w/ a force of 18N west. What is the net force in
the contest?
A. 39N north B. 3N east C. 3N
west D. 3N south
8. Use the diagram to determine in which
direction the object will move.
A. left B. right C. up D. down

9. Gravity is the force of attraction b/w any two

objects that have mass. The gravitational force
that a body exerts depends, in part, on its mass.
Which of the following factors also affects the
amount of gravitational force experienced b/w two
bodies?
A. the distance b/w the bodies
b. the relative speed of the bodies
c. the altitude of the bodies
d. the angle of the bodies

10. Jared threw a softball up in the air to a height

of 10m. Rayquan threw a softball up 12m.
Rayquan threw the ball higher b/c
a. the pull of gravity on the ball was less
b. he threw with greater force
c. there was less air friction where he threw the
ball
d. gravity pulled the ball higher
11. A bowling ball with a mass of 5.44kg and a
soccer ball with a mass of 0.43kg are dropped
from a 15m platform. Identify the correct
description of the acceleration of the bowling ball
and the force with which it hits the ground, with
respect to the soccer ball.
A. The force of the bowling ball is greater and its
acceleration is greater.
B. The force of the bowling ball is greater and its
acceleration is the same.
C. The force of the bowling ball is the same and
its acceleration is greater.
D. The force of the bowling ball is the same, and
its acceleration is the same.

12. Select the situation that will result in the

greatest gravitational force b/w 2 bodies.
A. large combined mass and small distance apart

B. large combined mass and great distance apart.

C. small combined mass and great distance apart.

D. small combined mass and small distance

apart.

13. The weight of an object is less on the moon

b/c
A. objects on the moon experience a greater
acceleration due to gravity.
B. objects on the moon experience a lesser
acceleration due to gravity
C. there are fewer frictional forces on the moon.
D. there are more frictional forces on the moon.

14. Which statement describes an objects

velocity during freefall toward Earth?
A. an object travels at a constant velocity
throughout the fall
B. An objects velocity increases as it falls.
C. An objects velocity decreases as it falls.
D. An object during freefall does not have a
measurable velocity.

15. Which statement about the weight of an

object is correct?
A. The force of gravity determines an objects
weight.
B. Weight is an unchanging measure of an
objects mass.
C. The weight and mass of an object are the same.

D. An objects weight is not related to its mass.

16. Monisha planted pumpkin seeds in the spring.

The pumpkin she grew weighed 3920N. What was
its mass?
A. 3920kg B. 400kg C. 400N D. 1372 kg

17. Which statement is false?

A. Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
B. Kg are units of mass.
C. An objects mass does not change with location.

D. An objects mass increases in stronger gravity

fields.

18. What is the gravitational force acting on a 70-

kg person standing at sea level?
A. 79.8N B. 159.6N C. 602N D. 686N

19. Jupiters gravity is 254% as strong as the

gravity on Earth. What is the best explanation for
this?
A. Jupiters mass is less than the mass on Earth,
and the gravitational pull of Jupiter is therefore
greater.
B. Jupiter is closer to the Sun than Earth, and the
gravitational pull of Jupiter is therefore greater.
C. Earths distance from the Sun is less than the
distance of Jupiter to the Sun, and the
gravitational pull of Jupiter is therefore greater.
D. Jupiter is far more massive compared to Earth,
and the gravitational pull is therefore greater.