2.

5 Understanding the
Effect of a Force
Chapter 2 Forces and Motion

What is Force?

Lifting objects

Pulling off the

ring of a soft
drink tin

A force is a
push or a
pull

Stretching a chest
expander

Pressing a
switch

Kicking a ball

When you push or pull on an object, you need to know

The

strength or magnitude of your force,

and
The

direction in which you are pushing and

pulling.
Vector quantity.
Thus, Force is a ________

How to measure a force?

A spring balance, which is used to

measure the weight (or the gravitational
pull of object) can be used to measure the
magnitude of a force.

The Effect of a Force

1.

A force can change the shape of an object.

(deformation of an object).
Can change the shape of an object
A platicine is flattened

The Effect of a Force

Can change the size of an

object
A can is crushed.

The Effect of a Force

A spring lengthens or
compresses when you stretch or
compress it.

The Effect of a Force

A plastic ruler can be bent

when a force exerted on
it.

The Effect of a Force

A force

can change the original state of motion of

an object.

(from

stationary to move / from moving state to

stationary)
To move a stationary object.
A pushing force is required to
move a stalled car

The Effect of a Force

To stop a moving object
A goalkeeper stop the ball

The Effect of a Force

Can change the speed of
a moving object
A ping-pong ball moves
faster

The Effect of a Force

Can change the direction of a
moving object
A ping-pong ball changes
its direction

Relationship between acceleration , mass and force

Consider two identical speedboats A and B at rest on the

sea.

Different engine thrusts are applied to accelerate the

boats.

However, speedboat A which applies more engine thrust

increases the velocity at higher rate.

Mass, force, acceleration

Relationship between acceleration , mass and force

Consider two identical speedboats, P and Q with P heavily

loaded.

When the same engine thrust is applied, speedboat P

accelerates slower than Q.

Mass, force, acceleration

Experiment 2.2
Relationship between acceleration and force applied on a constant
mass.

Situation:

Figure (a) shows car A and car B of the same mass at the same starting
line. Car B is a sport car.
The engine capacity of sport car B is much bigger than car A. (a car with a
bigger car capacity can provide greater engine thrust.)
Figure (b) shows that sport car B has built up a higher velocity than car A
after 3 seconds.

Inference:

____________________depends on __________________.

Hypothesis

When the mass of an object is constant, the greater

______________, the greater __________________.

Aim:

To investigate the relationship between acceleration and

the force applied on a constant mass.

Variables:

Manipulated:
__________________________________________________

Responding:
__________________________________________________

Constant:
__________________________________________________

Apparatus/Materials:

Trolley, 3 identical elastic cords, runway, ticker-timer, carbonised ticker-tape,

cellophane tape, 12 V a.c. power supply and a wooden block.

Arrangements of apparatus:

Procedure:

A friction-compensated inclined runway is prepared.

The apparatus is then set up as shown in figure.

The ticker-timer is switched on and the trolley is pulled down the

runway by an elastic cord attached to the hind post of the trolley.

The elastic cord is stretched until the other end is level with the front
end of the trolley. The length is maintained as the trolley run down
the runway.

The ticker tape obtained is cut into strips of 10-tick. A tape chart is
constructed and the acceleration, a, is determined.

The experiment is repeated with 2, and 3 elastic cords to double and

triple the pulling force to the same constant extension as when one
elastic cord is stretched.

 Result:
(build

your own ticker tape chart)

Tabulation
(build

of data:

a table to do comparisons)

Conclusion:

Experiment 2.3
Relationship between acceleration and mass of an object
under a constant force

Situation:

Figure (a) shows two similar lorries, A and B in front of a traffic light. When the
light turns green, both drivers step on the accelerator simultaneously with the
same pressure to provide the same engine thrusts, F.
Figure (b) shows that within 3 seconds, the empty lorry has built up a higher
velocity than the heavy one.

Inference:

______________________ depends on _________________

Hypothesis

When the force applied on an object is constant, the

greater __________________, the ____________________.

Aim:

To investigate the relationship between acceleration and

the mass of an object under a constant force

 Variables:
Manipulated:______________________________
Responding:
Constant:

______________________________

________________________________

Apparatus/Materials:

Ticker-timer, 12 V a.c power supply, 3 trolleys, elastic

cord, runway, wooden block, ticker-tape and cellophane
tape.

Arrangements of apparatus:

Procedure:

A friction-compensated inclined runway is prepared.

The apparatus is then set up as shown in figure.

The ticker-timer is attached to the trolley and passed through the tickertimer.

The ticker-timer is switched on and the trolley is pulled down the runway
by an elastic cord attached to the hind post of the trolley.

The elastic cord is stretched until the other end is level with the front
end of the trolley. The length is maintained as the trolley run down the
runway.

The ticker tape obtained is cut into strips of 10-tick. A tape chart is
constructed and the acceleration, a, is determined.

The experiment is repeated using 2 trolleys (with a second trolley

stacked on the first trolley) and 3 trolleys. The elastic cord is stretched
to the same fixed length as in the first experiment.

Result:

(build your own ticker tape chart)

Tabulation of data:

(build a table to do comparisons)

Conclusion: