EDEXCEL IGCSE Physics

Mechanics C
Dynamics the study of motion of an object with reference to its mass and the
forces acting on it.
A force is a push or a pull exerted by one object on another. Force is a vector quantity.
A force can:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Stop a moving object

Move a stationary object (stationary not moving)
Increase speed of an object (Accelerate)
Decrease speed of an object (Decelerate)
Change the direction of a moving object
Change the shape of an object

The concept of forces was introduced by Sir Isaac Newton. Therefore, the unit of
force is named after him A force is measured in Newtons. The SI unit of force is
Kgms-2. The device used to measure a force is called the Newton meter.

Types of Forces
1. Gravitational Force Gravitational force is the force which exists between two
masses. Simply, it is the attractive force between two objects with a mass.

E.g.: Weight is the gravitational force that a planet applies to a body.

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2. Solid-Solid Contact Forces:

(a) Normal Reaction or Normal Contact Force When two solids are in contact,
they will push each other. This force exerted by the one solid to the other solid is
called the normal reaction force or the normal contact force. The word normal is
used because the force is perpendicular (forms 90) to the plane of contact.
Normal Reaction Force

Normal Reaction Force

Weight
Weight

(b) Frictional Force This is the force that opposes motion.

Why does friction occur?

When we magnify the surface of contact between two objects, they never
appear to be smooth lines. It may look like :

Therefore, when these rough surfaces are pulled (one on another) a force
which opposes motion arises and this force is known as Friction.
What are the uses of friction?
Friction helps us to:
Walk
Write
Drive a car
Light a match etc

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 What are the problems about friction?

Makes movement difficult in parts of machines
Wastes Energy
Heats parts of machines
Wears things out (tyres etc)
How can we reduce friction?
Use lubricants like oil
3. Solid Fluid contact forces:
(a) Solid Liquid contact forces Drag force
When an object is moving through a liquid, it experiences an opposing force
called drag. Drag depends on the shape of the object. Streamlined objects feel
less drag force.

Thrust

Drag

(b) Solid gas contact forces Air Resistance

When an object is moving through a gas, the opposing force it experiences is
called Air Resistance. Air resistance also depends on the shape of the object.
Streamlined objects feel less Air resistance.

Air Resistance

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4. Thrust This is the force that an engine produces to push an object.

Thrust

Weight

5. Tension Force When we pull a string down, an equal and opposite force called
tension acts.

Tension

Pull Down

6. Electrostatic force This is the force between two charges. Like charges repel
each other while Unlike charges attract each other.

7. Magnetic Forces Between two magnets or between a magnet and another

piece of magnetic material there are magnetic forces. Like poles of two
magnets repel. Unlike poles of two magnets attract. A magnet and magnetic
material attract.
Unlike Poles
Attract
Like Poles
Repel

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8. Upthrust This is the upward force a liquid or a gas exerts on an object.

Weight
Upthrust of water

Upthrust
Weight of boat

9. Nuclear Force This is the force which holds the protons and neutrons
together inside the nucleus of an atom.
More than one force
Forces are vectors and they always have a direction. When there is more than one
force, the sum of the force vectors is called the Resultant force. If the resultant
force is not zero, the object will move in the direction of the resultant force.
Q Calculate the resultant force:

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Some important terms to know

Extension
Compression
Brittle material

- increase in length
- decrease in length
- material that cannot be stretched noticeably and
breaks easily
Resilient/Elastic material - material that can be stretched noticeably and
returns to original length when the force applied is
removed
Plastic material
- material that can change shape permanently
even when a small force is applied to them
- Acceleration due to gravity
When an object is dropped through a small distance close to the earths
surface, it accelerates. When calculated, it is observed that the value we get
as the acceleration is a constant value for all objects which are dropped
through a small distance close to the earths surface. This value is referred to
as the acceleration of free fall and has a value of 9.8ms-2. For IGCSE
purposes, we assume that the acceleration of free fall on earth is 10 ms-2.
- Equation to find Weight

W = mg
W Weight
m Mass
g Acceleration due to gravity
Mass - Mass is the amount of matter in an object. Units are Kilograms Kg.
Acceleration due to gravity The value of g depends on how strong a planets
gravity is. The units are Meters per second squared ms-2. It is sometimes
called Gravitational Field Strength. The value of g varies. For example the
value of g in:
The moon
The earth
Jupiter

= 1.6ms-2
= 9.8ms-2 (but for IGCSE, we assume it is 10ms-2)
= 25.9ms-2

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Q Calculate the weight of an object of mass 450.53Kg when the object is in

(a) The moon

(b) The earth

(c) Jupiter

Free body force diagrams

A free body force is a diagram which shows the forces which act on a particular
object. E.g.:

Reaction force

Friction

Weight
Reaction
force

Weight

Q Draw free-body force diagrams for the following:

(a) The Music Department wants to move a piano up a flight of stairs. The movers
tie a rope to the piano, and pull it up a ramp placed over the stairs. The ramp is
very smooth (no friction). What forces are acting on the piano?

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(b) Assuming the pendulum in the figure consists of a massive bob hung on a light
rope, what forces are acting on the bob?

(c) You take the elevator to the fourth floor. What forces are acting on you while
in the elevator?

(d) Box B accelerates constantly to the right while box A sits on top of it. What
forces are acting on box A?

A
B

(e) Two blocks are joined together by a rope as in the figure.

i.
What forces are acting on the block 1 if it is sliding down the ramp?

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ii.

What forces are acting on the block 1 if block 2 is sliding down the ramp?

(g) The drawing below shows a car pulling a caravan.

i.
Label the forces that are acting on the caravan

ii.

Label the forces that are acting on the car

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