Section 5.

Action of forces

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 66)

Action of forces
In daily lives, there are different kinds of
forces.
e.g. •Tension

•Friction
•Gravity

Unit: newton (N)

Go to Go to

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 68)

Tension
Tension (T ) on the string
exists when it is stretched

attraction exerted among

particles ⇒ tension

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Friction

Friction (f)
— arises between surfaces of objects when
one slides / tends to slide over another
— acts in a direction to oppose / prevent

relative movement
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Friction

e.g.
Reason: rough surfaces

The direction is book

opposite to the motion
direction of motion
of book

friction table

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Friction

e.g. a box rest on inclined plane

tends to slide friction prevents it
down from sliding down

If the body is resting on horizontal plane,

friction does not exist.
Thinking 3
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Advantages and disadvantages of friction

Advantages
e.g. walking

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Advantages and disadvantages of friction

Disadvantages
• energy is wasted as heat and sound
• wear in gears

Then … is there motion with

less friction?

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 70)

Frictionless motion

(1) Motion along a linear air track

turn on
air blower air comes out
rider
from tiny
holes
rider floats on
the layer of
air linear air
track

Friction is reduced.
Rider moves to and
fro several times
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 70)

Frictionless motion

(2) Motion on top of plastic beads

plastic beads
ring puck

reduce friction between

the ring puck and the
tray

ring puck moves on the a layer of beads

plastic beads
continuously
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Thinking 4
10
5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 71)

Class Practice 1:
1
We always encounter friction in our daily lives. Sometimes it is
desirable and sometimes it is not. In each of the following
cases, mark “ ” in the circle if we want to increase the friction
and mark “ ” if we want to decrease the friction. State also the
purpose to increase or decrease the friction. Explain briefly.

1. Rough road surface Ans

wer

The car does not slip easily

when it travels on the road

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 71)

Class Practice 1 (Cont):

(Cont)
2. Bearing in drawer Ans
wer

The drawer is pulled and

pushed easily.

3. Shoes with studs for Ans

rock-climbing wer

The studs can be firmly pressed

against the rocks to prevent
sliding easily.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 72)

Class Practice 1 (Cont):

(Cont)

4. Adding lubricating oil to gears Ans

wer

The gears can move

easily and smoothly.

5. Air cushion between Ans

hovercraft and water surface wer

The fluid friction is

reduced when the ship travels in
water. The ship can travel
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 72)

Class Practice 1 (Cont):

(Cont)

6. Tread patterns on tyres of car Ans

wer

The car will not slip on

slippery roads easily.

7. Bearing in swing Ans

wer

The swing can move easily.

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 72)

Class Practice 1 (Cont):

(Cont)

8. Streamlined shapes of
dolphins Ans
wer

The streamlined shape

reduces water resistance
when dolphins swim.

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 73)

Gravity

The earth’s gravity tends to pull everything

near it towards its centre

magnitude of
gravitational force
on a body depends
on its mass

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 To section 5.3

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 66)

Discussion 2:

Try to state the effects of forces below. A force

can … Ans
wer
(a)

A force can change

the shape of an
object.

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 66)

Discussion 2 (Cont):

(b) (c)

A force can stop a movingAns

object. wer

Ansthe travelling
A force can change
wer
direction of an object.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 66)

Discussion 2 (Cont):

(d) Ans
wer

A force can move a stationary

object.

Return to

Text

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 67)

Activity 2
Action of forces

Let’s start:

(A) Tension
1. Hold an elastic string with your hands and
stretch it. How do you feel? Ans
wer
When the string is stretched. I feel the tension.

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 67)

Activity 2 (Cont)
Action of forces

2. Tie one end of the elastic string on a stand.

Pull the other end by hand. What is the
relation between the force applied and the
Ans
extension of the string? wer
If a larger force is applied to the string, it extends
more.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 67)

Activity 2 (Cont)
Action of forces

3. Stretch the elastic string with a spring balance.

The reading of the spring balance shows the
tension of the string. Repeat the measurement
by stretching the string with larger forces. What
is the relation between the force applied and
the tension of the string? Ans
wer
If a larger force is applied to the string, the
reading is higher.

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 67)

Activity 2 (Cont)
Action of forces

4. Many modern bridges are supported by thick

cables. The figure shows the Ting Kau
suspension bridge. Describe briefly how
Ans the
cables support the bridge. wer
All the cables are under great tension in order to
support the weight of the bridge and the cars on it.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 67)

Activity 2 (Cont)
Action of forces

(B) Friction
1. Place a book on a plank. Gently tilt the end of
the plank and the book remains there. Explain
Ans
why. wer
The plank exerts friction on the book to prevent it from
sliding down.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 68)

Activity 2 (Cont)
Action of forces
(C) Gravitational force
1. Hold a book on your hand. How do you feel?
Ans
A downward force is acting on the hand wer
2. Let the book go from your hand above the
table. In what direction does the book move?
What causes the book to move? Ans
The book moves downwards. The attractivewer force
acting on the book by the earth causes the book to
fall. Return to

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Text 26
5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Thinking 3:

The examples show the action of friction. In each case,

1. Name two surfaces between which friction acts,
2. state what would happen if the friction suddenly
disappeared.
Fig. (a) Writing with pencil on paper
1. Pencil tip and paper Ans
wer
2. When you write on a piece of paper with
a pencil, friction rubs carbon particles
off the end of the pencil. The carbon
particles then leave a mark on the paper.
The pencil cannot be used for writing if
the friction disappears.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Thinking 3 (Cont):

Fig. (b) Anchoring of ship

Ans
wer
1. Rope and stand
2. The rope is tightened by the friction
with the stand. If the friction disappears,
the rope cannot be gripped tight to
anchor the ship.

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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 69)

Thinking 3 (Cont):

Fig. (c) Pressing the wheel of bicycle while braking

Ans
wer
1. Brake blocks and wheel
2. The wheel is stopped by the friction
with the brake blocks. If the friction
disappears, the wheel cannot be
stopped to brake the bicycle.

Return to

Text
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 70)

Thinking 4:

1. In Fig. 5.15, turn off the air blower and

push the rider again. What happens?
air comes Ans
rider
out from tiny
holes
wer

linear air
track

The moving rider stops quickly due to the

large friction.
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5.2 Action of forces (SB p. 70)

Thinking 4 (Cont):

2. In Fig. 5.16, empty the tray and push the

ring puck again. What happens?
Ans
ring puck
wer

Return to
a layer of beads
Text
The ring puck stops moving quickly.
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