DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL – BOPAL , AHMEDABAD

Study Material (2023-2024)

CLASS: IX SUBJECT: PHYSICS

Chapter 8: Force and Laws of Motion

Introduction:
We observe that some effort is required to put a stationary object into motion or to stop a moving object.
we must push or hit or pull on an object to change its state of motion. The concept of force is based on
this push, hit or pull.

What is Force?
In fact, no one has seen, tasted or felt a force. However, we always see or feel the effect of a force. It can
only be explained by describing what happens when a force is applied to an object.

Force:
It is an external physical agent, which changes or tries to change any one or more of the following:
(i) Change in state from rest to motion OR from motion to rest.

(ii) Change in speed

(iii) Change in direction

(iv) Change in velocity

(v) Change in shape and size

Types of Forces: ()

S.No Balanced Force Unbalanced Force

1. The resultant / net force acting on object is The resultant / net force acting on object is not
zero. zero.

2. The body remains in state of rest or uniform The body changes its state from rest to motion
motion. It means there is no change in its or from motion to rest.
state.

3. There is a change in shape & size. There is no change in shape & size.

INERTIA:
The inherent property or tendency of a body to remain in its state of rest or uniform motion unless an
external force is applied is called Inertia.
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TYPES OF INERTIA :
• Inertia of rest- Tendency of a body to remain in its state of rest unless an external unbalanced
force is applied.

Illustration: When a bus starts from rest, the upper body part of passengers seated in the bus, falls
backward. This is because when the bus changes its state from rest to motion, the lower part of the
body comes to motion. The upper body part continues to remain in state of rest due to Inertia of
rest and hence falls backwards.

• Inertia of motion- Tendency of a body to remain in uniform motion unless an external unbalanced
force is applied.
Illustration: When brakes are applied to a bus in motion, the upper body part of passengers seated
in the bus, falls forward. This is because when the bus changes its state from motion to rest, the
lower part of the body comes to rest. The upper body part continues to remain in state of motion
due to Inertia of motion and hence falls forwards.

• Inertia of Direction- Tendency of a body to remain in a straight line unless an external

unbalanced force is applied.
Illustration: When a motorcar makes a sharp turn at a high speed, we tend to get thrown to one
side. We tend to continue in our straight-line motion. When an unbalanced force is applied by the
engine to change the direction of motion of the motorcar, we slip to one side of the seat due to the
inertia of our body. Although the motorcar has taken a turn our body continues to be in same
direction due to inertia of direction.

NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION:

NEWTON’S FIRST LAW OF MOTION:
An object remains in a state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless an external
unbalanced force acts on it. In other words, all objects resist a change in their state of motion. The
first law of motion is also known as the law of inertia.
The first law gives us information about the NATURE of force……What is Force?

MASS AND INERTIA:

Inertia of an object is measured by its mass. Inertia is directly proportional to the mass. This
means inertia increases with increase in mass and decreases with decrease in mass. A heavy object
will have more inertia than a lighter one.
Since a heavy object has more inertia, thus it is difficult to push or pull a heavy box over the
ground than a lighter one.

MOMENTUM:
Momentum is the power of motion of an object.
The product of velocity and mass is called the momentum. Momentum is denoted by ‘p’.
Therefore, momentum of the object = Mass x Velocity.
Or, p = m x v
Where, p = momentum, m = mass of the object and v = velocity of the object.
Momentum has both direction and magnitude. Its direction is the same as that of velocity, v.
The SI unit of momentum is kilogram-metre per second (kg m s-1)
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NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION:
The second law of motion states that the rate of change of momentum of an object is proportional
to the applied unbalanced force in the direction of force. Newton’s second law enables us to
measure force.
Illustrations:
• In a game of cricket the fielder catches the ball coming with high velocity by moving his
hands backwards. This increases the time interval, so the rate of change of momentum and
hence force exerted on hand decreases. Hence preventing injury to hand.

• The athletes in high jump, are made to fall on a cushioned bed or sand bed. This is done to
increase the time of the athlete’s fall coming to stop after making the jump. This decreases
the rate of change of momentum and hence the force.

• A karate player strikes a pile of tiles with his hand in very short interval of time. In doing
so, the entire momentum of the hand is reduced to zero in a very short interval of time. As
a result, very large force delivered to the pile of tiles break it in a single blow.

MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION OF NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION:

Let mass of a moving object = m.

Let the velocity of the object changes from ‘u’ to ‘v’ in the interval of time‘t’. This means,
Initial velocity of the object = u.
Final velocity of the object = v.
We know that momentum (p) = Mass x velocity
Therefore,
Momentum (p) of the object at its initial velocity u = m x u = mu
Momentum (p) of the object at its final velocity v = m x v = mv
The change in momentum = mv – mu
Rate of change of momentum = (mv – mu) / t

According to the Newton’s Second Law of motion force is directly proportional to the rate of change of
momentum.
This means, Force ∝Rate of change of momentum
Force ∝ m(v – u) / t
Force ∝ ma
Force = k ma where, k is proportionality constant

F = ma (k =1)

The SI units of mass and acceleration are kg and m s-2 respectively.

The unit of force is kg m s-2 or Newton, which has the symbol N.

One unit of force is defined as the amount that produces an acceleration of 1 m s-2 in an object of
1 kg mass.
Note:
1 unit of force = k × (1 kg) × (1 m s-2). Thus, the value of k becomes 1.
1N = (1 kg) × (1 m s-2)
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 Consistency of second law with first law / Second law is the real Law /
Derivation of first law from Second Law:
According to the second law, F= ma

If F=0, it implies that a=0

That means that the body is at rest or in uniform motion.

According to the first law, if the body is at rest or in uniform motion i.e. if a=0 then F=0.
So both the laws are saying the same thing that means the second law is consistent with the
first law and the second law holds true both for uniform as well as the non- uniform motion.
F=ma

F=m(v-u)/t
Ft = mv-mu = m(v-u)
It implies, when F=0, v=u for whatever time t is taken.
This means that the object will continue moving with uniform velocity, u throughout the time t.
If u=0 then v=0. That is, the object will remain at rest.

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW OF MOTION

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that, to every action there is always an equal and opposite
reaction. Action and reaction act on two different bodies.

Explanation: Whenever a force is applied over a body, that body also applies same force of equal
magnitude and in opposite direction. These two forces are always equal in magnitude but opposite
in direction. These forces act on different objects and never on the same object.

Note: Even though the action and reaction forces are always equal in magnitude; these forces may
not produce accelerations of equal magnitudes. This is because each force acts on a different
object that may have a different mass.

Illustrations:
• The road exerts an equal and opposite reaction force on your feet to make you move forward.
• As the sailor jumps forward, the force on the boat moves it backwards
• Rocket shoots upwards due to the force exerted in downward direction by large amount of gas
released due to burning of fuel.

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