DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL – BOPAL , AHMEDABAD

Study Material (2024-2025)

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?
A push or pull on a body is called force. The direction in which a body is pushed or pulled is called the direction of
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.

Effect of Force:
Force is an external physical agent, which changes or tries to change any one or more of the following of
an object :
(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 zero. The resultant / net force acting on object is not zero.

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

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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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.

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 in a state of rest or in uniform motion remains in rest or in 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?

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 directly
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 decreases 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 :
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.

Derivation of first law from Second Law:

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 if it was at rest.

NEWTON'S THIRD LAW OF MOTION

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that,

For every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

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:
• When we walk on the ground, then our foot pushes the ground backward and, in return, the ground
pushes our foot forward . The forward reaction exerted by the ground on our foot makes us walk forward
• Rocket shoots upwards due to the force exerted in downward direction by large amount of gas released
due to burning of fuel.
• The propellers of a ship are at its back end. When these propellers work, they exert a backward force on
water in the sea. The equal and opposite reaction (force) exerted by water on the ship, moves the ship
forward.

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