Chapter: Force and Pressure
Subject: Science
Class: VIII
9910725407; 9315421045
SCIENCE
FORCE AND PRESSURE
(Questions & Answers)
A. FILL IN THE BLANKS.
(i) For a force to come into play, the two concerned bodies must ___________ with each
other.
(ii) To draw water from a well, we have to ___________ the rope.
(iii) An unbalanced force, acting on a moving object, may change its ___________ and/or its
___________.
(iv) In the game of cricket, the ‘bails’ fall when the ball strikes them. This is an example of a/an
___________ force.
(v) The force, responsible for raising our body hair, when we try to take off a synthetic
(terylene or polyster) shirt in dry weather conditions, is an ___________ force.
(vi) The atmospheric pressure ___________ as we move towards higher altitudes.
Answer: (1) interact (2) pull (3) speed, direction (4) contact (5) electric (6) decreases
B. TRUE OR FALSE
(i) The effect of a force may change by changing the direction of the applied force.
(ii) A force has to be specified both in terms of its magnitude as well as its direction.
(iii) Frictional force is an example of a non-contact force.
(iv) A gas filled balloon moves up. The upward force acting on it is smaller than the force of
gravity, i.e. (the downward acting force).
(v) We can reduce the pressure of a given force by increasing the area over which the force
acts.
(vi) Inside a bottle filled with water, pressure is least at the bottom and the greatest at the
surface of water.
Answer: (1) True (2) True (3) False (4) False (5) True (6) False
C. SHORT AND LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. In the following situations, identify the agent exerting the force. Also, state the effect
of the force in each case.
a) Squeezing a piece of lemon between the fingers to extract its juice.
Agent of force is fingers & effect is change in shape.
b) A person diving into a swimming pool.
Agent of force is person muscles & effect is change in motion.
c) A labourer moving a loaded cart.
Agent of force is labourer & effect is change in motion of cart.
d) A car coming to rest once its engine is switched off.
Agent of force is friction from road & effect is change in motion.
Chapter: Force and Pressure
Subject: Science
Class: VIII
9910725407; 9315421045
e) An athlete making a high jump to clear a bar kept at a certain height.
Agent of force is muscles & effect is change in motion.
2. An object experiences a net non-zero force. Is it possible for the object to move with a
constant speed along a straight line?
No, because a net non-zero force i.e. Unbalanced force is acting on the body, so speed
must be changing.
3. Distinguish between:
(a) balanced and unbalanced forces.
Balanced Forces Unbalanced Forces
When resultant of two or more forces When resultant of two or more forces
acting on a body is zero then these forces acting on a body is not zero, then these
are called balanced forces. forces are called unbalanced forces.
Balanced forces do not change the state Unbalanced forces may change in state
of rest or motion of an object. They may of rest or motion as well as in size and
change in the size and shape of the shape of an object.
object.
(b) contact and non-contact forces.
Contact Forces Non-contact Forces
The forces which act only when objects The forces which act when objects are
are in direct physical contact with each not in direct physical contact with each
other. other.
Examples – Frictional force, muscular Examples – Gravitational force, Electric
force. Force, Magnetic Force.
4. When we throw a ball upwards, what happens to its speed while it is going up? Give
reason for your answer.
When we throw a ball upwards, it’s speed decreases because gravitational force is acting
on the ball in downward direction. Also, air resistance opposes the motion of the ball.
5. The figure shows a man with a parachute.
(a) Name the force which is responsible for his downward motion.
Is it a contact force or a non-contact force?
Gravitational force is responsible for his downward motion. It
is non-contract force.
(b) Will the man come down with the same speed without the
parachute? Explain.
No, because parachute experiences a very large air resistance
which decreases the speed. So, without parachute the man will
come with greater speed.
Chapter: Force and Pressure
Subject: Science
Class: VIII
9910725407; 9315421045
6. How would the pressure (exerted by a force on an area) change if-
(a) the area is doubled keeping the thrust (force) constant?
If area is doubled then pressure reduced to half. (Pressure = Force per unit area)
(b) thrust is doubled keeping the area constant?
If thrust is doubled then pressure becomes doubled. (Pressure = Force per unit area)
7. When will a diver ‘experience a greater pressure’- 100 cm below the surface of water
or 200 cm below the surface of water? Justify your answer.
At 200 cm a diver will experiences greater pressure because pressure inside the liquid
increases with depth.
8. Define force. Is it necessary for the two bodies to be in direct contact for a force to exist
between them? Explain with examples.
Force is a push or pull which an object experiences when it interacts with another object.
No, it is not necessary for the two bodies to be in direct contact for a force to exist between
them. For example, a magnet can pull iron nail even from a distance.
9. State three effects of a force. Give suitable examples.
Three effects of force are as follows:
(i) Force can change the state of motion. Example: When a football is kicked, it comes
into motion.
(ii) Force can change the direction of motion. Example: When a batsman hits a ball,
direction of motion of the ball changes.
(iii) Force can change shape. Example: Change the shape of an inflated balloon by gently
pressing it between our palms.
10. Give reasons for the following statements-
(a) ‘Snow shoes’ are more effective than ordinary shoes for walking on snow.
Snowshoes are more effective than ordinary shoes for walking on snow, because the
snow shoes are comparatively broader than the ordinary shoes. As we know that
pressure is inversely proportional to the surface area which means that if area
increases then pressure will decrease. So, the body weight will be distributed over a
larger surface area of snow shoes and helps to walk effectively on snow.
(b) Porters place a large round piece of cloth on their heads when they carry heavy
loads.
Porters place a large round piece of cloth on their heads when they carry heavy loads
because by doing this, they increase the area of contact of the load with their heads
and as we know that the pressure is inversely proportional to surface area so the
pressure on their heads gets reduced.
(c) A sharp knife cuts vegetables and fruits more effectively than a blunt knife.
As the area of the sharp knife is less than that of the blunt knife thereby it increases
the pressure while cutting vegetables and fruits, because pressure is inversely
Chapter: Force and Pressure
Subject: Science
Class: VIII
9910725407; 9315421045
proportional to area. So, a sharp knife cuts vegetables and fruits more effectively than
blunt knife.
(d) School bags are provided with wide straps to carry them.
School bags are provided with wide straps to carry them, because as we know that the
pressure is inversely proportional to the contact area that is if the contact area
increases pressure decreases. So wide straps will distribute the weight of the box over
a larger area thereby decreasing pressure on our Shoulders.
(e) It is much easier to burst an inflated balloon with a needle than (directly) with the
finger.
As needle has a smaller surface area than the finger, so the force applied by needle at
almost a single point leading to a much larger pressure on the balloon. So, it is easier
to burst an inflated balloon with needle than finger.
(f) Mountaineers may suffer from nose bleeding at high altitudes.
Atmospheric pressure on our body is balanced by our blood pressure. At Higher
altitudes the air pressure/Atmospheric pressure reduces and it becomes lower than
our blood pressure so delicate blood vessels in our nose burst sometimes resulting in
the nose bleeding.
(g) Airplanes have pressurised cabins for passenger safety while flying high in the
atmosphere.
As we know that at high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure decreases, so the low
pressure can be highly uncomfortable for travellers. Due to this pressure in the aircraft
cabin is increased to a sufficient value so as to safeguard the passengers.
11. Two rods, ‘A’ and ‘B’, of the same weight and equal length, have different thicknesses. A
boy, while playing with them on a beach, held them vertically on the surface of sand as
shown in the figure. Which one of them will sink less?
Explain.
We know that the pressure varies directly with the thrust and
inversely with the area on which the force is applied. For
equal amount of force, a smaller area would result greater
pressure hence the rod ‘B’ will sink less than that of the rod
‘A’. It is because rod ‘B’ has more surface area.
12. Three holes, A, B and C, are made in an empty can at different levels, one over the other,
as shown in the figure. They are (temporarily) closed with an adhesive tape. The can is
now filled with water. What will you observe, when the tape (on all
of them) is pulled out? Justify your answer.
Water will start coming out of these three holes. Water from the hole
‘A’ will go to the maximum distance because pressure is highest at
bottom. Water from the hole ‘C’ will go to the least distance because
of least pressure.
Chapter: Force and Pressure
Subject: Science
Class: VIII
9910725407; 9315421045
13. Make two tiny holes, of the same size, at equal heights from the bottom in a plastic
bottle. Cover them and fill the bottle with water. Let the ‘covers’ be now removed. State
the ‘observations’, and the resulting ‘conclusions’, based on this activity.
As the holes are at the same height, so the water will come out and reach to same distance,
because of the same pressure on both the walls of the plastic bottle.
14. Discuss, in brief, the variation in atmospheric pressure with altitude. Do changes in
temperature also cause a change in atmospheric pressure?
With the increase in altitude, the atmospheric pressure decreases because the air column
also decreases. Yes, the change in temperature also causes a change in atmospheric
pressure which is mainly due to the uneven heating of the Earth surface which causes
winds to flow.
15. The average weight of an elephant is 4000 N. The surface area of the sole of its foot is
0.1m2. Calculate the pressure exerted by one foot of an elephant.
Average weight of the elephant = 4000 N
Weight of one leg = Force exerted by one leg = 4000/4 = 1000 N
Area of the sole of one foot = 0.1 m2
Pressure = Force/Area = 1000/0.1 = 10000 N/m2 = 104 Nm-2
Pressure exerted by one leg of the elephant is 10,000 newton on one square metre.
16. A stone weighs 500 N. Calculate the pressure exerted by it, if it makes contact with a
surface of area 25 cm2.
Given : Weight of a stone F = 500 N
Area: A=25 cm2 = 25 × 10-4 m2
To find: Pressure P =?
Formula: Pressure P = F/A = 500 / [25×10-4]
Solution: Pressure P = 20 × 104 Nm-2 (or) 20 × 104 Pa
17. In a hydraulic lift, the surface area of the input piston is 10 cm 2. The surface area of the
output piston is 3000 cm2. A 100 N force applied to the input piston raises the output
piston. Calculate the force required to raise the output piston.
Pressure input on piston, P = F/A = 100/ [10×10-4] = 105 N
According to Pascal’s law
P= F/A
105 = F / [3000×10-4] = [ F×104] / 3000
104 × F = 105 × 3000
F = 3000 × 101
F = 3 × 104 N
18. Name two instruments, which help to measure the pressure.
• Manometer (for pressure between two points)
• Barometer (for atmospheric pressure)
Chapter: Force and Pressure
Subject: Science
Class: VIII
9910725407; 9315421045
19. Define one atmosphere.
One atmospheric pressure is the amount of pressure exerted when 1 N of is applied over
1 meter square area.
20. Explain how we can fill the dropper with ink.
When the narrow open end is dipped into the ink and the rubber
bulb is pressed, some air in the tube escapes through the open end.
This reduces the air pressure inside the dropper. On releasing the
bulb, the atmospheric pressure on the ink pushes the ink into the
dropper. The dropper is then taken out to fill the ink into pen.
21. Why sumo and kabbadi players rub their hand with mud?
By rubbing their hands with soil, they make their hands rough. A rough surface has more
friction which enhances their grip while holding the opponent.
22. Why the water tank is built at high height in our houses?
The water tank in a house is located at the highest possible level to create more pressure
by two ways:
(i) Pressure increases with depth therefore the water at the bottom of the tank will
be released with high pressure when the tap is opened;
(ii) Additional pressure is exerted due to the gravitational pull as the tank is kept at
height.
