H / 0 6

Force and Pressure

We all know that motion is an integral part of life. In Class-VIl

our we have talke
about the details of the motion of an
object moving along a straight line. W
now know that the motion of an
object can be uniform or non-uniform in nature
However, we have not yet looked at the cause of motion. When and
why does the
speed of an object change with time?

We all know that an object at rest does not start

moving on its own. Some effor
is needed to make it move. From our everyday
experience, we know that we haE
to push, or pull, a table, a chair, or an almirah, if we wish to change its
When
position
a room. we push or pull an object, we are exerting a force. A football,
has to be kicked to send it
at res
over a distance. We again say that we
are exerting
force on it. We, therefore, say that we exert a force when we push, pull, kick or
a given object.
l

In all these situations, some kind of external

agency (very often a muscular effo
is involved and its effect can be noticed or felt quite
easily. It follows that we nee
an external force to move a body from its rest position, or to stop a moving boar
21/06
For example, we can stop a ball rolling down an inclined plane by applying a force
against the direction of its motion.

We can thus say that force is a push or

pull which comes
interaction ofone object with another object. For example,into play when there is an
when we wish to change
the position of a study table in our room, we have to
push it. The study table does
not move due to our presence alone. There has to be
an interaction (push/pull)
between us and the study table. The
study table begins to move in the direction
of the applied force.

Activity 1
Given below situations involving different objects.
are some
Try to identify the
action(s) involved. Can the effort be called force? Is there any interaction between
the two concerned objects?

S.No. Description of Action(s) Effort leadsto Does the effort involve

situation Force (Yes/No)| an interaction between
two objects? (Yes/No)

.
Drawing a bucket
trom a well.

Openingor
2. closing a table
drawer.
Squeezing wet
3. clothes for drying.

Pedallinga
bicycle.
Moving a loaded
5
trolley
A hockey player
b. taking a penalty
corner shot.

Tom the above activity, we can infer that a force comes into play only when at least
Wo objects 'interact' with each other.

57)
 216
Thus interaction of one object with another object
an
can result in a force betwes
the two objects.

Force
We can now
say that: A force is a push or pull
upon an object resulting from its
with another object. Wheneverinteractioon
there is
an interaction
between the two objects,
some force acts
between them; when the
interaction ceases, the force between
no longer exists. themn

Force exists only as a result of some interaction.

A bullock pulling a cart
Do you Know
Force does not always involve effort by living beings like humans or animals. Force
due to many natural can also be
causes. We may not be able to 'see' such
their effects forces, but can still feel or observe
on
objects.

Effects of Force
Change in the state of motion:
A change, in either the
speed of an object, or its direction of motion, or bott
is described as a change in its state of motion.

Activity 2

(i) Take a rubber ball and place it on a

smooth level surface (like a table top).
Gently push the ball; it starts to move.
Now, push it harder. What do you observe?
Is there any change in its speed? Does it
increase or decrease?

(ii) Roll the ball the table top and now,

on

push against the motion of the ball. What

do you observe in this case? The speed of
the ball decreases and it can come to rest.
1 o602/

(ii) Next push the ball at an angle to the

direction of motion of ball. What do you
observe?

Change the angle of your hand with respect

to the direction of motion of ball. Does your
effort result in a change in direction of motion
of ball?

From the above activity, we understand that a force, applied on an object,

may change its speed, or direction of motion, or both.

We also realise that

i f the applied force acts on a body along its direction of motion, the speed
of the body will increase.
if the direction of force, on the body, is opposite to its direction of
motion, the speed will decrease.
(In both the above two cases, the object is supposed to be moving in
a straight line).

if the force acts at an angle to the direction of motion, it can change

the speed as well as the direction of motion.

Do Uou Know
When a very small body hits a very large body, the forces acting on both the bodies are equal in
agnitude but opposite in direction. However, the effect (of force) produced in the small body
is very large as compared to the effect of (the equal) force on the larger body

Our common experience also tells us that many a time the application of force
does not result in a change in the state of rest or motion of the body. For
example, we do not observe any motion, when we try to push a heavy stone.

A force may not, therefore, always succeed in bringing a change in the state
of motion of an object. Sometimes, it only tends to do so.

Change in size/shape of an object:

We know that to make a chappati, we first take same dough and then roll
it between the palms to make it spherical. We can also change the shape
of an inflated balloon by gently pressing it between our palms. Some of

(59
 us might have had a chance to observe the potter at work, A potter mab.

pots of different slzes and shapes from kneaded clay. In all these situati
the changes in size, or shape, or both take
place due to the force applied on them.

We can now say that a force may-

make an object move from rest.
change the speed of a moving object.
change the direction of a moving object.
bring a change in the size, or shape, of an object.
cause two, or more, or all, of these effects.

Activity 3
Try to analyse these situations:

(i) a batsman hits a cricket ball for a six.

Comwi
(ii) a goalkeeper saves a goal by kicking the ball away.

Can we say that these actions cause one, or more, of

the above stated effects of force? Identify the agent
supplying the force in each case. Also, try to identify
the number of times the speed of the ball changes.

Do lyou Know
An object continues to be in motion, with the same speed and in the same direction, unless acte
upon by an unbalanced force. It is a natural tendency of objects to resist any change in their stat
of rest or motion. This is known as the Law of Inertia.

Factors Associated with the Magnitude of Force Needed

We know that harder we kick a football, faster it moves. It means that: 'greate
is the appied force, greater is the change in the speed of the object
 Consider a lighter mass (car) and a heavier mass (loaded truck) parked on a
horizontal road. We all know from our experience that a much greater push
(force) is needed to move the truck than the car.
Now, suppose we apply the same force, for the same time, to both the car and
the truck. The car picks up a greater speed than the truck in that time.

We thus realise the mass of an object, and the value of the change in its speed
(in a given time) are both important parameters that determine the magnitude
of the force needed.

Do you Know Ring

Spring balance is a simple device that can be used for

measuring the force acting on an object. It consists of a
coiled spring which gets stretched when a force is applied
to it. Stretching of the spring is measured by a pointer Pointer

moving on a graduated scale. The reading on the scale Graduated scale

gives the magnitude of the force. The SI unit of force is
1 newton (1N).
The force is said to be IN if it produces an acceleration
Hook
of Im/s in a body of mass 1kg.
Spring balance

Force has Both Magnitude and Direction

It is now easy to understand that we need to know both the magnitude of force,
and the direction in which it acts, to completely specify it. When we change
either the direction, or the magnitude, or both (magnitude and direction) of
the applied force, its effect changes.

Do Uou Know
The force need not always act in the direction of motion. Depending upon the situation, force
to the direction of
may act at any angle to the direction of motion. force, acting perpendicular
A

motion, does not cause any change in speed but can still cause a change in direction.

Balanced and Unbalanced Forces

From our experience we know that sometimes more than one force can act on an
object. The effect of all these forces on the object, would be due to the net force
acting on it. To understand this, let us perform the following activity.
(61
 Activity 4

'container' filled with a heavy material.

(i) Try to
it, push al
Consider large
a
Can you move it
one corner of the room
to another corner.
by yourself, from
in the same
Take the of of friends. Ask him to push the container
(ii) help one your
trom the opposite
direction in which you are pushing it. (iii)
Next ask him to push

direction. What do you observe? In which case

does it become easier, or difficult, t
move the container?
direction, his eftfort adds t
When your friend pushes the container in the same
his effort tries to cancel your
yours, but when he pushes in the opposite direction,
the container.
effort. In each case, an unbalanced force can act on

that changes its speedt

It is the net unbalanced force, acting on an object,
on an object, a=
direction of motion, or both. When the two forces, acting
or motion. The chang=
different, the object undergoes a change in its state of rest
caused depends on the net force acting on it. We call a pair of different forces
unbalanced forces.

1. Unbalanced forces, acting in the same direction, combine by addition

FF + +F, =F, + F

F,

Unbalanced F2
force
21/6

2. Unbalanced forces, acting in

mutually opposite directions, combine by
subtraction. The net force is equal to the difference between the two forcesS
and is exerted in the direction of the larger
force.
F )+ (F ) = F , - F,
OR

(F, )+ (F- )= F, -F, F

where F,>E,
The resultant (net) of unbalanced forces is always non-zero. For example, inna
game of tug of war, the weaker team always gets pulled towards the stronger
team.

F F

The figure shows a block of wood, lying on

a table, that has been tied to two springs.
If we pull the block from both sides, with F
the same force, the block remains stationary.
The forces are equal and opposite. The net
force is zero. Similarly, in a game of tug of war, when both the teams pull the
rope, with equal and opposite forces, the rope remains stationary. The net force
again is zero. We call such a pair of forces as balanced forces.

Now, try to squeeze a rubber ball between your palms by applying nearly same
force from both sides. As the forces applied are equal and opposite, net force
is almost zero. It does not move the ball, but can deform it.

We thus conclude that

equal and opposite forces (balanced forces) do not change the state of rest
or motion of an object. They may, however, cause a change in the size and/
or shape of the object.
unequal (unbalanced) forces may lead to (i) change in state of rest or motion
as well as () change in size and/or shape of an object.

63
 Do Uou Know
saac Newton (1642-1727) was a great physicist and mathematician.
t o n Wrote two important books Principal and Opticks. The
book describes the theory of universal gravitation. The second
oOOK Contained Newton's ideas on light and colour and his optical
researches
NEwton expressed the relations, between the forces acting on a boay
and its motion, through his famous Laws of Motion. Newton's thira
aw of motion finds its technological application in rocket
2406
204
this plays a very important role in propulsion;
space exploration. Sir Isaac Newton

Type of Forces
tis
clear now that whenever there is an
interaction
come into
play. We can classify all forces in two broadbetween different bodies for
1. Contact forces categories:
2. Non-Contact forces ('action at a
distance' forces)

Contact Forces
We call those forces as
contact forces which result when
are in direct
physical contact with each other. Some of two interacting bodi
the examples of conta
forces include muscular force, frictional
force, air resistance force and so on
Muscular force: In our daily life, we
push,
pull or lift many things. The effort (force) is
caused by the action of muscles in our
body.
Animals, like bullocks, horses and camels,
have been used for pulling carts.(In arctic
regions, reindeers are made to pull the
sledges that are used as passenger vehicles.
In these cases, the muscles of animals
apply
the force. This force is called muscular
force) All animals, including huma
beings, use muscular force for most of their activities.

Frictional force: We know thata ball, rolling along the ground,

graduallyslow
down and finally comes to rest. In order to move a bicycle along a straigh
level road, we have to keep pedalling it all the time. This is because of the

64
 the frictional force
gDetween the tWO surtaces in contact. The magnitude or
depends upon the nature of the two surfaces in contact.
The direction of the frictional force is (usually) opposite to the direction of
motion of the object. We will learn more about the details of the force of
friction in the next chapter.

DoUou Know
There is a popular story that one day, when Newton was sitting under
an apple tree, an apple fell on his head, and this led him to think
about the force of gravitation. As in all such legends, this story is
almost certainly not true in its details, but the story contains elements
of what actually happened. Probably the more correct version of the
story is that Newton, upon observing an apple fall from a tree, began to
think along the following lines:- The falling apple is getting accelerated;
there must be a force acting on the apple. If the force can reach to the
top of the highest level of tree might it not reach even further (all the way to moon!). By such
reasonings, Newton came to the conclusion that any two objects, in the universe, exert gravitational

attraction on
each other. This
force isdirectly proportional to the product of their masses and
inversly proportional to square of the distance between them. The weight of an object is a measure
of the gravitational force exerted on that object by the earth.

Non-Contact Forces ('Action at a distance' forces)

We call those forces as non-contact forces which can cause their effects even
when the two interacting bodies are not in direct physical contact with each
other. Here they are able to exert a push, or pull, despite their separation.
Some examples of non-contact forces are gravitational force, magnetic force
and electric force.
Gravitational force: We know that when we throw a ball upwards, the ball
goes up in the air but then falls down again. Ripe fruits, that grow on trees,
fall to the ground by themselves. This happens, due to a force, we call as the
gravitational force.
Magnetic force: We have already learnt in Class-VI that the magnetic property
of lodestone was known to mankind since quite early times. Magnets have
the well-known property of attracting objects made of iron. Likes poles of two
magnets repel and unlike poles of two magnets attract each other. A magnet
can exert a force on another magnet without being in contact with it. The
force, exerted in this case, is knowh as a magnetic force.

(65
 between two objec
pushes o r
pulls |
Do You Know always ject on the
obiect.
itsen.
rótts
are
the force,
exerted by o n e
does not exist by interact,
o n the
first.
A single isolated force When two objects second object
o they always Ocurin pairs. exerted by the
opposite to the force
and bod:
Oner, is equal
learnt in
Class-Vil that two charged
silk cloth
odie
Electric force: We
have already rod is rubbed with a th
a glass rod is rubha
eachother. When when an
ebonite
exert a force on Similarly,
positively
charged. this charged ebonite o
rod becomes
negative charge. Bring
acquires a that the suspende
with wool, the rod You will find rod.
near the suspended (and charged) glass ebonite rod. From
these observation
towards the charged attract. This attraction
glass rod moves
unlike charges
like charges repel and electric for
we observe that (non-contact)
between charges
is due to the
or repulsion,
between them.
Glass rod
Ebonite rod
Ebonite rod
Ebonite rod
Activity 5
Some situations have been given in Column 1 of the table given below. Try to analyse
these situations and identify the nature and kind of forces that may be involved.
Kind of forces
Nature of forces
Description of situation present (muscular
(Contact/Non-
Contact or Both)
gravitational,
frictional, etc.)
1. Expansion of
lungs when Contact
we inhale and exhale
during Muscula9r
force Frorre
breathing.
2. Two plastic refills rubbed with Non -cOnTaCE
polyethene and kept near each Magnetic
other.
foTCe
fore
66
 o9
3. A rubber band, suspended from Contact
a hook, first stretched and then frichiono
released.
force forCe
4. Falling of raindrops. |Gravititi onal f.
Noh-Contact
5. A rocket fired upwards to launch NOn
a satellite in its orbit. COntac
6. A book lying on the table. NOY Contact
7. An archer, stretching his bow
while taking aim the target.
at ContacE Mugular
He then releases the arrow which force force
begins to move towards the
target.
8. A horse pulling a cart. Comae orce Musular
torCe

Pressure
We are now familiar with the effects of a force on different objects. Careful
observations and analysis reveal that the effect of a force also depends on the
surface area over which the force acts. It is a common experience that it is difficult
to carry a school bag when itis tied to narrow thin string; it becomes easier to
carry the same school bag when it is tied to "broad straps. Thisimplies that if the
same force (say, the weight of an object) acts over a smaller area, its effect is felt
more. Thus the overall effect of a force depends on (i)its magnitude (ii) the area
over which it acts.

We, therefore, need to define a physical quantity that takes both these factors into
account. Physicists have now defined such a quantity and named it as pressure. 1t
Is pressure which is a measure of the effect of force over a given area.

When we apply force in a direction perpendicular toa given surface area, we call it
as thrust.
The thrust, acting, on a unit area of a surface, is called pressure.

Pressure = Thrust
Surface area over which it acts (contact area)

67
 Do you Know direction with respect to
the surtace. Howeva
In caNe of sollds, the force can be applied In any to the liquid surk
the force must be applied at right angles fa
CNe of tlulds (lquicl/gases)
at rest,
force. We, therefore, usually speak in te
e
This is because flutds, at rest, cannot sustain a tangential
of pressure in their casc.

It follows that the pressure, due to a given force, would vary

according to the over

area the force is acting. We
which
can, therefore, increase or decrease pressure, without any 234C
change in force, by changing the surface area over which
the force acts. To understand this, let us perform an activity.

Do Uou Know
Pressure always acts normal to the surface and it is always
compressive in nature. We, therefore, need only its magnitude for
its complete description.

Activity 6
Take some moulding clay.
Spread a thick [3 to 5 cm] layer of this moulding clay o1
the desk. Place a wooden block on the surface of
the moulding clay (length-wise)-
Now, place a book on it for sometime. Remove the wooden block
and book. Measure
the depression produced in the
moulding clay with the help of a scale.
Repeat the above steps keeping the wooden block
the surface of the moulding (breadth-wise/thickness-wise) 0
clay. What do we observe?

It is the same force that is

acting on the
effect produced is different because of theclay
in all the three cases.
However, u
difference in the contact area. We, thu
realise that for a given
applied force, when the contact area is less, its pressure o
the surface in contact, becomes more.
 Applications: The decrease in the pressure of a given force, through an increase
in the surface area over which the force
acts, finds many applications in our day to
day life. We list below some such
applications:
1. Buses and trucks usually have double wheels on the rear side.
2. High rise buildings and dams have a wide base.
3. Tanks and bulldozers are fitted with caterpillar tracks rather than wheels.
4. Railway tracks are laid on large sized wooden/iron sleepers.
There are many situations where need to have a larger pressure due to a given
we
force. In such cases, we decrease the area over which the force acts. For
example,
1. It is easier to cut with a sharp knife than with a blunt knife.
2. Nails, pins and spikes have pointed ends that
so they can be driven into the
surface with minimum effort.

Liquid Pressure
It is easy to observe that a liquid exerts
pressure, due to its weight, on the
bottom of its container. This is much the same way as a solid does on the
surface supportingit.
The pressure, exerted by a stationary liquid (kept in a container) at any point
inside the liquid, is known as hydrostatic (liquid) pressure.

Activity 7
Take a transparent pipe (plastic/glass). The length of the
pipe should be 15-20 cm and its diameter may be about 6
Cm. Stretch a rubber balloon/sheet over one end of the pipe.
Hold the pipe in vertical position as shown in the figure.
Now, pour some water in the pipe. What do we observe?
The rubber balloon bulges out. Note the height of water
column in the pipe. Pour some more water. Observe again
the bulge in the rubber balloon. What do we infer? Pressure,
exerted by the water column at the bottom of the container,
increases with an increase in the height of its column.

69
 Make hol.
Activity 8 and some cellotape. oles
a sharp pin/nail in the tin sho
some
coloured water,
a vertical
line
can, as
DW
Take a tin can,
four different points, along
the
Pl.
holes with cellotape. ace
at Cover
with the pin/nail
should be equidistant. the tapes from thle
These holes Now,
remove
the figure. water.
in
stool and fill it
with coloured
these holes.
We observe tha
the can on a out of
observe the
streams of water coming What do we infer
holes and distance. Why?
the lower holes
travel a larger
the stream, from

Tin with four

equidistant holes
Streams of coloured

water emerging out

Coloured water

Ground level

water out farther from the lower holes; this is because the
The emerging goes
hole. Hence the
increases with an increase in the 'depth' of the
pressure of water
of water column above it.
water pressure, at a point, increases with the height
oil* instead of coloured
Try repeating the steps of above activity using, say vegetable
travel the same distanct
water. What do we observe? Do the streams of vegetable oil
from the same holes?
We thus observe that, for a particular liquid, the pressure, exerted at any point,
directly proportional to the height of liquid column above that point (or deptho
that point below the surface); however, this pressure is different for different liquids

Do ou Know
The pressure, exerted by a given liquid, increases with depth. It is for this reason that submarine
are always built with very thick and heavy metals. They have to withstand an enormous Wate
pressure when they go deep down, near to ocean floors.

We need to have a broad flat container into which the oil oozing out of the holes falls, We should
let the oil spill over on the table top, or the floor.
Activity 9
Make a number of holes at the same level in a tin can using a sharp (pin/nail). Repeat
the steps of the earlier activity. When tapes are removed, water is seen to emerge

out from all these holes with equal force. the floor, where the
Mark the points, on
water has fallen*. Join these points to form a closed figure. What do we observe?
The closed figure is (nearly) a circle, with the (centre of the) can approximately at its
centre. This illustrates that the liquid pressure is transmitted equally in all directions,
and is same at a given horizontal level.

Tin can

Coloured water

Stream of
emerging water

d
d

Do you Know
Pressure applied at any point in a liquid is transmitted equally in all directions. Hydraulic jack
(used for lifting a car), the car hoist (used for lifting the carfor washing at service stations) and
hydraulic brakes (used in cars for applying brakes to their wheels) are all based on this principle
of equality of transmission of pressure' in liquids.

Properties of liquid pressure: Careful observations show that the pressure,

exerted by a liquid, has the following characteristics:

. Liquid pressure, on the bottom of the container (due to weight of liquid

column), does not depend on the area of the bottom.

Liquid pressure, at any point inside the liquid, depends upon the density of
the liquid and the height of liquid column above that point.

*
We should do this activity at a place where the falling water 'does not create a mess/cause any problem.
We, of course, need to 'mop-up' the floor and clean the place after the activity.
 container.

on all the
walls ofthe
is transmi
Liquids
exert (an
equal) pressure

liquid in a closed
container,
nit
on a
applied
An external pressure, the liquid.
throughout
uniformly

Atmospheric Pressure
earth's gravitational n..
around us. It is the
is air all the earth, is knou
We all know that there of air, around
This envelope
that holds this air
around us. the surtace of ean
extends to nearly 1,000 km above
as atmosphere. It
up at all points and at=
mass of air
exerts a pressure,
The weight of this huge
as the atmospheric pressure
the earth. We call this pressure
objects, on

air pressure.
We
know that pressure is thrust per unit
area.
We now
height
Let the of
imagine a unit area at a place on earth.

the atmosphere above that place be H. The weight of

an

air column, 'contained' in a cylinder, of height (H) having a

base of unit area, is the atmospheric pressure at that place.

Why is it that we do not feel this large atmospheric pressure

acting on us all the time? We do not normally feel it because
there is also a pressure inside our bodies that is almost
Unit area
same as this external air
pressure. This internal pressure
cancels the effect of this outside pressure and saves us
from getting crushed under it.

Do lyou Know ?
You will be surprised to know the
amount of weight you are
time. It is very large
(nearly 1,000
carrying on your shoulders all the
kg). It is actually the
weight of the air above your shoulders.
Taking the (approximate) area of
the shoulder as 10 cmx 10 cm, the
height equal to the (approximate) height (=300 km) of the weight of air in a column o'
atmosphere, approximately
is 1,000KS

Activity 10
Pour some hot water* into
the bottle. Shake it for half
a
(good
quality) plastic bottle, carefully. Close the lido
minute. Now, pour out the
lid of bottle very
tightly. What do we observe? The wallswater and (quickly) close tne
of the bottle are seen to
deformed and may get crushed
inwards.
Caution: Always take great care while
burns. You can take the help of your
handling hot water. It must be ensured
teacher/lab incharge that it does not cause an
as and when needed.
72
Why does this happen? The hot water
heats up the air in the bottle and
causes it to expand. A good part of
the air inside the bottle, therefore,
escapes out. When the lid is now

(quickly) closed, there is less air inside

the bottle. The pressure of the outside
air, therefore, becomes (considerably)
more than the pressure of air inside.
It is this (large) difference in pressure,
acting inwards, that can deform and
crush the bottle.

Variation in Air Pressure

As we move upwards through the atmosphere, the height of air column,
above us, would decrease. This would result in a decrease in air pressure at
higher altitudes. In fact, when we move towards higher altitudes, breathingg
occur. Most
can become difficult. Sometimes bleeding from nose may also
climbers, who attempt to scale high range mountains, (like Mount Everest),
need to carry oxygen cylinders with them. For this very reason, aircrafts have
"pressurised cabins. The åir pressure in these is increased to a (sufficient) value
that safeguards the passengers and the crew.

Air pressure also varies with temperature and time at a given place. We have
learnt (in Class-Vi) that due to heating of earth's
air
already uneven
surface,
pressure can change rapidly. At a hotter place, the warm air there is lighter
than the cooler air in the surrounding regions. Hence air can rush in from (the
neighbouring) high pressure surrounding area to this lower pressure area. This
phenomenon can result in land breezes, sea breezes, winds and storms.

Importance of Atmospheric Pressure

We make use of atmospheric pressure in our day to day life while performing
very many simple tasks. For example:

1. When we drink liquid with a straw, the air pressure inside the straw
decreases (due to our sucking). The air pressure, acting on the surface of
liquid, then becomes greater than the pressure inside the straw. This forces

73)
 straW.
inside the
the liquid to move up

in a similar way.
The syringe also works
installing hooks
W e , sometimes, use
rubber suckers for between
the sucker the air
in a room. When we press
forced out. Hence, the
the air sucker and the wall gets
holds it firmly against
air, pressing on it from outside,
the surface, the
the wall. If we wish to pull the sucker off
to overcome this effect of t
Torce, applied by us, has to be large enough
atmospheric pressure.

Activity 11
To get an estimate of the
atmospheric pressure using
an air sucker.

Take a good quality rubber

sucker. Press it hard on the
smooth plane surface of a
plastic stool and make it
stick to the surface. We can
now lift the stool by the
rubber sucker, (as shown in
the figure)
Now, keep some books, one
by one, on the top of the
stool. What do we observe?
Does the sucker still remain stuck to the stool? Add more books till the stool fals
down. The weight of the books, at this point, divided by the area of contact (of the
sucker), gives us a rough estimate of the atmospheric pressure.

Force and Pressure

Force and pressure are two different concepts. At times, we tend to use these wor
interchangeably. This needs to be avoided. Let us bring out the differences betwee
the two by making a Concept Map (Flowchart).
Activity 12
To make a concept map/flowchart to differentiate between the concept of force and

pressure.

CONCEPT MAP
FORCE

Nature Effects

Can act on an Force has both

Arises due to
Could be object with or
direction as well
interaction
push/pull without being as magnitude
between objects
in contact

May cause change May cause change May cause change

in state of rest of in state of motion in size and shape
an object of an object of an object

PRESSURE
Thrust
P
Contact area

Pressure due to Pressure due to Pressure due

solids liquids to gases

(Liquid) Pressure depends on height of Atmospheric

the liquid column and density of liquid Pressure

Plays an
important
Depends on Acts equally Does not depend role in our
Increases
density of in all onthe shape of
with depth day-to-day
liquid directions the container life
 2 06/207
Something To Know

A. Fill in the blanks.

1. For a force to come into play, the two concerned bodies must intera with
each otheer.

2. To draw water from a well, we have to pul the rope.

3. An unbalanced force, acting ona moving object, may change its dinecion
and/or its ApeLd

4. In the game of cricket, the 'bails' fall when the ball strikes them. This is an
example of a/an mu8culah force.

5. 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
electicforce.
6.
6. The atmospheric pressure decHeaAesas we move towards higher altitudes.

B. State True or False for the following statements.

1. The effect of a force may change by changing the

direction of the applied force. Tsule
2. A force has to be specified both in terms of its
magnitude as well as its direction. Tecue
3 Frictional force is an example of a non-contact force.
folse
4. A gas filled balloon moves up. The upward force
acting on it is smaller than the force of gravity, i.e.
(the downward actjng force).
upwad
false
5. We can reduce the pressure of a given force by
increasing the area over which the force acts. Tue
6. Inside a bottle filled with water, pressure is least at the
bottom and the greatest at the surface of water.

79
C. Tick ( ) the
correct option.
o n an
object,
are
al
equal and
and opposite,
opposite
then
forces, applied
When two
1.
1.
forces-

movethe object.
may
moving object.
may stop a its shape.
a change in
and also cause

may
move the object
but may cause a change in its shape.
do not move the object
well-known forces
the names of some of the
2. The following are
muscular force
A. gravitational force B.

D. frictional force
C. magnetic force

Out of these, the 'contact forces' are the forces labelled as-

A and B B B and C
B and DD Cand D
3. Rohini is pushing abox towards the west direction with a force of magni
F. To help her move the box faster in the same direction, her friend shou-
push the box in the east direction with a force of magnitude F.

pull the box in the west direction with a force of magnitude 'F.
push the box in the west direction with a force of any
magnitude.
push the box in the east direction with a force of
any magnitude.
4. A container is filled with water as shown in the figure below.
A
B
C
Which of
the following statement is correct
container? about the of water in
pressure
Lpressure at A pressure at B>
>

pressure at C
pressure at C
>
pressure at B> pressure at A
 pressure at A
=
pressure at B
=
pressure at C

at C
pressure at A < pressure at B> pressure

placed on a table so that it exerts the

maximum
5. An empty metal bottle has to be
pressure on the surface of table?

Position A PositionB Position C

For this, the bottle need to be placed in the position(s) labelled as-

position A position B

position C position AandC

6. When we press the bulb of a dropper, with its nozzle kept under water, air in
the dropper is seen to escape in the form of bubbles. If we then release the
pressure on the bulb, water gets filled in the dropper. The rise of water in the
dropper is due to-
pressure of water in the container weight of the bulb

gravity of the earth atmospheric pressure

7.
7. The length, breadth and height, of a given rectangular box, are 100 cm, 50 cm
and 20 cm, respectively. This box is kept on ground in three difterent ways, one
by one. Which of the following statements is the correct statement about the
pressure exerted, by this box, on the ground?

the pressure exerted is maximum when the 'length' and 'height' sides form
the base.
the pressure exerted is maximum when the 'length' and 'breadth' sides
form the base.

the pressure exerted is maximum when the 'breadth' and 'height' sides
form the base.

the pressure exerted remains the same irrespective of which of its 'sides'
form the base.

(81)
D.Answer the following questions in brief.
I n the following situations, identify the agent exerting the force. Als0,0,
the effect of the force in each case.
SI e
shap arr o
(a) Squeezing a piece of lemon between' thefingers to extract its julce,
MUsla fove
formoli
diving into a swimming pool. _muu ul
s
(b) A person
(c) A labourer moving a loaded cart.

(d) A car coming to rest once its engine is switched off.

mott r
tricti
An athelete making a high jump to clear a bar kept at a certain height
(e)

2. An object experiences a net non-zero force. Is it possible for the,object

move with a constant speed along a straight line?

3. Distinguish between:

(a) balanced and unbalanced forces. A6

le

(b) contact and non-contact forces.

When we throw a ball upwards, what happens to its speed while it is go

4.
Give for your Speeo decrec de
up? reason answer.
sUrte

The figure shows a man with a parachute. Te

5

(a) Name the force which is responsible for his

downward motion. Is it a contact force or a
non-contact force? gruvitioel puu
(ofa
(b) Will the man come down with the same speed
without the parachute? Explain: i ,

6.
6. How would the pressure (exerted by a force on an area) change if-

(a) the area is doubled keeping the thrust constant?

(b) thrust is doubled keeping the area constant?

When will a diver experience a greater pressure'-100 cm below the sur

7.
of water or 200 cm below the surface of water? Justify your answer.
 Answer the rollowing questions.

for a
1. for the two bodies to be in direct
Define force. Is it necessary
contact

force to exist between them? Explain with examples.

2. State three effects of a force. Give suitable examples.

3. Give reasons for the following statements-

(a) 'Snow shoes' are more effective than ordinary shoes for walking on

snow.

(b) Porters place a large round piece of cloth on their heads when they
carry heavy loads.
(c) A sharp knife cuts vegetables and fruits more effectively than a blunt
knife.
(d) School bags are provided with wide straps to carry them.
(e) It is much easier to burst an iñflated balloon with a needle than
(directly) with the finger.
(f) Mountaineers may suffer from nose bleeding at high altitudes.
(g) Airplanes have pressurised cabins for passenger safety while flying high
in the atmosphere.

4. Two rods, 'A' and 'B', of the same weight and ROD A ROD B
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. Sand

5. Three holes, A, B and C, are made in an empty can

at different levels, one over the other, as shown in
C
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 A

them) is pulled out? Justify your answer.

6. Make two tiny holes, of the size, at
same
equal
heights from the bottom in a plastic bottle. Cover
them and fill the bottle with water. Let the 'covers'
be nowremoved. State the 'observations', and the A B

resulting 'conclusions, based on this activity.