INDIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL-MANGAF
TERM -1
NOTES
NAME: CLASS: VIII SEC: SUBJECT: PHYSICS
CHAPTER 8-FORCE AND PRESSURE
1. What is force? What is its SI unit?
Force is a push or pull acting on a body which changes its state of rest or motion. Its SI unit is newton (N).
2. What are the effects of force?
Force has the following effects on objects:
(i) Force can make a stationary object move or make a moving object move faster.
(ii) It can slow down or completely stop a moving object.
(iii) It can change the direction of a moving object.
(iv)It can change the size and shape of an object.
3. What do you mean by the magnitude of force? Explain
The magnitude of a force is the strength of the force acting on an object.
F= m * a, where F =Force, m = Mass of the object and a= acceleration
(i) When two or more forces act in the same direction
The magnitude of force = A + B
(ii) When two or more forces act in opposite directions
Magnitude of force = A – B (if A > B), B – A (if B > A)
4. What are contact forces? Explain briefly with some examples.
Forces that act on objects by direct or indirect physical contact with the object on which they act are called
contact forces. Applied (Muscular) force and frictional force are examples of contact forces.
(a) Muscular force:
The force that requires the action of muscles of our body is called muscular force.
Eg. Human beings use muscular force in order to push, kick, lift, throw etc. The expansion and contraction
of the lungs and movement of food along the food pipe are also because of muscular force.
Animals can also use muscular force to move around, carry people or pull load.
(b) Frictional force:
Frictional force is the force that opposes the motion of one surface sliding or trying to slide over another.
It acts in the opposite direction to the movement or the attempted movement of the object.
Examples: Holding your pen, writing on paper, walking and running etc.
(c)Mechanical Force:
The force generated by a machine (eg. Engine of car) is called mechanical force. Eg. Blades of windmill
using energy of moving air for rotation.
5. What are non-contact forces? Explain briefly with suitable examples.
Forces that do not need physical contact with the object on which they are acting are called non-contact
forces.
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(a) Gravitational force:
Gravitational force is the pull that exists between any two objects that have mass. This force is what keeps
us on the ground and causes objects to fall back when you throw them up.
Eg. Gravitational force of the sun keeps all the planets moving around it in fixed orbit without direct
contact.
(b) Electrostatic force:
The force of attraction or repulsion developed on a body due to electric charges is called electrostatic
force. Eg. When two balloons are rubbed against each other, they acquire like charges and thus they repel
each other when brought closer to each other.
(c) Magnetic force:
The force exerted by magnets on each other as well as on the metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel is
called magnetic force. Like magnetic poles always repel each other (push) and opposite magnetic poles
always attract each other(pull).
Eg. The Earth itself acts like a giant magnet, which is why a compass needle points north.
6. What is pressure? What is its SI unit?
Pressure is defined as the force acting per unit area. Its SI unit is Pascal (Pa) which is Newton per square
metre (N/m2).
Pressure = Force/ Area
Pressure depends on the following factors
(i) The amount of force applied – force acting on a body ↑, pressure ↑ and vice-versa.
(ii) The area over which the force is applied – Area of contact ↑ , pressure ↓ and vice-versa.
7. Explain liquid pressure?
Liquid exert pressure on the surface of a body immersed in it and on the surface of the container in which
they are placed. Fluids do not have a definite shape so it exerts pressure in all directions. It can be
measured using a simple device called Manometer.
The pressure exerted by a liquid,
at the bottom of the container depends on the height of the liquid column
increases with the density of liquid
increases with depth
is equal in all directions at the same depth
8. What is atmospheric pressure?
Atmospheric pressure is defined as the pressure exerted on an object by the weight of the air above it. It is
the force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere over unit area. It is measured by using an instrument
called a barometer.
9. What is the effect of altitude on atmospheric pressure?
The atmospheric pressure at a place depends on its altitude. The atmospheric pressure is maximum at the
surface earth and as we move towards higher altitude the air pressure decreases.
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NUMERICAL PROBLEMS
1. Calculate the pressure produced when a force of 50 N is applied over an area of 10 m2.
Pressure = Force/Area
Force = 50 N
Area = 10 m2
Pressure = 50/10
Pressure = 5 N/m2 (or) 5 Pa
2. A block weighing 120 N rests on an area of 4 cm 2. Calculate the pressure exerted by the block on
the surface which supports it.
Pressure = Force/Area Force = 120 N
Area = 4 cm2= 4 m2/10000
Pressure = 120 ÷ 4/10000
Pressure = 300000 N/m2 (or) 300000 Pa
3. A man exerts a pressure of 14 Pa by applying a force of 70 N on a box. Calculate the area over
which the force is applied.
Area = Force/Pressure
Pressure = 14 Pa
Force = 70 N
Area = 70/14
Area = 5 m2
4. A stone weighs 500 N. Calculate the pressure exerted by it, if it makes contact with a surface of
area 25 cm2.
Weight of a stone F = 500 N
Area A=25 cm2 = 25 / 10,000 m2
Pressure P = F/A
= 500 / [25/10,000]
Pressure P = 20 × 104 N/m-2 (or) 2,00,000 Pa
5. A cube of edge 1cm is acted upon by a force of 50 N at one of its faces perpendicularly. Calculate
the Pressure developed by the force on that surface.
Pressure P = F/A
Area of the face = 1 cm2 = 1/10,000 m2
Force = 50N
Pressure = P = 50 N / (1/10,000) m2 (or) 50 × 104 Pa = 5,00,000N
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Reasoning Questions
1. Why do mountaineers suffer from nose bleeding at high altitudes?
The atmospheric pressure decreases with high altitude. Since the pressure of the blood inside the body is
high, the nose starts bleeding.
2. Why is it easier to hammer a sharp nail into wood than a blunt one?
Pressure = force / area. Therefore, when we hammer a sharp nail, force acts on a smaller area, and it exerts
more pressure on the nail.
3. A camel can move fast on sand. Why?
A camel can move fast on sand because it has flat broad feet. This increases the area of contact and
therefore, the pressure exerted by the camel on the sand reduces. Hence, the camel’s feet sink very little in
the sand.
4. Why does a boat come to rest when we stop rowing it?
The boat comes to rest when we stop rowing it due to the force of friction acting between the surface of
water and the boat.
5. Do we feel the effect of atmospheric pressure? Why?
No, we do not feel the pressure of the atmosphere because air is present everywhere. Also, the pressure of
air inside our body is same as that of the atmosphere.
6. How does the medicine enter a dropper?
When the dropper is pressed, the air inside the dropper is driven out. The pressure inside the dropper
decreases and the medicine rushes inside the dropper.
7. You are given rubber sucker with a hook. Can you use it for hanging articles? Explain how?
Give the principle involved.
We can use it for hanging articles. On pressing the sucker, the air between the cup and the surface escapes
out. The pressure inside is reduced, but the atmospheric pressure is more. Therefore, the sucker remains
stuck.
8. While constructing dams, the base is made wider. Why?
The pressure of liquids increases as the depth increases. Therefore, the base is made wider to withstand the
high pressure of water.
