FORCE

We know by experience that all bodies in nature interact in some way with one another. Force is
a measure of the interaction of the bodies or of the particles of which the bodies consist. The
force may either produce deformation (change in the size or shape of bodies) or
acceleration (change in magnitude or direction of their velocity).

Force is a vector quantity. Every force has a definite direction and the result of its action depends
on the direction and the magnitude of the force.

If several forces are applied to a particle, they can be replaced by the resultant force. This
resultant is the vector sum of the forces and can be found by any of the methods illustrated in
chapter 1.

Some Common Forces

There are, basically, five forces which we commonly encounter in mechanics problems, namely
the weight, the normal forces, the friction force, the tension, the spring force.

Weight
Weight is the force with which the earth attracts other bodies. It is also called the force of gravity
or the gravitational force. It acts upon all the bodies near the earth. If they do not fall to the earth,
then their motion is restricted by certain other bodies : a support, string, spring, etc. Bodies that
restrict the motion of other bodies are called constraints. These bodies restrict the motion of the
given bodies, impeding free motion. For example, the surface of the table is the constraint for all
objects lying on it, the floor serves as the constraint for the table, etc.

Normal Forces
Whenever two surfaces are in contact they exert forces on each other. Such forces are known as
contact forces. It is convenient to resolve these contact forces into components, one parallel to
the contact surface, the other perpendicular to that surface.

The normal force is the component of the contact force that is perpendicular to the surface. It is a
measure of how strongly the surface in contact are pressed together. Push your hand straight
down on the table or desk. The force you feel resisting your push is the normal force of the table
pushing up on your hand.

Frictional Forces
The component of the contact force parallel to the contact surface is called the frictional force.
The direction of the frictional force is opposite to the relative motion (or attempted motion) of
the two surfaces in contact.

Tension
The force exerted by the end of a taut string, rope or wire is called the tension. The direction of
this force is such that the string pulls the object to which it is attached. It is difficult to push with
a string.

Spring Force
As you may have discovered for yourself, springs resists attempts to change their length. In fact,
the more you alter a springs length, the harder it resists. The force exerted by a spring may be
represented as:
F = kx

(1)

where x is the change in length, and k is the stiffness constant or simply, the spring constant.
Unit of spring constant is N/m. Equation (1) is also known as Hookes law. The minus sign in
Hookes law shows that the direction of the force exerted by the spring is opposite to the
displacement of the springs end.

2. EQUILIBRIUM
A system is said to be in equilibrium if it does not tend to undergo any further change of its own.
Any further change must be produced by external means (e.g. force).
A body is said to be in translational equilibrium if the sum of all the forces acting on the body is
zero.

The simplest kind of equilibrium situation

is one where two forces act on a body.
When you stand motionless. you
experience the downward gravitational pull
of the earth, your weight W. The weight is
balanced by an upward force exerted on
you by the floor. This force is
perpendicular to the floor and it is called a
Normal Force.
Some other example of static equilibrium
are shown in the Fig. (3) to Fig. (6).

Problem solving Strategy

1.

Make a simple sketch showing the body under consideration.

2.
Identify the forces acting on the body, Draw arrows on your sketch to show the direction
of
each force acting on the body, in other words, make the free body diagram.
3.
Choose a coordinate system and resolve the forces into components that are parallel to
the
coordinate axes.
4.

Write the equations for equilibrium along each axis of the co-ordinate system.

5.

Solve the equations for the required unknown(s).

Illustration: 1
A block of mass 10 kg is suspended with
two strings, as shown in the Fig(7 a). Find the
tension in each string.
(g = 10 m/s2)

Solution
drawn as shown in the Fig. (7 b)

The free body diagram of the joint O is

Applying equations for equilibrium.

Illustration: 2

Find the magnitude of the horizontal

force F required to keep the block of mass m
stationary on the smooth inclined plane as
shown in the figure.

Solution
The forces acting on the block are shown in the free body diagram.

DRILL EXERCISE1
1. When a body remains stationary:
(a) There is no force acting on it
(b) The forces acting on it are not in contact with it
(c) The combination of forces acting on it balance each other
(d) The body is in vacuum

2.
Find the tension T2 in the system shown in the
figure:
(a) 1g N

(b) 2g N

(c) 5g N

(d) 6g N

3. Normal reaction is a force which is in the direction of

(a) perpendicular to the plane on which body is kept
(b) perpendicular to the horizontal surface
(c) parallel to the plane on which body is kept
(d) making some angle with the plane on which body is kept