# 6th Class Science Force and Pressure Force and Pressure

Force and Pressure

Category : 6th Class

Learning Objectives

1. Introduction
2. Force
3. Effects of force
4. Types of force
5. Thrust and Pressure
6. Pressure in fluids
7. Factors affecting pressure in fluids
8. Atmospheric pressure

INTRODUCTION

It is our common experience that to move a stationary table, we need to push it or pull it. To stop a moving ball we have to apply some force opposite to its direction of motion. If the object is quite heavy it may not be set into motion by a force. A heavy object in motion may not be brought to rest on applying force on it. Thus based on these observations we can now define force.

FORCE

Force is defined as an external agent (push or pull) that changes or tends to change the state of rest or 01 uniform motion of a body.

Do You Know

Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the earth $(9.8m{{s}^{-2}})$ is 6 times the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon

FORCE

Force is defined as an external agent (push or pull) that changes or tends to change the state of rest or of uniform motion of a body.

Mathematical definition of force - Whenever force acts on a moving body it changes the speed of the body. Thus force produces acceleration (Positive or negative). Greater the force, greater is the acceleration. Also more the mass of the body, more is the force required to produce acceleration in it. Hence force is directly proportional to the mass and acceleration of the body.

$\text{Force = mass}\times \text{acceleration}$

$\text{F}\,\text{= ma}$

Thus, mathematically forces defined as the product of mass and acceleration.

When a body falls under the force of gravity. Then, the force exerted on the earth is equal to the weight of that body i.e. $W=m\times g.$

Where, g = acceleration due to gravity$g=9.8\text{ }m/se{{c}^{2}}$ on the surface of the earth at mean sea level.

Units of force

The S.I. unit of force is newton (N)

1 newton force moves a body of mass 1 kg with an acceleration of $1m/{{s}^{2}}.$C.G.S. unit of force is dyne.

1 dyne force moves a body of mass 1 g with an acceleration of $1\,cm{{s}^{-2}},$

Relationship between newton and dyne

Using F = ma

$1N=1\,kg\times 1m/{{s}^{2}}$

$=1000g\times 100\,cm/{{s}^{2}}$

$=100000gcm/{{s}^{2}}$

Since 1 dyne = 1$g\,cm/{{s}^{2}}$

$\therefore 1\,N\,={{10}^{5}}\,\text{dynes}$

Do You Know

It is possible to have motion in the absence of force and to have force in absence of motion.

EFFECTS OF FORCE

Force can bring about the following effects:

1. Sets a body at rest into motion - If we apply force on a stationary car in the forward direction it can start moving.
2. Stops a moving body - A ball falling downwards can be caught by our hands. Thus it stops on applying force
3. Changes the speed of a moving body-A moving bicycle can be made to run faster on applying force on its paddles. A moving car can be slowed down by applying force using brakes.
4. Changes the direction of motion of a body - The direction of a moving car can be changed by applying force on its steering wheel. A football player changes the direction of motion of the football by kicking it.
5. Changes the dimensions of a body - Length of a spring can be increased or decreased by stretching or compressing it. Wet clay can be moulded to any shape by applying force with our hands.
6. Thus in brief we can say that force can change the state of rest or of uniform motion of a body, can change the speed and direction of a moving body and can change the dimensions of a body.

Do You Know

There are four fundamental forces in nature the gravitational force, the electromagnetic force, the nuclear force and the weak force. Among these gravitational force is the weakest force.

TYPES OF FORCE

Force can be classified as follows:

Now, let us discuss these forces one by one.

(i) Contact forces - Forces which act only when two bodies are in contact with each other are called contact forces. Contact forces cannot act from a distance. For e.g., Force of friction acts only when two surfaces are in contact with each other. Push, pull, tension, force of friction and muscular force are examples of contact forces.

(a) Force of friction - An opposing force that acts when a body moves or tries to move over the surface of another body. Force of friction decreases the speed of a moving body.

(b) Muscular force - The force caused by the action of muscles in our body is known as muscular force. Lifting a load, pulling or pushing an object requires muscular force.

(ii) Non-contact forces -Forces applied by one body on another without being in actual contact are called non-contact forces. Non-contact forces act from a distance. For e.g. - An apple falls down due to the force of gravity acting on it from a distance. Force between magnets and magnetic materials (magnetic force), force between electric charges (electrostatic force) and nuclear force are all non-contact forces.

(a) Gravitational force - Force of attraction between any two masses is called gravitational force. For e.g.. All objects on Earth experience force of gravity due to earth. It is always attractive in nuture.

(b) Magnetic force - The force of attraction or repulsion between the poles of magnets is called magnetic force. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other.

(c) Electrostatic force -The force of attraction or repulsion between charged particles at rest is called electrostatic force. Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other.

Do You Know

Tides are caused by the rotation of earth and the gravitational effects of the Moon and Sun.

Balanced and unbalanced condition of forces

When two or more forces acting on an object cancel each other's effect, then they are called balanced forces. If the forces on an object are balanced, then the net force on the object is zero. Thus the balanced forces do not cause any change in the object's state of rest or of uniform motion.

Example: Two students pushing a table in opposite directions, each applying an equal amount of force, form a pair of balanced forces. Similarly in a tug of war if two teams pull the rope with equal force, then the rope stays in same place.

When two or more forces acting on a body do not cancel the effect of each other, they are called unbalanced forces. Unbalanced forces always cause change in the state of rest or of motion.

Example: A ball hit by a bat, someone moving the furniture etc. are due to unbalanced forces.

Do You Know

Birds achieve thrust during flight by flapping their wings.

Camels have broad fest, so that area of contact is high and pressure is less and they are able to walk on sand without sinking in it.

THURST AND PRESSURE

A force which acts normally on a surface is called thrust.

Force acting normally (perpendicular) i.e., thrust per unit area is called pressure.

If F is the force acting on area A, then

$\text{Pressure}\,\text{=}\frac{\text{Thrust}}{\text{Area}}\text{P=}\frac{\text{F}}{\text{A}}$

Thus smaller is the area on which the given force acts, the greater is the impact of force i.e. pressure and vice-versa.

(Remember: Force acting at an angle does not exert pressure on the surface)

Unit of Pressure

The S.I. unit of pressure is Pascal (Pa). Pascal can be defined using the equation.

$P=\frac{F}{A}$

$\text{1Pa}\,\text{=}\frac{\text{1N}}{\text{1}{{\text{m}}^{\text{2}}}}$

When a force of IN acts normally on a surface of area 1 m2, then the pressure acting on the surface is called 7 Pascal.

Example based on pressure - area relation

(1) The bags and suitcases are provided with broad handles so that less pressure is exerted on our hands or shoulders while carrying them because more the area, less will be the pressure.

(2) Railway lines are laid on large sized wooden or concrete tracks so that the normal force due to the weight of the train spreads over a greater area thereby reducing the pressure on the ground. This prevents the yielding of ground.

(3) Dams are made thicker at the bottom in order to withstand the high-pressure of water at the bottom.

(4) Pins and nails are pointed at one end to have least area of contact with the surface. Due to this on pressing, the pins exert high pressure on the surface and hence easily penetrate the surface.

Do You Know

Water pressure 10,000m below the surface is equivalent to seven elephants standing on a dinner plate

PRESSURE IN FLUIDS

All liquids and gases are regarded as fluids as they can flow.

A fluid has weight and hence on account of its weight, it exerts pressure on the walls of the container. "Moreover, unlike solids a fluid exerts pressure in all directions.

For instance if two holes are drilled in a bottle filled with water, it starts pouring out. This shows that water exerts pressure on the walls i.e., in all directions of the bottle or container.

Factors affecting pressure in fluids

(1) Pressure in fluids is directly proportional to its height or depth in the container. Thus pressure at various points but same height will be equal.

For e.g. If 3 holes in a bottle of water are drilled at the same level from its base water will come out of all the three holes with equal pressure.

Also pressure below the liquid surface goes on increasing with depth.

(2) Pressure depends directly on the density$'\text{ }\!\!\rho\!\!\text{ }'$of the fluid — A denser fluid exerts greater pressure.

(3) Pressure in a fluid is directly proportional to the acceleration due to gravity 'g'

Thus, pressure $\text{P}=\text{h }\!\!\rho\!\!\text{ g}$

Applications of pressure in fluids

1. Deep sea divers wear special suits to bear higher pressure at greater depths.
2. The water tank in a house is at the highest possible level so that the water pressure is more on the tap of the lowest level.
3. Blood pressure in humans is greater at the feet than at the brain because height of the blood column is more at the feet than at the brain.

Do You Know

The sudden fall in atmospheric pressure produces the possibility of a storm.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

The thrust due to the air column on a unit surface area of the earth is called atmospheric pressure.

Atmospheric pressure is measured by a barometer. A barometer using a liquidise known as liquid barometer. If a gas (air) is used, then it is known as aneroid barometer.

Atmospheric pressure on the sea level is$\text{1}\text{.013}\times \text{1}{{\text{0}}^{5}}\text{Pa}$.

Atmospheric pressure varies with the variation in height, season, temperature etc.

Do You Know

The pressure of the air on the outside of your body is balanced by the pressure of fluids inside.

Applications of atmospheric pressure

1. Fountain pens leak on higher altitudes as the atmospheric pressure is less. Due to this the air within the tube of the fountain pen exerts pressure and forces the ink out.
2. Sucking drink with the help of a straw is also based on atmospheric pressure. When we suck the air, the pressure inside the straw falls. The atmospheric pressure acting on the drink forces, it to rise in the straw.
3. Astronauts wear special suit in space. It is because there is no atmospheric pressure in space. But the internal pressure of blood is very high. Due to this pressure difference the blood vessels will burst. So they wear special space suits.

Two holes are made in a sealed oil cane. Through one hole the atmospheric pressure acts which forces the oil to come out from the other hole.

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