medium difficulty7 min

Concept of Force

Force is a push or pull acting on an object, and it may change the object's speed, direction of motion, state of rest, or shape.

In one line: Force means push or pull, but exam answers need the effect also.

Practice This Concept

Understand it

A force is understood from its effect. If a stationary ball starts moving, a moving ball slows down, or a spring changes shape, a force has acted. Force is a vector quantity, so direction matters along with magnitude.

Example

When a footballer kicks a stationary football, the kick applies force and the ball starts moving in the direction of the kick.

Rule to remember

Force has both magnitude and direction; its effect depends on the net force acting on the object.

See it worked out

Follow the example line by line, then use the same method on new questions.

Worked example

A boy pushes a box towards the east.

1The box starts moving east.
2The push is the force, the box is the object, and starting motion is the effect of force.

Method you can reuse

Identify the object, identify the push or pull, note the direction, then state the effect on motion or shape.

Visual tip

A simple arrow diagram can show a hand pushing a block, with the arrow indicating direction of applied force.

Check yourself

Answer the question in your head before opening the answer.

Try it yourself

A rubber ball changes shape for a moment when pressed by hand. What does this show about force?

Think first, then show answer

It shows that force can change the shape of an object, even if the change is temporary and the ball returns to its original shape later.

Common wrong answer

Writing only 'force makes things move' is incomplete because force may also stop motion, change direction, or deform an object.

Don't mix this up

Students often write that force is needed only to start motion, but force can also stop, slow down, speed up, change direction, or change shape.

Exam tip

While answering, mention both the type of effect and the object on which force acts.

Write it in the exam

Each point is worth about one mark. Write point 1 for a 1-mark question and keep adding points as the marks go up.

How CBSE asks it

Questions usually ask students to list effects of force with examples or identify the effect shown in a daily-life situation.

1
Enough for 1 mark
Force is a push or pull acting on an object, and it may change the object's speed, direction of motion, state of rest, or shape.
2
Add for 2 marks
Example: When a footballer kicks a stationary football, the kick applies force and the ball starts moving in the direction of the kick.
3
Add for 3 marks
A force is understood from its effect.

MCQ Quiz

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