Forces are interactions that can change how an object moves. In Year 8 Physics, it’s important to know about different types of forces to understand how they affect motion.

Types of Forces

1. Gravitational Force:

   • This force pulls objects toward each other.
   • It is mainly what gives an object its weight.
   • On Earth, gravity pulls at about 9.81 meters per second squared.

2. Frictional Force:

   • This force tries to stop an object from moving.
   • It can range from no friction at all to maximum friction based on the surfaces that are touching.

3. Applied Force:

   • This is a force you put on an object to move it.
   • For example, when you push a box across the floor.

4. Normal Force:

   • This is the support force from a surface that helps hold up an object.
   • It balances the weight of an object when it is sitting still on a flat surface.

5. Tension Force:

   • This force travels through strings, ropes, or cables when they are pulled tight.
   • You see this in things like pulleys.

Newton's Laws of Motion

• First Law: An object will stay still or keep moving at the same speed unless something else makes it change.

• Second Law: The speed of an object (acceleration) depends on the total force acting on it and its mass. This is expressed as Force = mass × acceleration (F = ma).

• Third Law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Conclusion

By understanding how different forces interact, Year 8 students can look at everyday situations and see how the basic ideas of force and motion work in real life.