UNIT 1:

FORCES
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Four possible answers are given for the following
questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
Choose the correct answer and mark the applicable
LETTER with a cross (X).

1. Force is measured in:

A. kilogram. B. newton.
C. gram. D. foot.
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2. When objects exert forces on each other, it is always:
A. in the same direction.
B. perpendicular to each other.
C. in pairs.
D. in contact.
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3. In the formula to calculate weight: Fg = mg; the correct
unit for each symbol is:
A. Fg in newton; m in gram; g in m⋅s-1.
B. Fg in kilogram; m in newton; g in m⋅s-2.
C. Fg in gram; m in kilogram; g in m⋅s-1.
D. Fg in newton; m in kilogram; g in m⋅s-2.
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4. What are the two kinds of electric charges?
A. Positive and negative B. North and south
C. Protons and electrons D. Potential and kinetic

5. The discharge that occurs during lightning is the

movement of:
A. neutrons. B. nucleons.
C. electrons. D. protons.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Give one word/term for each of the following
descriptions.

1. An action that can be described as a pull or a push.

Force

2. Pulling force that bodies exert on each other over a

distance due to their masses.
Gravity
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3. Electric charges that are charged positive and negative
respectively.
Unlike charges

1 Study the pictures and describe the effects of forces in

the particular situation:
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1.1 1.2 1.3

1.4 1.5
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1.1 The force causes the object to rotate.
1.2 The force causes the moving object to change
direction.
1.3 The force causes the object to change shape.
1.4 The force causes the object to speed up.
1.5 The force causes the object to start moving.
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2 Name the pairs of forces in the following situations:
2.1 2.2
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2.1 Action: force of child downwards on trampoline
Reaction: force of trampoline upwards on child
2.2 Action: pressure force of water on the inside of the
glass
Reaction: power of glass on the water
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3 A man and an elephant are in a tug-of-war competition.
The forces are balanced.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
3.1 Classify the force between the elephant and the man
as a CONTACT FORCE or FIELD FORCE.
Contact force

3.2 What does it mean that the forces are balanced?

The forces exerted by the elephant and the man on each
other are equal in magnitude. (They are in equilibrium.)
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3.3 Is the force the elephant exerts on the man GREATER
THAN, SMALLER THAN or EQUAL TO the force that
the man exerts on the elephant?
Equal to

3.4 Give the reading in Newton on scale B.

500 N
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4 Classify the following forces as contact forces or
non-contact forces and also say what kind of force it is.
4.1 4.2 4.3
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4.4 4.5 4.6

4.1 Non-contact force: magnetic force

4.2 Contact force: compressive force
4.3 Non-contact force: electrostatic force
4.4 Contact force: frictional force
4.5 Non-contact force: gravitational force
4.6 Contact force: tension
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5 The diagram shows a representation of the sun, Earth
and moon:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5.1 Distinguish between MASS and WEIGHT.
Mass is an indication of the amount of matter an object
consists of. Mass remains constant and it is measured in
grams or kilograms.
Weight is the attraction that Earth (planet) exerts on an
object. Weight does not remain constant and is
measured in Newton.
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5.2 What is the name of the force represented by the
arrows between Earth and the sun?
Gravitational force

5.3 Are these forces CONTACT or NON-CONTACT forces?

Non-contact forces
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5.4 Will the attraction between the moon and the sun be
GREATER THAN, LESS THAN or EQUAL to the
attraction that the sun and Earth exert on each
other?
Less than

6 The mass and weight of a woman are compared on

Earth and on the Moon.
EXAM QUESTIONS
 EXAM QUESTIONS
6.1 Is the weight of an object always constant?
No, it varies from planet to planet.

6.2 Calculate the magnitude of the moon’s gravitational

acceleration (g).
F = mg
118,26 = 73(g)
∴ g = 1,62 m⋅s-2
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6.3 In what direction is the gravitational force directed?
Always to the centre of the object (planet).

6.4 Name two factors that influence the magnitude of the

gravitational force.
Mass of objects
Distance between objects
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7 Two magnets are placed close together as shown:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
7.1 What is represented by the iron filings?
Magnetic field pattern

7.2 Are these LIKE or UNLIKE poles facing each other?

Unlike

7.3 Where is the magnetic field the strongest?

At the poles
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7.4 Name the three metals that are magnetic.
Iron; cobalt; nickel

7.5 Draw the field pattern of the magnetic field that

occurs between the poles.
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8 Earth acts like a large magnet. It has a North Pole
and a South Pole.
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8.1 Identify the letter that represents Earth’s
magnetic south pole. Only write X or Y.
X

8.2 Draw the field pattern of Earth’s magnetic field.

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8.3 Name two important roles played by Earth’s
magnetic field.
Navigation (compass)
Protection against dangerous sun rays
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9 The photograph shows a lightning bolt that strikes
a house:

9.1 Briefly describe how lightning forms.

 EXAM QUESTIONS
Clouds are made up of water molecules.
The movement of air inside a thunder cloud creates
friction between water particles and air particles.
This causes the cloud to become positively charged
at the top and negatively charged towards the bottom.
The negative bottom of the cloud pushes negative
charges on the surface of Earth away.
The ground becomes positively charged.
Eventually, if the build-up of charges becomes too great,
the negative charges jump from the cloud to the
ground.
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9.2 Is the charge between the cloud and the house LIKE
CHARGES or UNLIKE CHARGES?
Unlike charges

9.3 Describes the energy conversion that occurs during

the discharge of the cloud.
Potential energy to electrical energy into light and heat
energy
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9.4 Which device should be connected to a building for
lightning safety purposes?
Lightning conductor (lightning rod)
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10 Four charged spheres hang on strings as shown:

10.1 Give the name of the force that occurs between the
spheres.
Electrostatic force
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10.2 Classify this force in Question 10.1 as a CONTACT
FORCE or FIELD FORCE.
Field force

10.3 Does sphere A have an EXCESS or SHORTAGE of

electrons?
Shortage

10.4 What is the charge on spheres B and C respectively?

B: + (positive)
C: - (negative)
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10.5 Name the apparatus used in the school laboratory
when experimenting with static electricity.
Van de Graaff generator