8

Science
 8

Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Forces
Science – Grade 8
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Forces
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or
office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.
Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of
royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from
their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim
ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Rhenan O. Bacolod, Elma B. Cordova
Editors: Aurellano V. Masayon Jr. II, Nonita C. Patalinghug
Reviewers: Bernabe L. Linog, Relyn D. Raza, Kevin Hope Z. Salvaña, Jonas F. Saldia,
Delia C. Pioco, Gersim S. Lumintac, Lydia F. Lavares
Illustrator: Rosa Mia L. Pontillo

Layout Evaluators: Celeste Faith R. Almanon, Jay S. Ayap

Management Team: Francis Cesar B. Bringas, CESO V
Isidro M. Biol, Jr.
Maripaz F. Magno
Josephine Chonie M. Obseñares
Gregoria T. Su
Marvilyn C. Francia
Jay S. Ayap
Nonita C. Patalinghug

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Caraga Region

Office Address: Teacher Development Center
J.P. Rosales Avenue, Butuan City, Philippines 8600
Telefax: (085) 342-8207/ (085) 342-5969
E-mail Address: [email protected]
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master forces. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the
textbook you are now using.

This module contains:

 Lesson 1 – Forces

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Investigate the relationship between the amount of force applied

and the mass of the object to the amount of change in the object’s
motion. (Week 1 S8FE-Ia-15)

1
 What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following describes a force?

A. A pull only
B. A push only
C. A push or pull or both
D. Neither a push nor a pull

2. What is the unit of force in metric system?

A. Calorie
B. Joules
C. Newtons
D. Pounds

3. How do forces occur?

A. in pairs
B. in triplets
C. by themselves
D. as single quantity

4. When you move a chair across the floor, what force must your push be
stronger than?
A. Friction
B. Magnetic
C. Normal
D. Tension

5. A 500 N lady sits on the floor. How much force the floor exerts on her?
A. 50 N
B. 250 N
C. 500 N
D. 1000 N

6. Which force always pulls the objects to the ground?

A. Applied
B. Friction
C. Gravitational
D. Tension

2
7. A leaf falls from a tree. What force(s) are acting on it?
A. Air resistance only
B. Gravitational force only
C. Applied force and air resistance
D. Air resistance and gravitational forces

8. When a cabinet touches the floor, which type of forces exist?

A. Contact forces
B. Balanced forces
C. Non-contact forces
D. Unbalanced forces

9. The Earth has a bigger mass than the Moon. If you were able to travel to the
Moon, what happens to your weight?
A. increases
B. decreases
C. stays the same
D. varies with day and night

10. What is the net force in the figure below?

A. 1 N, to the left
B. 1 N, to the right
C. 11 N, to the left
D. 11 N, to the right

3
Lesson
Forces
1
Force can be operationally defined based on observed effects. This means
that a force can be described in terms of what it does. However, forces do not
always cause motion. It does not necessarily follow that forces acting on an object
will always cause it to move. Figures below are examples where forces have
tendency of changing the motion of an object or not.

Figure 1. A girl sitting on a chair Figure 2. A boy pushing a wall

Figure 3. A woman throwing a ball

What can forces do? Forces can produce changes in motion. What are these
changes in motion?

4
 What’s In

In Grade 7, you learned displacement, velocity, and acceleration. You

conducted activities wherein you understood and made visual representations of
the motion of objects such as motion graphs. The ideas were arrived at by studying
examples of uniform motion or objects moving in straight line at constant speed.
Then you were introduced to non-uniform motion where the object covers unequal
displacements at equal intervals of time.

Figure 4. A moving car Figure 5. A car slowing down

When a car starts moving, it speeds up. When a car nears a stop sign, it
slows down. The car is covering different displacements at equal time intervals,
hence is not moving in constant velocity. This means the car is accelerating.

Notes to the Teacher

5
 What’s New

Most of the motions we come across in our daily life are caused primarily by
FORCE.

To better understand the topic, perform the simple activities that follow:

Activity 1. Effect of force on a ball

Figure 6. Effect of force on a ball

Directions: Examine the ball on top of the table (see figure 6). Choose the letter
of your answer to the given conditions below:

Condition Answer
1. In letter A, is the A. Yes B. No
ball at rest?
2. How can you make A. The ball has to be B. The ball has to be
the ball move? pushed or pulled. pulled only.
3. In letter B, what A. The ball moves in B. The ball does not
happens to the ball the same direction move.
when you push it as the force.
with enough force?

4. In letter C, while it A. Exert a force B. The ball has to be

is moving, how can opposite the motion pushed in the same
you make the ball of the ball. direction of its
stop? motion.

5. In letter D, how A. The ball has to be B. The ball has to be

can we make the pushed sideways. pushed in the same
ball change its direction of its
direction? motion.

6
 What is It

You have observed that the ball moves once you push or pull it. This is
called force. Consider a ball on top of a table as shown in Figure 6. The ball will not
move when there is no force applied to it (Figure 6a). If you push the ball, it will
move or roll across the surface of the table (Figure 6b). And when it is again pushed
in the direction of its motion, it moves faster and even farther (Figure 6b). But
when you push it on the other side instead, opposite to the direction of its motion,
the ball may slow down and eventually stop (Figure 6c). Lastly, when you push it in
a direction different from its original direction of motion, the ball also changes its
direction (Figure 6d). In conclusion, force can make the ball, or any object move,
move faster, stop, or change its direction of motion. But, does this occur always?
Can force always effect change in the state of motion of an object?
To accurately describe the forces acting on an object, let us examine the
figure below:

Figure 7. Physical concepts illustrated on a ball

Figure 7 shows how force acts on a ball but you need to be familiar with the
following terms:

 magnitude – refers to the size or strength of the force. It is commonly

expressed in Newton (N) for Meter-Kilogram-Second (MKS) system, Dyne
(dyn) for Centimeter–Gram–Second (CGS) system and pounds (lbs) for Foot–
Pound–Second (FPS) system. In the International System of Units (SI),
Newton is commonly used which is named after Sir Isaac Newton, an
English physicist and mathematician.
 direction – points to where the object goes. The direction of the arrowhead
indicates the direction of the force. The length of the arrow represents the
amount of force (relative magnitude).
 point of application – the location of where the force is applied.
 line of action – is the straight line passing through the point of application
and is parallel to the direction of force.

7
There are two types of force, namely:

Contact forces – forces where objects touch or contact with each other.
Examples of contact forces:

1. Applied – a force given to a person or object by another person or object. Its

symbol is F depending on who or what applies force to the object. If a boy
applies a force to a wall, we denote it with FBOY. Refer to the figure below.

Figure 8. Applied force of a boy (FBOY ) towards the wall

2. Friction - is the force acting against or opposite an object in contact with

which makes the movement of the object slow down. Friction always opposes
the motion of an object. Its symbol is written as Ff. Air resistance denoted
by FAIR is an example of frictional force of the air against a flying kite,
airplanes, parachutes or those in skydiving sports. For free-falling objects,
this force is always considered negligible, meaning the magnitude is
unnoticeable.

Figure 9. Frictional force (Ff ) acts opposite to the force applied

3. Normal – is the force that acts perpendicular to the surface of the object in
contact with. Its symbol is FN.

Figure 10. Normal force (FN) acts perpendicular to the surface

8
 4. Tension – is the force applied to string, rope, chain or cable. Its symbol is T.

Figure 11. Tensional force or simply tension (T) that acts

on the rope of a hanging ball

Non-contact forces – forces where objects do not touch or contact with each other.
These forces act over a zone or area called field.

Examples of non-contact forces:

1. Gravitational (Fg) – is the force of attraction between two objects. In the

case of the Earth, this gravitational force causes objects to fall down to the
ground. It makes satellites and smaller objects stay in orbit near the more
massive planets. Mass and distance of the two objects affect the gravitational
force that holds them. The bigger the masses of the objects are, the bigger is
the gravitational force between them. The closer the objects are, the greater
is the gravitational force between them. The figure below illustrates
gravitational force between the Earth and the Moon. Earth has bigger
gravitational force over the Moon.

Figure 12. Gravitational force between the Earth and the Moon.

The weight of an object, denoted by W, is an example of the

gravitational force of the Earth towards the object. In figure 13, the weight of
a book (WBOOK) is illustrated.

9
 Figure 13. Illustration of the weight of a book (WBOOK) on the table with normal force (FN)

However, the weight of an object depends on the mass of the celestial

body where the object is attracted to. Meaning, we seem to be lighter when
we are on the moon than on the Earth.

2. Magnetic– are forces exerted on a field of attraction or repulsion as in the

case of magnets and other magnetic materials. Magnets and magnetic
materials have two poles – the north and south poles. Attraction may occur
when two poles are not the same, a positive and a negative while repulsion
takes place with the same poles, positive-positive and negative-negative.

Figure 14. Opposite poles attract Like poles repel

Balanced Forces
To describe a force, you must know two things. You must know the
magnitude and the direction of the force. Suppose two teams are playing tug-of-war
as shown in figure 15. Each team is pulling with equal magnitude of force, FA and
FB , on the rope but in opposite directions. Neither team can make the other team
move. Forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction are called
balanced forces. Balanced forces do not cause a change in motion. When
balanced forces act on an object at rest, the object will not move.

Figure 15. A representation of balanced forces in a tug-of-war game

10
Unbalanced Forces

When you push a table and then it moves, unbalanced forces are present.
Forces that cause a change in the motion of an object are unbalanced forces.
Unbalanced forces are not equal and in opposite direction. Suppose that one of the
teams in tug-of-war, as shown in figure 16, exerts greater magnitude of force, FB,
on the ground than the other team, the forces applied on the ground would no
longer be equal. One team would be able to pull the other team in the direction of
the larger force.

Figure 16. A representation of unbalanced force in a tug-of-war game

Net or Resultant Force

In an object, there may be several forces acting on it. Net force or resultant
force is the sum of all forces acting on an object. Two or more forces in the same
line of action exerted on an object are balanced if their effects cancel each other.

When an object is at rest, a zero net force would make the object remains at
rest. Moreover, when the object is moving, a zero net force would make the object
maintain its velocity at a given time interval.

On the other hand, when the net force is not zero, the object’s velocity will
change. A net force exerted to an object at rest may cause the object to move. In a
moving object, a net force will increase its velocity when the force is in the same
direction of its motion. If the net force is in the opposite direction of the object’s
motion, the force will reduce the object’s velocity. When the net force acts sideways
on a moving object, the direction of the object’s velocity changes.

What’s More

Forces can be applied to objects in different directions at the same time. It is

important to identify all the forces acting on the object which cause change in the

11
motion. In the succeeding activities, you are going to identify forces present in
objects at rest.

Activity 1. Forces on objects at rest

Objective:

After accomplishing this activity, you should be able to identify what forces
are acting on an object at rest.

Material:
picture

Directions:
A. Look and study the picture below.

Figure 17. A block of wood lying on a table.

Figure 17 shows a block of wood lying on a table.

Questions:

1. Is the block of wood at rest or in motion? _______________

2. Refer to the figure below. Draw the forces acting on the block of wood. Use
the dot as the origin of the forces.

Activity 2. Balance of forces

Objectives:

After performing this activity, you should be able to:

1. Examine the situation when the forces are balanced; and

2. Explain the effect of balanced forces on the state of motion of an object.

12
Materials:

Pictures

Procedure:

Examine the pictures below:

Figure 18. Balanced forces in a tug-of-war. Figure 19. A ball pushed on the floor

FA - applied force on the rope by Team A FN – force exerted by the floor on the ball
FB - applied force on the rope by Team B Fg - force exerted by the Earth on the ball
Ff - opposite force in the direction of the
motion or frictional force
FAPPLIED – applied force on the ball

For question numbers 1-3, refer to Figure 18.

1. If two groups in the game are exerting equal and opposite forces on the rope,
will the rope move?
_________________________________________________________

2. In the same condition, what happens to the net force acting on the rope?
_________________________________________________________

3. What are the forces present on the rope?

________________________________________________________

4. Refer to Figure 19. If you place a ball on the floor then push it gently to one
side, observe the motion of the ball as it rolls down the floor.

a. What makes the ball stop rolling after sometime?

______________________________________________________

b. What are the forces that act on the ball?

______________________________________________________

13
Activity 3. Unbalanced forces

Objectives:

After performing this activity, you should be able to:

1. Examine the situations when the forces are unbalanced; and

2. Explain the effect of unbalanced forces on the state of motion of an object.

Materials:

Pictures

Procedure:

Examine the pictures below.

https://pixabay.com/vectors/ceiling-chandelier-decorative-2028090/

Fig 20. Unbalanced forces in a tug-of-war Fig 21. A chandelier hangs on a chain.

For question numbers 1-2, refer to figure 20.

1. If two groups in the game are exerting unequal and opposite forces on the
ground, will the rope move?
______________________________________________________________

2. Will the net force be equal to zero?

______________________________________________________________
3. To what direction does the rope move?
______________________________________________________________

For question numbers 4 – 6, refer to figure 21.

4. Are the forces acting on the chandelier unbalanced?

______________________________________________________________
5. What force can cause the chandelier to fall?
______________________________________________________________

6. What type of force is your answer in number 4?

______________________________________________________________

14
 What I Have Learned

Directions: Fill in the blanks with correct word/s. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Any push or pull is called ________________.

2. ________________ refers to the size or strength of the force while
________________ points to where the object goes. The direction of the
arrowhead indicates the direction of the force. The length of the arrow
represents the amount of force (relative magnitude).
3. There are two types of forces, namely ________________ and ________________.
4. Applied, friction, normal and tensional forces are examples of
________________ forces.
5. Gravitational and magnetic forces are examples of ________________ forces.
6. ________________ are forces that are equal in magnitude but opposite in
direction.
7. ________________ are forces that cause a change in the motion of an object.
8. The sum of all forces acting in an object is called ________________.
9. If the forces in an object are balanced, the net force is ________________.
10. If the forces in an object are unbalanced, the net force is ________________.

What I Can Do

When we combine or add forces to determine the net or resultant force, we

will limit to those forces which act along the same line of action. The algebraic
signs + and – are used to indicate the direction of forces. Unlike signs are used for
forces acting in opposite directions, see figure 22 below.

ground
https://pixabay.com/vectors/book-closed-black-blank-library-306468/

Figure 22. Forces in opposite direction

The force of gravity (Fg) and the normal force (FN) are assigned opposite signs.
FN is given a positive (+) sign while Fg is given a negative (-) sign. If both Fg and FN

15
are given a magnitude value of 3 N, then the net force along this line (vertical) is
represented by ∑ 𝐹 .

To solve for the net force, you get the sum of all the forces exerted in the
object. The symbol sigma, ∑, means you add all the existing forces in the same line
of action. You cannot add a vertical force to a horizontal force. In Figure 20, we can
add the two forces, normal and gravitational force since they are in the same
vertical line of action.

𝐹𝑛𝑒𝑡 = ∑ 𝐹
F net = FN + Fg
= 3 N + ( -3 N )
=0N

If the net force equates to zero, they are considered balanced. If the net force is not
equal to zero, the forces are not balanced. This unbalanced force would cause a
change in a body’s state of motion. Refer to the figure 21.

Team A Team B

FA= 1000 N FB= 1300 N

Figure 23. Forces in opposite direction.

In figure 23, suppose one side in the tug-of-war, team A exerts 1,000 N while
the other side, Team B exerts 1300 N. To get the net force,
Fnet = FA + FB
= ( -1000 N) + 1300 N
= +300 N or 300 N, to the right
This means that Team B won the game, since the Fnet = 300 N in the
direction of Team B (to the right). The negative sign (-1000 N) in the solution means
the force is exerted in the opposite side (to the left). Always remember to write the
magnitude and direction of the force.

16
Now, try to answer this concept check in the situations below.

Directions: Read and analyze each problem carefully. Write your answers and
solutions in your answer sheet.

1. Boys A and B, are pulling a heavy cabinet at the same time with 5 N of force
each. What is the net force acting on the cabinet? ______________________

2. What if boy A and boy B pull the heavy cabinet at the same time in opposite
directions with 10 N and 5 N of force respectively,
a. what will be the net force on the cabinet? ______________________
b. will the cabinet move? ______________________
c. to what direction will it move? ______________________

17
3. From problem 2, suppose another boy, Boy C pulls the heavy cabinet with 5 N
of force in the same direction with Boy A,
a. What will be the net force on the cabinet? ______________________
b. Will the cabinet move? ______________________
c. In what direction will the cabinet move? ______________________

Assessment

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Which is NOT a unit of force?

A. Dyne
B. Joules
C. Newton
D. Pound

2. What refers to how large or strong is the force?

A. magnitude
B. line of action
C. velocity of the object
D. direction of the force

3. What force is always directed opposite to the motion of an object?

A. Friction
B. Gravitational
C. Magnetic
D. Tension

18
4. What force pulls an object back to the Earth?
A. Applied
B. Gravitational
C. Magnetic
D. Tension

5. Which surface would be easiest for a bicycle to move?

A. Sand
B. Grass
C. Muddy road
D. Concrete road

6. What type of forces holds between two celestial bodies like the Sun and
Earth?
A. Applied
B. Gravitational
C. Magnetic
D. Tension

7. What force acts perpendicular to the surface of the object in contact with?
A. Applied
B. Gravitational
C. Normal
D. Tension

8. Two people pull on a rope in a tug-of-war. Each pull with a 300 N force.
What is the net force?
A. 0 N
B. 300 N
C. 600 N
D. 900 N

9. Planet Jupiter has a bigger mass than the Earth. If you were able to travel to
planet Jupiter, what happens to your weight?
A. increases
B. decreases
C. stays the same
D. varies with day and night

19
 10. What is the net force in the figure below?

A. 25 N, to the left
B. 25 N, to the right
C. 195 N, to the left
D. 195 N, to the right

Additional Activities

Directions: Analyze and answer the problems below. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. The wheel barrow at rest containing stones has a force of 1000 N. A man
exerted a push of 500 N.

a. Will he able to move the wheel barrow? ______________________________

b. Suppose another man tried to help him and exerted a force of 500N. Will
they able to move the wheel barrow?
______________________________
c. Another man saw their struggle in pushing the wheel barrow. He tried to
help them. He exerted a force of 400 N. Will the three of them move the
wheel barrow?
______________________________

2. A box is at rest and a force of 250 N is applied to it. If the frictional force is
200 N, determine the net force.

20
 21
What I Know What's New What’s More
1. C 1. Yes Activity 1
2. C 2. The ball has to
3. A be pushed/ 1. At rest
4. A pulled 2.
5. C 3. The ball moves
6. C in the same
7. D direction as the
8. A ball
9. B 4. Exert a force .
10.A opposite the 3. Frictional force,
motion of the tension, normal,
ball gravitational
5. The ball has to force
be pushed
sideways
What’s More What's More What I have
Activity 3 learned
Activity 2
1. Yes 1. Force
1. No 2. No 2. Magnitude,
2. 0 3. To the right direction
3. Tension/Applied 4. No 3. Contact, non-
4. a.friction 5. Gravitational contact
b. frictional, force 4. Contact
normal, 6. Gravitational 5. Non-contact
gravitational force, yes 6. Balanced
7. Unbalanced
8. Net or resultant
force
9. zero
10. not zero
Answer Key
 22
What I can do Additional Assessment
1. Fnet = FA + FB Activities
= 5N + 5 N
1. B
=+10 N, or 10 N to the 2. A
1. a. No
right 3. A
b. No
2. a. Fnet = FA + FB 4. B
c. Yes
= -10 N + 5 N 5. D
=-5 N, or 5 N to the left
2. Fnet = +50 N or 6. B
b. Yes 50 N, to the 7. C
c. To the left right 8. A
3. a. Fnet = FA + FB + FC 9. A
= -5N + 5 N
10.B
= - 10 N, or 10 N to the
left
b. yes
c. to the left
References

Books:

Alicia L. Padua, Ricardo M. Crisostomo. n.d. Practical and Explorational Physics

Modular Approach.

Giancoli, Douglas C. 2013. Physics Principles with Applications. Pearson Education.

Hewitt, Paul G. 2004. Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program.
Prentice Hall.

2014. "Science - Grade 8 Learner's Material First Module."

Website:

"Pixabay." Accessed May 22, 2020. https://pixabay.com/vectors/book-closed-

black-blank-library-306468/

23
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education - Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex

Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: [email protected] * [email protected]