5. Exploring Forces – Worksheet Solutions

Q1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Instruction: Select the correct option for each question.

  1. In science, a force is defined as:
    a) Only a push
    b) Only a pull
    c) A push or a pull
    d) Energy of motion
    Answer:
     c) A push or a pull
    Any push or pull on an object is called a force.
  2. Which of these is NOT an effect of force?
    a) Change of shape
    b) Change of direction
    c) Production of light
    d) Start/stop motion

    Answer: c) Production of light
    Force changes motion or shape; producing light is not a direct effect of force.
  3. Forces always involve:
    a) Only one object
    b) Interaction between two objects
    c) Only moving objects
    d) Only heavy objects

    Answer: b) Interaction between two objects
    A force arises from interaction (e.g., hand and table).
  4. The SI unit of force is:
    a) Joule (J)
    b) Watt (W)
    c) Newton (N)
    d) Pascal (Pa)

    Answer: c) Newton (N)
    Force is measured in newtons.
  5. Friction is a force that:
    a) Aids motion
    b) Always increases speed
    c) Opposes motion between surfaces in contact
    d) Acts only in liquids

    Answer: c) Opposes motion between surfaces in contact
    Friction resists motion; rough surfaces give more friction.
  6. Which is a non-contact force?
    a) Muscular force
    b) Friction
    c) Magnetic force
    d) Push with a stick

    Answer: c) Magnetic force
     It acts without physical contact.
  7. Gravity is:
    a) Sometimes attractive, sometimes repulsive
    b) Always repulsive
    c) Always attractive
    d) Only acts on Earth

    Answer: c) Always attractive
    Gravitational force only attracts.
  8. Weight is measured in:
    a) Kilogram (kg)
    b) Newton (N)
    c) Meter (m)
    d) Joule (J)

    Answer: b) Newton (N)
    Weight is a force; its SI unit is newton.
  9. An object floats in a liquid when:
    a) Weight > buoyant force
    b) Weight = buoyant force
    c) Weight < buoyant force
    d) There is no gravity

    Answer: b) Weight = buoyant force
    Floating occurs when upthrust equals weight.

Q2. Fill in the Blanks

Instruction: Fill in the blanks with the correct word based on the chapter.

  1. A force is a __________ or a __________.
    Answer: 
    push; pull
    Both pushes and pulls are forces.
  2. If an object’s speed or direction changes, a __________ has acted.
    Answer: force
    Explanation: Force causes change in motion or shape.
  3. The SI unit of force is the __________ (symbol: N).
    Answer: newton
    Standard unit for force.
  4. Friction always acts in a direction __________ to motion.
    Answer: opposite
    It resists motion between surfaces.
  5. Forces that act without contact are called __________ forces.
    Answer: non-contact
    Examples: magnetic, electrostatic, gravitational.
  6. The force with which Earth pulls objects is called __________.
    Answer: gravity (or gravitational force)
    Gravity attracts objects to Earth.
  7. Weight is a __________ and is measured in newtons.
    Answer: force
    Weight = mass × gravitational acceleration.
  8. The device used to measure weight (force) in newtons is a __________ balance.
    Answer: spring
    Stretch of the spring indicates force.
  9. The upward force exerted by a liquid on an immersed object is called __________ force.
    Answer: buoyant (or upthrust)
    It acts opposite to weight.
  10. An object sinks when its __________ is greater than the buoyant force.
    Answer: weight
    If weight > upthrust, the object sinks.

Q3. Short Answer QuestionsInstruction: Answer the following questions in 2–3 lines.

  1. How does friction depend on the nature of surfaces?
    Answer:
     Rough surfaces have more tiny irregularities, leading to higher friction; smooth surfaces have fewer irregularities, so friction is less.
  2. Explain why cycling uphill feels harder than cycling downhill.
    Answer: 
    Uphill, you work against gravity and friction, requiring greater muscular force. Downhill, gravity aids motion, so you need little or no pedaling.
  3. What does “forces work in pairs” mean?
    Answer: 
    When you push an object, it exerts an equal and opposite force on you. The interaction ends when contact ends.
  4. How do we find the least count of a spring balance?
    Answer: 
    Divide the value between two major marks by the number of small divisions between them.
  5. Why do streamlined shapes help in air or water?
    Answer: 
    They reduce fluid friction (drag), allowing objects like cars, planes, and boats to move more easily.

Q4. Match the Following

Instruction: Match Column A with the correct option in Column B.

Correct Matches:

  1. Muscular force — c) Force due to muscles in humans/animals
    Explanation: Movements like lifting, pushing, and pulling use muscles.
  2. Friction — d) Opposes motion between surfaces in contact
    Explanation: It resists sliding/rolling and depends on surface roughness.
  3. Magnetic force — e) Acts at a distance between magnets
    Explanation: Magnets attract/repel without contact.
  4. Weight — b) Pull of Earth on an object
    Explanation: Weight is gravitational force; measured in newtons.
  5. Buoyant force — a) Upward force by a liquid
    Explanation: Liquids push up on immersed objects; this is upthrust.

Q5. Application/Reasoning (Short Problems)

Instruction: Answer the following briefly in 2–3 lines.

  1. A wooden block is pushed on a rough table and stops after some distance. Why?
    Answer: Friction between the block and table opposes motion and converts kinetic energy to heat, bringing the block to rest.
  2. A 1 kg object has a weight of about 10 N on Earth. What will be its weight on the Moon (g ≈ 1.6 m/s²)?
    Answer: About 1.6 N. Explanation: Weight = mass × g = 1 kg × 1.6 m/s².
  3. A spring balance has marks 0 to 5 N with 10 equal divisions between each newton. What is its least count?
    Answer: 0.1 N per division. Explanation: 1 N ÷ 10 divisions = 0.1 N.
  4. Two balloons rubbed with wool repel each other. Which force is acting and why?
    Answer: Electrostatic force; both balloons have like static charges, so they repel.
  5. A stone sinks in water but a sealed empty plastic bottle floats. Why?
    Answer: The stone’s weight is greater than buoyant force, so it sinks. The bottle’s average density is less and upthrust balances its weight, so it floats.