Exploring Forces | Class 8 Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
Exploring Forces – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Exploring Forces from Class 8 Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Are Forces an Interaction Between Two or More Objects?
This section clarifies that forces always arise from interactions between two or more objects. For example, when you push a table, your hand applies a force on the table, and simultaneously, the table applies an equal and opposite force on your hand. This mutual interaction is fundamental to the concept of force. The section explains that forces cannot exist in isolation; at least two objects must interact for a force to be present. It also introduces the idea that forces come in pairs acting on different objects. The SI unit of force, newton (N), is reiterated. The section encourages students to think about everyday examples and recognize the interacting objects involved in each force application. This understanding is crucial for grasping Newton's third law of motion in higher classes.
📊 Diagram: Illustration shows a hand pushing a table and the table pushing back on the hand, demonstrating interaction forces.
🧪 Activity: No specific activity, but encourages thinking about interactions in listed examples.
🔗 Connection: Prepares for classification of forces into contact and non-contact types in the next section.
Frequently asked questions
Match items in Column A with the items in Column B. Column A (Type of force) | Column B (Example) (i) Muscular force | (a) A cricket ball stopping on its own just before touching the boundary line (ii) Magnetic force | (b) A child lifting a school bag (iii) Frictional force | (c) A fruit falling from a tree (iv) Gravitational force | (d) Balloon rubbed on woolen cloth attracting hair strands (v) Electrostatic force | (e) A compass needle pointing North
The correct matching is: (i) Muscular force - (b) A child lifting a school bag (ii) Magnetic force - (e) A compass needle pointing North (iii) Frictional force - (a) A cricket ball stopping on its own just before touching the boundary line (iv) Gravitational force - (c) A fruit falling from a tree (v) Electrostatic force - (d) Balloon rubbed on woolen cloth attracting hair strands
State whether the following statements are True or False. (i) A force is always required to change the speed of motion of an object. (ii) Due to friction, the speed of the ball rolling on a flat ground increases. (iii) There is no force between two charged objects placed at a small distance apart.
(i) True A force is required to change the speed (accelerate or decelerate) of an object.
(ii) False Friction opposes motion and thus decreases the speed of a rolling ball.
(iii) False There is an electrostatic force between two charged objects even if they are close to each other.
Two balloons rubbed with a woollen cloth are brought near each other. What would happen and why?
When two balloons rubbed with woollen cloth are brought near each other, they repel each other. This happens because rubbing transfers electrons to the balloons, giving them the same type of charge (usually negative). Like charges repel, so the balloons push away from each other.
When you drop a coin in a glass of water, it sinks, but when you place a bigger wooden block in water, it floats. Explain.
A coin sinks because its density is greater than that of water, so the buoyant force is not enough to keep it afloat. A wooden block floats because it is less dense than water, and the upthrust (buoyant force) balances its weight, allowing it to float.
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