CBSE Class 8 Science Chapter 11: Force and Pressure NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 8 PDF

CBSE Class 8 Science Chapter 11, Force and Pressure, introduces students to the fundamental concepts of force and pressure. This chapter explores various types of forces, such as contact forces (like muscular force) and non-contact forces (like gravitational and magnetic forces). It explains how forces are responsible for changing an object's state of motion, its shape, and its size. Understanding these interactions is key to comprehending many everyday physical phenomena and building a solid foundation in physics. The chapter also discusses pressure, explaining how it relates to force and the area over which it acts, and explores pressure in liquids and gases. Mastering these concepts will help students analyze and explain the physical world around them more effectively.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 8
Subject	Science
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 11: Force and Pressure

Chapter summary

Chapter 11 of the Class 8 Science NCERT textbook focuses on Force and Pressure. The provided solutions cover exercises that explain the nature of forces, distinguishing between pushing and pulling actions. They illustrate how forces can alter an object's motion and shape, and introduce concepts like contact and non-contact forces, including muscular, gravitational, and magnetic forces. The solutions also touch upon the effects of forces in everyday situations and the basic idea of pressure.

Learning outcomes

Understand that force is a push or pull that can change an object's state of motion or shape.
Identify examples of contact and non-contact forces in everyday situations.
Differentiate between muscular, gravitational, magnetic, and electrostatic forces.
Explain how forces affect the shape and motion of objects.
Recognize that applying force can cause changes in an object's shape, such as stretching or reshaping.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Force as push or pull
Changing state of motion
Changing shape of objects
Contact forces
Muscular force
Friction
Non-contact forces
Gravitational force
Magnetic force
Electrostatic force
Attraction and repulsion between charges
Pressure (implied)

Important topics

Types of forces (contact and non-contact)
Effects of force on motion and shape
Muscular force
Gravitational force
Magnetic force
Interaction between charged bodies

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Give two examples each of situations in which you push or pull to change the state of motion of objects.

Solution: Force is defined as a push or a pull that can cause a change in the state of motion of an object. Here are two examples for each:

Pushing:

Pushing a stalled car to get it moving.
Pushing a swing to make it move back and forth.

Pulling:

Pulling a drawer open.
Pulling a rope to draw water from a well.

Question 2

Give two examples of situations in which applied force causes a change in the shape of an object.

Solution: Applying a force can deform an object, leading to a change in its shape. Here are two examples:

Stretching a rubber band: When you pull on a rubber band, you apply a force that stretches it, changing its shape from relaxed to elongated.
Reshaping clay: When you mold or knead clay to make a toy or any other shape, you are applying force to change its original form.

Question 3

Fill in the blanks in the following statements:

(a) To draw water from a well we have to _____ at the rope.

(b) A charged body _____ an uncharged body towards it.

(d) The north pole of a magnet _____ the north pole of another magnet.

Solution: Let's fill in the blanks based on the principles of forces:

(a) To draw water from a well we have to pull at the rope. This is because you are exerting a force to lift the bucket of water upwards.

(b) A charged body attracts an uncharged body towards it. This is due to electrostatic forces where a charged object can induce a charge separation in a neutral object, leading to an attractive force.

(c) To move a loaded trolley we have to push it. Applying a pushing force is necessary to overcome inertia and friction to set the trolley in motion.

(d) The north pole of a magnet repels the north pole of another magnet. Like poles of magnets always repel each other.

Question 4

An archer stretches her bow while taking aim at the target. She then releases the arrow, which begins to move towards the target. Based on this information fill up the gaps in the following statements using the following terms:

muscular, contact, non-contact, gravity, friction, shape, attraction

(a) To stretch the bow, the archer applies a force that causes a change in its _____.

(b) The force applied by the archer to stretch the bow is an example of _____ force.

(d) While the arrow moves towards its target, the forces acting on it are due to _____ and that due to _____ of air.

Solution: Let's fill in the blanks using the provided terms:

(a) To stretch the bow, the archer applies a force that causes a change in its shape. The bow deforms from its original shape when stretched.

(b) The force applied by the archer to stretch the bow is an example of contact force. This is because the archer's hands are in direct contact with the bow to stretch it. It is also a muscular force.

(c) The type of force responsible for a change in the state of motion of the arrow is an example of a muscular force. The archer uses muscular force to draw the bowstring, and this stored energy propels the arrow.

(d) While the arrow moves towards its target, the forces acting on it are due to gravity and that due to friction of air. Gravity pulls the arrow downwards, and air friction opposes its motion.

Question 5

In the following situations identify the agent exerting the force and the object on which it acts. State the effect of the force in each case.

(a) Squeezing a piece of lemon between the fingers to extract its juice.

(b) Taking out paste from a toothpaste tube.

(d) An athlete making a high jump to clear the bar at a certain height.

Solution: Let's analyze each situation to identify the agent, object, and effect of the force:

(a) Squeezing a piece of lemon between the fingers to extract its juice.

Object: Lemon
Agent: Fingers
Effect of the force: The force applied by the fingers causes the lemon to be squeezed, changing its shape and extracting the juice.

(b) Taking out paste from a toothpaste tube.

Object: Toothpaste tube (and the paste inside)
Agent: Fingers
Effect of the force: The force applied by squeezing the tube changes its shape and pushes the toothpaste out of the opening.

(c) A load suspended from a spring while its other end is on a hook fixed to a wall.

Object: Spring
Agent: Load (weight)
Effect of the force: The force exerted by the load causes the spring to stretch, changing its length. This demonstrates the elastic property of the spring.

(d) An athlete making a high jump to clear the bar at a certain height.

Object: Athlete's body
Agent: Athlete's muscles (acting on the ground, which then acts on the body)
Effect of the force: The force generated by the athlete's muscles propels their body upwards and forwards, enabling them to jump over the bar. This involves overcoming gravity and achieving a change in the state of motion.

Common mistakes

Confusing the agent and the object on which the force acts.
Not clearly distinguishing between push and pull forces.
Misidentifying the type of force (e.g., contact vs. non-contact) in a given situation.
Overlooking the effect of forces like friction or gravity on moving objects.

Revision tips

Review the definitions of different types of forces (muscular, contact, non-contact, gravity, friction).
Practice identifying the agent and object for each force application in real-life scenarios.
Focus on understanding how forces cause changes in an object's shape and state of motion.
Draw diagrams to visualize the forces acting on objects in different situations.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following is an example of a pulling force?

Q2. When an archer stretches a bow, the force applied causes a change in its:

Q3. Which type of force is the force applied by a person to move a loaded trolley?

Q4. The force that attracts an uncharged body towards a charged body is:

Q5. What happens when the north pole of one magnet is brought near the north pole of another magnet?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main concept covered in CBSE Class 8 Science Chapter 11?

Chapter 11, Force and Pressure, covers the fundamental concepts of forces, including pushing and pulling actions, how forces affect the motion and shape of objects, and different types of forces like contact (muscular) and non-contact (gravitational, magnetic, electrostatic) forces.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to all exercises in Chapter 11. They help students understand the concepts, practice problem-solving, and reinforce their learning for exams.

What are the examples of forces given in the solutions?

The solutions provide examples such as pushing or pulling objects, stretching a rubber band, reshaping clay, drawing water from a well, moving a trolley, and the interaction between magnets and charged bodies.

What is the difference between contact and non-contact forces?

Contact forces require direct physical touch between objects (e.g., muscular force, friction), while non-contact forces act without physical contact (e.g., gravitational force, magnetic force, electrostatic force).

Can forces change the shape of an object?

Yes, forces can change the shape of an object. Examples include stretching a rubber band, squeezing a piece of lemon, or reshaping clay.

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