CBSE Class 9 Science Chapter 9: Force and Laws of Motion NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 9 PDF

This chapter delves into the fundamental concepts of force and motion, crucial for understanding physics. The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science, Chapter 9, "Force and Laws of Motion," provide detailed explanations for in-text questions. These solutions clarify the concept of inertia, explaining how it relates to mass and affects objects' resistance to changes in their state of motion. Students will learn to identify instances where velocity changes and the forces causing them, such as in a football game. The solutions also explain real-world phenomena like why leaves detach from trees when shaken and the physics behind falling forward or backward in a moving vehicle. By working through these problems, students will build a strong foundation in classical mechanics, essential for exam preparation and further scientific study.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 9
SubjectScience
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 9

Chapter summary

Chapter 9 of the NCERT Class 9 Science textbook focuses on Force and Laws of Motion. The provided solutions cover in-text questions that explain the concept of inertia, its relation to mass, and how it causes resistance to changes in motion. Students will also explore how forces cause changes in velocity and analyze scenarios like a football game or shaking a tree branch. The solutions address everyday experiences, such as the motion of a bus and its effect on passengers, reinforcing Newton's laws of motion.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the concept of inertia and its relationship with mass.
  • Identify instances where the velocity of an object changes.
  • Explain the role of force in changing an object's velocity.
  • Apply the concept of inertia to explain everyday phenomena.
  • Differentiate between the inertia of objects with different masses.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Inertia
  • Mass and Inertia
  • Velocity Change
  • Force
  • Newton's Laws of Motion (implied)
  • State of Motion
  • State of Rest
  • Resistance to Motion

Important topics

  • Inertia and its relation to mass
  • Identifying changes in velocity
  • Explaining everyday phenomena using inertia
  • The role of force in changing motion

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Which of the following has more inertia: (a) a rubber ball and a stone of the same size? (b) a bicycle and a train? (c) a five-rupees coin and a one-rupee coin?
Solution: Inertia is the property of an object that resists changes in its state of motion or rest. It is directly proportional to the mass of the object. This means that an object with a greater mass will have greater inertia, and an object with a smaller mass will have less inertia. We need to compare the masses of the objects given in each part:
  1. A stone of the same size as a rubber ball generally has a greater mass than the rubber ball. Therefore, the stone has more inertia.
  2. A train is significantly more massive than a bicycle. Thus, the train has much greater inertia.
  3. A five-rupees coin is typically made of different material or has a larger size/thickness than a one-rupee coin, giving it a greater mass. Hence, the five-rupees coin has more inertia.

Question 2

In the following example, try to identify the number of times the velocity of the ball changes: "A football player kicks a football to another player of his team who kicks the football towards the goal. The goalkeeper of the opposite team collects the football and kicks it towards a player of his own team". Also identify the agent supplying the force in each case.
Solution: The velocity of the football changes four times during this sequence of events. Velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction. A change in either speed or direction constitutes a change in velocity.
  1. First change: When the first player kicks the football. The ball starts from rest (zero velocity) and gains a certain speed and direction. The player supplies the force.
  2. Second change: When the second player kicks the football towards the goal. The direction of the ball's motion changes, even if its speed remains similar. A change in direction means a change in velocity. The second player supplies the force.
  3. Third change: When the goalkeeper collects the football. The ball, moving with a certain velocity, is stopped, bringing its speed to zero. This is a significant change in velocity. The goalkeeper supplies an opposing force.
  4. Fourth change: When the goalkeeper kicks the football towards a player of his own team. The ball starts from rest (zero velocity) and gains a new speed and direction. The goalkeeper supplies the force.

Question 3

Explain why some of the leaves may get detached from a tree if we vigorously shake its branch.
Solution: When the branch of a tree is shaken vigorously, it undergoes rapid to-and-fro motion. However, the leaves attached to the branch tend to remain in their state of rest or uniform motion due to their inertia. Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to any change in its state of motion; this includes changes to its speed, direction, or state of rest. Because the leaves resist this sudden change in motion imposed by shaking the branch, they may become detached from the branch. The force required to move the leaves along with the branch is greater than the force holding them to the branch, causing them to fall off.

Question 4

Why do you fall in the forward direction when a moving bus brakes to a stop and fall backwards when it accelerates from rest?
Solution: This phenomenon is explained by the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

When the bus brakes to a stop: While you are inside the moving bus, your body is also moving at the same speed as the bus. When the driver applies the brakes, the bus suddenly slows down or stops. However, due to inertia, your body tends to continue moving forward at the original speed. This causes you to be thrown forward relative to the decelerating bus.

When the bus accelerates from rest: When the bus starts moving from rest and accelerates forward, your body, due to inertia, tends to remain in its state of rest. As the bus moves forward, your body lags behind momentarily. This makes it appear as if you are falling backward relative to the accelerating bus.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing inertia with force.
  • Not correctly identifying all instances of velocity change in a sequence of events.
  • Underestimating the effect of inertia in everyday situations.
  • Incorrectly relating the size of an object to its inertia without considering mass.

Revision tips

  • Focus on understanding the definition of inertia and its direct proportionality to mass.
  • Draw diagrams to visualize the changes in velocity during different stages of motion.
  • Relate the explanations in the solutions to your own experiences with moving objects.
  • Practice identifying the forces acting on objects in various scenarios.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following has the greatest inertia?

Q2. Inertia is a measure of an object's:

Q3. When a moving bus suddenly brakes, a passenger tends to fall:

Q4. If you shake a tree branch vigorously, why do leaves detach?

Q5. How many times does the velocity of a football change when kicked from one player to another, then to the goal, saved by the goalkeeper, and then kicked back?

Frequently asked questions

What is inertia?

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion or rest. It is a measure of the object's mass; the greater the mass, the greater the inertia.

How does mass relate to inertia?

Inertia is directly proportional to mass. An object with a larger mass has more inertia and is harder to move or stop than an object with a smaller mass.

What causes the velocity of an object to change?

The velocity of an object changes when a force acts upon it, causing a change in its speed or direction of motion.

Why do we fall forward when a bus stops suddenly?

When a bus stops, your body's inertia causes it to continue moving forward at the bus's previous speed, making you fall forward.

Why do we fall backward when a bus accelerates from rest?

When the bus accelerates forward, your body's inertia tends to keep it in its state of rest, making you feel pushed backward relative to the accelerating bus.

Are the questions in this chapter about Newton's laws?

Yes, these questions are foundational to understanding Newton's first law of motion, which defines inertia, and also touch upon the concept of force causing changes in motion, related to the second law.

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