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Chapter 5
Laws of Motion
Galileo’s Law of Inertia
If the net external force is zero, a body at rest continues to remain at rest
and a body in motion continues to move with a uniform velocity.

This property of the body is called inertia.

Inertia means ‘resistance to change’.

Suppose a person is standing in a stationary bus and the driver starts the
bus suddenly. He gets thrown backward with a jerk. This is due to his inertia
of rest.

Similarly if a person is standing in a moving bus and if the bus suddenly

stops he is thrown forward. This is due to his inertia of motion.

Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton built on Galileo’s ideas and laid the foundation of mechanics in
terms of three laws of motion. Galileo’s law of inertia was his starting point
on which he formulated as the First Law of motion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion (Law of inertia)

Every body continues to be in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a
straight line unless compelled by some external force to change that state.

The state of rest or uniform linear motion both imply zero acceleration. If
the net external force on a body is zero, its acceleration is zero. Acceleration
can be non zero only if there is a net external force on the body.
Momentum
Momentum, P of a body is defined to be the product of its mass m and
velocity v, and is denoted by p.
p=mv
Momentum is a vector quantity.
Unit = kgm/s
[p] = ML T −1
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• Suppose a light-weight vehicle car) and a heavy weight vehicle are parked
on a horizontal road. A greater force is needed to push the truck than the car
to bring them to the sam e speed in same time. Similarly, a greater opposing
force is needed to stop a heavy body than a light body in the same time, if
they are moving with the same speed.

•Speed is another important parameter to consider. A bullet fired by a gun

can easily pierce human tissue before it stops, resulting in casualty. The
same bullet fired with moderate speed will not cause much damage.Thus for
a given mass, the greater the speed, the greater is the opposing force needed
to stop the body in a certain time.

Newton’s Second Law f Motion

Why a cricketer draws his hands backwards during a catch?

By Newton's second law of motion ,
𝐝𝐩
F=
𝐝𝐭
When he draws his hands backwards, the time interval (dt) to stop the ball
increases . Then force decreases and it does not hurt his hands.
Force not only depends on the change in momentum but also on how fast
the change is brought about.
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Derivation of Equation of force from Newton's second law of motion

By Newton's second law of motion ,

For a bod of i ed mass m p m

m
dt

F ma
Force is a ector uantit
nit of force is gm

Definition of newton
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Important points about second law

1.The second Law is consistent with the first law.

Zero acceleration implies the state of rest or uniform linear motion . i.e,
when there is no external force , the body will remain in its state of rest or of
uniform motion in a straight line. This is Newtons first law of motion.

3. If a force makes some angle with velocity, the force changes only the
component of velocity along the direction of force.

4. For a system of particles we can write

𝐅𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐚

𝐅𝐧𝐞𝐭 refers to the total external force on the system and a refers to the
acceleration of the system as a whole.

5. In equation F=ma

Acceleration at any instant is determined by the force at that instant ,

not by any history of the motion of the particle

Example
A bullet of mass 0.04 kg moving with a speed of 90 m/s enters a heavy
wooden block and is stopped after a distance of 60 cm. What is the average
resistive force exerted by the block on the bullet?
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Example
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Impulse (I)
There are some situations where a large force acts for a very short duration
producing a finite change in momentum of the body. For example, when a
ball hits a wall and bounces back, the force on the ball by the wall acts for a
very short time when the two are in contact, yet the force is large enough to
reverse the momentum of the ball.

Impulse is the the product of force and time duration, which is the change in
momentum of the body.
Impulse = Force × time duration
I=Fxt
Unit = kg m s−1
[I] =M L T −1

Impulsive force.
A large force acting for a short time to produce a finite change in
momentum is called an impulsive force.

Impulse momentum Principle

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum of the body.
By Newton's second law of motion,
dp
F=
dt
F x dt = dp
I = dp
Impulse = change in momentum

Example
A batsman hits back a ball straight in the direction of the bowler without
changing its initial speed of 12 m s −1 . If the mass of the ball is 0.15 kg,
determine the impulse imparted to the ball.
Impulse = change of momentum
Change in momentum = final momentum – initial momentum
Change in momentum = 0.15 × 12–(0.15×-12)
Impulse = 3.6 N s
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Newton’s Third Law of Motion

To every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

Important points about Third law

1. Forces always occur in pairs. Force on a body A by B is equal and opposite
to the force on the body B by A.

2. There is no cause- effect relation implied in the third law. The force on A
by B and the force on B by A act at the same instant. By the same reasoning,
any one of them may be called action and the other reaction.

3. Action and reaction forces act on different bodies, not on the same body.
So they do not cancel each other , eventhough they are equal and opposite.

According to the third law,

FAB = – FBA (force on A by B) = – (force on B by A)

4. However, if you are considering the system of two bodies as a whole, FAB
and FBA are internal forces of the system (A + B). They add up to give a
null force.

Weight of a body in a lift

Weight of a body is the normal reaction exerted by the surface in contact
with that body.
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Example
A man of mass 70 kg stands on a weighing scale in
a lift which is moving,
(a) upwards with a uniform speed of 10 m 𝐬 −𝟏
(b) downwards with a uniform acceleration of 5 m 𝐬−𝟐
(c) upwards with a uniform acceleration of 5 m 𝐬−𝟐
What would be the readings on the scale in each case?
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(d) What would be the reading if the lift mechanism failed and it falls down
freely under gravity? Take g=10 m 𝐬 −𝟐

(a)When lift moves with uniform speed ,a=0

R= mg = 70 x 10=700 N
Reading= 700/ 10= 70 kg
(b)Acceleration a = 5ms-2 downwards
R= m(g-a) =70 ( 10-5)= 70x5= 350N
Reading = 350/ 10 = 35 kg
(c) Acceleration a = 5ms-2 upwards
R= m(g+a) = 70(10+5) = 70x 15= 1050N
Reading = 1050/ 10 = 105 kg
(d) when lift falls freely a=g
R= m(g-g) = 0
Reading = 0

Law of Conservation of Momentum

The total momentum of an isolated system of interacting particles is
conserved.
Or
When there is no external force acting on a system of particles ,their total
momentum remains constant.

Proof of law of conservation of momentum

dp
By Newton's second law of motion , F=
dt

When F = 0
dp
0
dt

dp = 0 ,

p=constant

Thus when there is no external force acting on a system of particles, their

total momentum remains constant.
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Applications of law of conservation of linear momentum

1.Recoil of gun
When a bullet is fired from a gun , the backward movement of gun is called
recoil of the gun.

If 𝐩𝐛 and 𝐩𝐠 are the momenta of the bullet and gun after firing
𝐩𝐛 + 𝐩𝐠 = 0
𝐩𝐛 = - 𝐩𝐠
The negative sign shows that the gun recoils to conserve momentum.

Expression for Recoil velocity and muzzle velocity

Momentum of bullet after firing , 𝐩𝐛 𝐦𝐯

Recoil momentum of the gun after firing , 𝐩𝐠 𝐌𝐕

𝐩𝐛 = - 𝐩𝐠

𝐦𝐯 −𝐌𝐕
−𝐦𝐯
Recoil velocity of gun , V=
𝐌
−𝐌𝐕
Muzzle velocity of bullet , v=
𝐦
M= mass of gun, V= recoil velocity of bullet
m= mass of bullet, v=muzzle velocity of bullet
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2. The collision of two bodies

Total Final momentum = Total initial momentum

i.e. , the total final momentum of the isolated system equals its total initial
momentum.

Equilibrium of a particle
Equilibrium of a particle in mechanics refers to the situation when the net
external force on the particle is zero.
According to the first law, this means that, the particle is either at rest or in
uniform motion.
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If a number of forces 𝐅𝟏 , 𝐅𝟐 ……..𝐅𝐧 , act on a particle

𝐅𝟏 + 𝐅𝟐 + … … … . . . +𝐅𝐧 𝟎
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Example
A mass of 6 kg is suspended by a rope of length 2 m from the ceiling. A force
of 50 N in the horizontal direction is applied at the midpoint P of the rope,
as shown. What is the angle the rope makes with the vertical in equilibrium
? (Take g = 10 m 𝐬 −𝟐 ).

Neglect the mass of the rope.

Common Forces in Mechanics

Ther are two types of forces in mechanics- Contact forces and Non contact
forces.

Contact forces
A contact force on an object arises due to contact with some other object:
solid or fluid.

Eg: Frictional force, viscous force, air resistance

Non contact forces

A non contact force can act at a distance without the need of any intervening
medium.

Eg: Gravitational force.

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Friction
The force that opposes (impending or actual) relative motion between two
surfaces in contact is called frictional force.

There are two types of friction-Static and Kinetic friction

Static friction 𝐟𝐬

• Static friction is the frictional force that acts between two surfaces in
contact before the actual relative motion starts. Or Static friction fs
opposes impending relative motion.
The maximum value of static friction is fs max
• The limiting value of static friction fs max , is independent of the area
of contact.
• The limiting value of static friction fs max , varies with the normal
force(N)
fs max αN

𝐟𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝛍𝐬 𝐍

Where the constant 𝛍𝐬 is called the coefficient of static friction and depends
only on the nature of the surfaces in contact.

The Law of Static Friction

The law of static friction may thus be written as , fs ≤ 𝛍𝐬 𝐍
0r
𝐟𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝛍𝐬 𝐍
Note:
If the applied force F exceeds fs max , the body begins to slide on the
surface. When relative motion has started, the frictional force decreases
from the static maximum value fs max
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Kinetic friction 𝐟𝐤

Frictional force that opposes (actual) relative motion between surfaces in

contact is called kinetic or sliding friction and is denoted by fk . .

• Kinetic friction is independent of the area of contact.

• Kinetic friction is nearly independent of the velocity.
• Kinetic friction , fk varies with the normal force(N)

fk αN
𝐟𝐤 𝛍𝐤 𝐍

where μk the coefficient of kinetic friction, depends only on the surfaces in

contact.
μk is less than μs

The Law of Kinetic Friction

The law of kinetic friction can be written as , 𝐟𝐤 𝛍𝐤 𝐍
where μk the coefficient of kinetic friction,
Example
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Body on an inclined surface

The forces acting on a block of mass m When it just begins to slide are
(i) the weight mg
(ii) the normal force N
(iii) the maximum static frictional force 𝐟𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐱

In equilibrium, the resultant of these forces must be zero.

m g sin θ fs max ------------(1)

m g cos θ N-------------(2)

But fs max μs N
Eqn (1) becomes
mg sin θ= μs N------------(3)

3 mg sin θ μs N
Eqn --------
2 m g cos θ N

𝛍𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉
𝛉 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝛍𝐬
This angle whose tangent gives the coefficient of friction is called
angle of friction.
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Example

μs tan θ
θ = 15°,
μs = tan 15° = 0.27

Problem 8
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Applying second law to motion of the block
30 – T = 3a ---------------(1)
Apply the second law to motion of the trolley
T – fk = 20 a ------------(2)
Nowfk = μk N,
Here μk = 0.04, N = 20 x 10 = 200 N.
Substituting in eq(2)
T – 0.04 x 200 = 20 a
T – 8 = 20a-------------(3)

Solving eqns (1) and (3)

22
a= m s−2 = 0.96 m s−2
23
T = 27.1 N

Rolling Friction
It is the frictional force that acts between the surfaces in contact when one
body rolls over the other.

Rolling friction is much smaller than static or sliding friction

Disadvantages of friction
friction is undesirable in many situations, like in a machine with different
moving parts, friction opposes relative motion and thereby dissipates power
in the form of heat, etc.

Advantages of friction
In many practical situations friction is critically needed. Kinetic friction is
made use of by brakes in machines and automobiles. We are able to walk
because of static friction. It is impossible for a car to move on a very slippery
road. On an ordinary road, the friction between the tyres and the road
provides the necessary external force to accelerate the car.
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Methods to reduce friction

(1)Lubricants are a way of reducing kinetic friction in a machine.

(2)Another way is to use ball bearings between two moving parts of a

machine.

(3) A thin cushion of air maintained between solid surfaces in relative

motion is another effective way of reducing friction.

Circular Motion
The acceleration of a body moving in a circular path is directed towards the
centre and is called centripetal acceleration.
𝐯𝟐
a 𝐑
The force f providing centripetal acceleration is called the centripetal force
and is directed towards the centre of the circle.
𝐦𝐯 𝟐
𝐟𝐬 = 𝐑
where m is the mass of the body, R is the radius of circle.
For a stone rotated in a circle by a string, the centripetal force is provided by
the tension in the string.

The centripetal force for motion of a planet around the sun is the
gravitational force on the planet due to the sun.

Motion of a car on a curved level road

Three forces act on the car.

(i) The weight of the car, mg
(ii) Normal reaction, N
(iii) Frictional force, fs
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As there is no acceleration in the vertical direction
N= mg
The static friction provides the centripetal acceleration
mv2
fs =
R
But , fs ≤ μs N
mv2
≤ μs mg (N=mg)
R
𝟐
𝐯
≤ 𝛍𝐬 𝐑𝐠
𝐯𝐦𝐚𝐱 √𝛍𝐬 𝐑𝐠
This is the maximum safe speed of the car on a circular level road.

Example
A cyclist speeding at 18 km/h on a level road takes a sharp circular turn of
radius 3 m without reducing the speed. The co-efficient of static friction
between the tyres and the road is 0.1. Will the cyclist slip while taking the
turn ?
2
≤ μs R g

R = 3 m, g = 9.8 m s −2 , μs = 0.1.

μs R g = 2.94 m2 s−2
2
≤ 2.94 m2 s −2
Here v = 18 km/h = 5 m s−1
i.e., 2 = 25 m2 s −2

The condition is not obeyed. The cyclist will slip while taking the circular
turn.
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Motion of a car on a banked road

Raising the outer edge of a curved road above the inner edge is called
banking of curved roads.

Since there is no acceleration along the vertical direction, the net force
along this direction must be zero.
N cos θ mg +fs sin θ
N cos θ - fs sin θ =mg --------------(1)
The centripetal force is provided by the horizontal components of N andfs .
mv2
N sin θ + fs cos θ -------------(2)
R
Eqn 1 N cos θ − fs sin θ mg
----- = mv2
Eqn 2 N sin θ + fs cos θ
R
Dividing throughout by N cos θ
f
1 − Ns tan θ Rg
f =
tan θ + Ns v2

But , fs μs N for maximum speed

1 −μs tan θ Rg
=
tan θ + μs v2

2
Rg μs + tan θ
1 − μs tan θ
𝐑𝐠 𝛍𝐬 +𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉
𝐯𝐦𝐚𝐱 √ 𝟏 −𝛍𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉
This is the maximum safe speed of a vehicle on a banked Curved road.

If friction is absent, μs = 0
Then Optimum speed, 𝐯𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 = √𝐑𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉
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Example
A circular racetrack of ra dius 300 m is banked at an angle of 15°. If the
coefficient of friction between the wheels of a race-car and the road is 0.2,
what is the
(a) optimum speed of the racecar to avoid wear and tear on its tyres, and
(b) maximum permissible speed to avoid slipping ?

Seema Elizabeth
MARM GovtHSS Santhipuram(8126)