Physics 1M Practice 3

Noam’s version
June 18, 2024

1 Newton’s Laws
In this practice, we will solve problems concerning the theory of motion. We will go over a few examples of forces
and learn what sort of motion they cause, and how to derive the motion.

1.1 Formulas
1. Newton’s Laws:
P→−
(a) Mechanical equilibrium: if F = 0, then →−
v = const, or →
−
a = 0.
P→ −
(b) Force causes motion: d
F = dt (m→
−
v ) = m→−a (assuming m = const)
→
− →
−
(c) All forces are symmetric: F 1→2 = − F 2→1
2. Solutions to common differential equations: We want to find x (t) out of a differential equation:
ODE Parameters general solution x (t) free constants
β
ẋ + αx = β α, β Ce−αt + α C
ẍ + αẋ = 0 α − Cα1 e−αt + C2 C1 , C2
ẍ + ω 2 x = 0 ω>0 A cos
R ωt + B sin ωt or RC sin (ωt + φ0 ) A, B, C, φ0
0 0
f (x) ẋ = g (t) f, g x=x(t)
f (x ) dx = g (t) dt + C C

3. Examples of forces:
(a) Normal force cancels any force going into a surface
(b) Tension prevents the string from being stretched
(c) Friction: fs ≤ µs N , fk = µk N . It acts against motion relative to whatever applies the friction.
→
−
(d) Gravity: F g = m→ −g
→
−
(e) Viscosity: F = −γ → −v . It acts against motion relative to the medium.
→
−
(f) Elastic force: F el = −k∆→
−
x

4. “0 at infinity”: code-name for limW →∞ for a variable W (usually t or x).

5. Reminders:
• [ab] = [a] [b]
• for ex , [x] = 1
Rt
• x (t) = t0 vx (t0 ) dt0 + vx (t0 )

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1.2 Ex. 1
A boat with mass m departs from the beach in a constant velocity
v0 . At t = t0 > 0, the engines are shut off and the boat only feels
→
−
the friction with the water, which follows F = −γ →−
v . At t = t0 , the
boat is at distance R0 from the beach. You can assume 1D movement
perpendicular from the beach.

1. What are the dimensions of γ?

2. What are the forces acting on the boat from time t = 0 up to the motor shut-off?
3. Write the equation of motion of the boat after shutting off the motors
4. Is v (t) = Ct + A a possible solution for for the motion during t < t0 ? If so, what are the restrictions on A, C?
5. Is v (t) = Ae−α(t−t0 ) a solution for the motion during t > t0 ? If so, what are the units of α?
6. Find the value of A from the initial conditions.
7. Find the position of the boat as a function of time for t > t0
8. Will the boat ever stop? If so, how far will it be from the beach when it happens?

1.2.1 Solution
1. To get the units of γ, we can use the equation that defines it:
h→
−i
F = [−γ → −v]

[F ] = [γ] [v]
LM L
= [γ]
T2 T

M
[γ] =
T

2. Ignoring the vertical forces, we know that the motors are active, and that the
water friction is still there. From Newton’s first law, due to constant velocity,
the two forces must be equal and opposite to sum to 0. We can write

Fmotor = −Fwater = γv
This is also displayed nicely in the graph.
3. Using Newton’s second law, and knowing that the only force is the water friction, we can write
X
mv̇ = ma = F = Fwater = −γv

mv̇ = −γv

4. To truly resolve this problem, the best way is to compare the solution for the velocity to what we already
know about the velocity. During t < t0 , we want:
!
v (t) = v0 = Ct + A
It may feel hopeless since this is one equation with two unknowns, but here we learn a useful strategy: since
t is a variable of the motion, and the equation needs to be true for all t, we can split the equation into two
based on the t parameter next to it. We get two equations in our case:
 0
t : v0 = A
t1 : 0 = C
We immediately get the solution. We learn that Ct + A is a solution if and only if A = v0 and C = 0.

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 5. At t > t0 , we need to check our equation against the ODE. For this, we need the derivative:
d  −α(t−t0 ) 
Ae = −αAe−α(t−t0 )
dt

mv̇ = −γv ⇒ −mα Ae 

−α(t−t 0)
= −γAe 
−α(t−t 0)

γ
α=
m
The equations match up, therefore the proposal is a possible solution for the motion, if α = m.
γ
In addition,
from the inside of the exponent, we get
[−α (t − t0 )] = 1
[α] [t] = 1

1 1
[α] = =
T s

6. To truly prove this is a possible solution, we also need to match the other requirement: the initial condition.
In our case, we expect

e−α(t0 −t0 )

v (t0 ) = v0 = A 
meaning

A = v0

7. To get the position, we integrate the velocity:

Z t Z t
0
x (t > t0 ) = x (t0 ) + v (t0 ) dt0 = R0 + v0 e−α(t −t0 ) dt0
| {z } t0 t0
R0

v0 −α(t0 −t0 ) t v0 m  − γ (t−t0 ) 

= R0 − e = R0 − e m −1
α t0 γ

8. The base question we ask is when the velocity reaches 0, then find the position at this point in time.
γ
0 = v (ts ) = v0 e− m (ts −t0 ) > 0

the equation is always positive, so there is no time we measure where the boat is not moving. However, the
velocity of the boat is constantly approaching 0:
γ
lim v (t) = lim v0 e− m (t−t0 ) = 0
t→∞ t→∞

We call this “stopping at infninity”, but all it really means is that the limit of the velocity is 0. The discussion
on the velocity is more philosophical, but this does have real implications on other values like the position:
 
v0 m  − γ (t−t0 )
lim x (t) = lim R0 − e m −1
t→∞ t→∞ γ

v0 m v0 m
= R0 − (−1) = R0 +
γ γ

1.2.2 Pitfalls
This concept of “infinity” is weird and takes a bit of getting used to. In physics we keep it since we are often
interested in the behavior of a system after a very long time.

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1.3 Ex. 2
Two bodies, m1 , m2 , are bound by a massless string around a frictionless, massless
pulley. The bodies are affected by gravity. However, m2 is also in a both with a
→
−
viscous liquid applying friction f = −γ →−v , where γ is a constant and → −v is the
body’s current velocity. Ignore buoyancy forces.
1. Write the motion equations of both bodies

2. Find the velocity of the second body given that v2 (0) = v0

3. Find the velocity of the second body “at infinity”, v2 (t → ∞), when the
system is in steady state.

1.3.1 Solution
1. Respecting the given y axis, and from Newton’s second law:

m1 ÿ1 = T − m1 g
m2 ÿ2 = T − m2 g − γ ẏ2

Where T is tension. Notice how here we are also only require 1 dimension to solve the problem, so no vector
notations.
There can be some confusion about the direction of the friction, so let’s build it step by step. In vector form,
which doesn’t care about axes:
→
− →
−
m2 →
−a 2 = T + m2 → −
g + f
→
− − → →
−
then from how we draw T , →g ,−a 2 and the definition of f :

m2 ÿ2 ŷ = T ŷ − m2 g ŷ − γ →
−
v

and finally, unpacking the velocity element:

m2 ÿ2 ŷ = T ŷ − m2 g ŷ − γ ẏ2 ŷ

basically, here since the velocity of the object initially points downwards, this takes care of the other negative
sign, which ultimately gives a +ŷ contribution, which matches with our intuition.
2. We need to solve our system of equations to find v2 (t). This requires us a few more hidden details. Tension,
in particular, requires the string to constantly be stretched. Since it has constant length:

y1 − y2 = const

ẏ1 = −ẏ2 , ÿ1 = −ÿ2

We can then rewrite the system in terms of y2 alone and remove the unknown tension:

−m1 ÿ2 = T − m1 g
m2 ÿ2 = T − m2 g − γ ẏ2

(m2 + m1 ) ÿ2 = (m1 − m2 ) g − γ ẏ2

|{z} |{z}
v̇2 v2

γ m1 − m2
v̇2 + v2 = g
m1 + m2 m1 + m2

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 This is an ODE with a known solution: α = γ
m1 +m2 , β = m1 −m2
m1 +m2 g. Using the solution of the first ODE in the
table, we get
β
v2 (t) = Ce−αt +
α
and using our initial condition:
β
v2 (0) = v0 = C +
α
β
C = v0 −
α
 
β β
v2 (t) = v0 − e−αt +
α α

3. There are two approaches to solve this problem:

(a) If you have an equation, substitution is always the easy approach:
β m1 − m2
lim v2 (t) = = g
t→∞ α γ
(b) If you don’t have an equation, you can use the clue that the system is expected to have a constant
velocity:
v̇2 (t → ∞) = 0
Putting this in our ODE, we can remove the differential part:
γ m1 − m2
v2 = (g
m1(+ m2
( ( ( m1(+(m
( 2

m1 − m2
v2 = g
γ
and get the same result!

1.3.2 Pitfalls
First, using letters makes life easy. I often get confused and make typing errors when I have to write a lot, so using
letters to make the writing short, concise, and understandable can really help. You can always substitute at the
very end. Finally, when it comes to steady state, if you have an equation, opt to use the limit approach to solve
the problem, but if the differential equation is hard to solve, just use the “steady state” approach and skip solving
the ODE. That way you can avoid solving ODEs that might not have a nice solution.