Chapter 5: The Laws of Motion

𝒅𝒑
𝑭= 𝑭 = 𝒎. 𝒂
𝒅𝒕
The Laws of Motion

The description of an object in There was no consideration of what might

influence that motion.
Two main factors need to be addressed to answer questions about why the
motion of an object will change.
▪ Forces acting on the object
▪ The mass of the object
Basic laws of motion were discovered by Sir Isaac Newton

1642 – 1727
Force

Forces in everyday experience

▪ Push on an object to move it
▪ Throw or kick a ball
▪ May push on an object and not be able to move it
Forces are what cause any change in the velocity of an object.
▪ Newton’s definition: A force is that which causes an acceleration

𝑑 𝑝Ԧ
▪ Vector definition of force 𝐹Ԧ =
𝑑𝑡
Classes of Forces

Contact forces involve physical contact between two objects

▪ Examples a, b, c
Field forces act through empty space
▪ No physical contact is required
▪ Examples d, e, f
Fundamental Forces
Gravitational force
▪ Between objects
Electromagnetic forces
▪ Between electric charges
Nuclear force
▪ Between subatomic particles
Weak forces
▪ Arise in certain radioactive decay processes
Note: These are all field forces.
More About Forces

A spring can be used to calibrate

the magnitude of a force.

Doubling the force causes double

the reading on the spring.

When both forces are applied, the

reading is three times the initial
reading.
 Vector Nature of Forces

The forces are applied perpendicularly to each other.

The resultant (or net) force is the hypotenuse.
Forces are vectors, so you must use the rules for
vector addition to find the net force acting on an
object.
Newton’s First Law

If an object does not interact with other objects, it is possible to identify a reference frame in which the object
has zero acceleration.
▪ This is also called the law of inertia.
▪ It defines a special set of reference frames called inertial frames.
▪ We call this an inertial frame of reference.
Newton’s First Law – Alternative Statement

In the absence of external forces, when viewed from an inertial reference frame, an object at rest remains at
rest and an object in motion continues in motion with a constant velocity.
▪ Newton’s First Law describes what happens in the absence of a force.
▪ Does not describe zero net force

▪ Also tells us that when no force acts on an object, the acceleration of the object is zero
▪ Can conclude that any isolated object is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity
The First Law also allows the definition of force as that which causes a change in the motion of an
object.
Inertia and Mass
The tendency of an object to resist any attempt to change its velocity is
called inertia.
Mass is that property of an object that specifies how much resistance an
object exhibits to changes in its velocity.
Masses can be defined in terms of the accelerations produced by a given
force acting on them:
m1 a2

m2 a1

▪ The magnitude of the acceleration acting on an object is inversely

proportional to its mass.
Mass vs. Weight

Mass and weight are two different quantities.

Weight is equal to the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted on the object.
▪ Weight will vary with location.
Example:
▪ wearth = 180 lb; wmoon ~ 30 lb
▪ mearth = 2 kg; mmoon = 2 kg
Newton’s Second Law
When viewed from an inertial reference frame, the acceleration of an object is directly
proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
▪ Force is the cause of changes in motion, as measured by the acceleration.
▪ Remember, an object can have motion in the absence of forces.
▪ Do not interpret force as the cause of motion.
Algebraically,

a
 F
→  F = ma
m
▪ With a proportionality constant of 1 and speeds much lower than the speed of light.
Units of Force

The SI unit of force is the newton (N).

▪ 1 N = 1 kg·m / s2
The US Customary unit of force is a pound (lb).
▪ 1 lb = 1 slug·ft / s2
1 N ~ ¼ lb
Gravitational Force

The gravitational force, Fg , is the force that the earth exerts on an object.
This force is directed toward the center of the earth.
From Newton’s Second Law:
▪ Fg = mg
Its magnitude is called the weight of the object.
▪ Weight = Fg= mg
Newton’s Third Law
If two objects interact, the force F12 exerted by object 1 on object 2 is equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction to the force F21 exerted by object 2 on object
1.
▪ F12 = −F21
▪ Note on notation: FAB is the force exerted by A on B.
 Action-Reaction Examples, 1

The force F12 exerted by object 1 on object 2 is equal

in magnitude and opposite in direction to F exerted
21
by object 2 on object 1.
▪
F12 = −F21

Section 5.6
Action-Reaction Examples, 2
The normal force (table on monitor) is the reaction of
the force the monitor exerts on the table.
▪ Normal means perpendicular, in this case
The action (Earth on monitor) force is equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction to the reaction
force, the force the monitor exerts on the Earth.
The Particle in Equilibrium

If the acceleration of an object that can be modeled as a particle is zero, the object is said to be in
equilibrium.
▪ The model is the particle in equilibrium model.
Mathematically, the net force acting on the object is zero.

F = 0
 F = 0 and  F
x y =0
Equilibrium, Example

A lamp is suspended from a chain of negligible mass.

The forces acting on the lamp are:
▪ the downward force of gravity
▪ the upward tension in the chain
Applying equilibrium gives

F y = 0 → T − Fg = 0 → T = Fg
 Note About the Normal Force

The normal force is not always equal to the

gravitational force of the object.
For example, in this case
F y = n − Fg − F = 0
and n = mg + F

n may also be less than Fg

Equilibrium, Example 2

Example 5.4
Conceptualize the traffic light
▪ Assume cables don’t break
▪ Nothing is moving
Categorize as an equilibrium problem
▪ No movement, so acceleration is zero
▪ Model as a particle in equilibrium
Equilibrium, Example 2, cont.

Analyze
▪ Construct a diagram for the forces acting on the
light
▪ Construct a free body diagram for the knot
where the three cables are joined
▪ The knot is a convenient point to choose since all the
forces of interest act along lines passing through the knot.

▪ Apply equilibrium equations to the knot

Equilibrium, Example 2, final

Analyze, cont.
▪ Find T3 from applying equilibrium in the y-direction to the light
▪ Find T1 and T2 from applying equilibrium in the x- and y-directions to the knot
Finalize
▪ Think about different situations and see if the results are reasonable.

Section 5.7
Inclined Planes
Categorize as a particle under a net force since it
accelerates.
Forces acting on the object:
▪ The normal force acts perpendicular to the
plane.
▪ The gravitational force acts straight down.
Choose the coordinate system with x along the
incline and y perpendicular to the incline.
Replace the force of gravity with its components.
Apply the model of a particle under a net force to the
x-direction and a particle in equilibrium to the y-
direction.
Multiple Objects, Example – Atwood’s Machine
Forces acting on the objects:
▪ Tension (same for both objects, one string)
▪ Gravitational force
Each object has the same acceleration since they
are connected.
Draw the free-body diagrams
Apply Newton’s Laws
Solve for the unknown(s)
Multiple Objects, Example 2
Draw the free-body diagram for each object
▪ One cord, so tension is the same for both
objects
▪ Connected, so acceleration is the same for both
objects
Categorize as particles under a net force
Apply Newton’s Laws
Solve for the unknown(s)
Forces of Friction

When an object is in motion on a surface or through a viscous medium, there will be a resistance to the
motion.
▪ This is due to the interactions between the object and its environment.
This resistance is called the force of friction.
Forces of Friction, cont.

Friction is proportional to the normal force.

▪ ƒs  µs n and ƒk= µk n
▪ μ is the coefficient of friction
▪ These equations relate the magnitudes of the forces; they are not vector equations.
▪ For static friction, the equals sign is valid only at impeding motion, the surfaces are on the verge of
slipping.
▪ Use the inequality for static friction if the surfaces are not on the verge of slipping.
Forces of Friction, final
The coefficient of friction depends on the surfaces in contact.
The force of static friction is generally greater than the force of kinetic friction.
The direction of the frictional force is opposite the direction of motion and parallel to the surfaces in contact.
The coefficients of friction are nearly independent of the area of contact.
Static Friction

Static friction acts to keep the

object from moving.
As long as the object is not
moving, ƒs = F
If F increases, so does ƒs
If F decreases, so does ƒs
ƒs  µs n
▪ Remember, the equality holds
when the surfaces are on the
verge of slipping.
Kinetic Friction

The force of kinetic friction acts when the object is in

motion.
Although µk can vary with speed, we shall neglect
any such variations.
ƒk = µk n
 Explore Forces of Friction

Vary the applied force

Note the value of the frictional force
▪ Compare the values
Note what happens when the can starts to move

Section 5.8
Some Coefficients of Friction
Friction in Newton’s Laws Problems
Friction is a force, so it simply is included in the  F in Newton’s Laws.
The rules of friction allow you to determine the direction and magnitude of
the force of friction.
Friction Example, 1
The block is sliding down the plane, so friction acts
up the plane.
This setup can be used to experimentally determine
the coefficient of friction.
µ = tan q
▪ For µs, use the angle where the block just slips.
▪ For µk, use the angle where the block slides
down at a constant speed.
Friction, Example 2

Draw the free-body diagram, including

the force of kinetic friction.
▪ Opposes the motion
▪ Is parallel to the surfaces in
contact
Continue with the solution as with any
Newton’s Law problem.
This example gives information about
the motion which can be used to find
the acceleration to use in Newton’s
Laws.
Friction, Example 3

Friction acts only on the object in contact with another surface.

Draw the free-body diagrams.
Apply Newton’s Laws as in any other multiple object system problem.
Analysis Model Summary

Particle under a net force

▪ If a particle experiences a non-zero net force, its acceleration is related to the force by Newton’s Second
Law.
▪ May also include using a particle under constant acceleration model to relate force and kinematic
information.
Particle in equilibrium
▪ If a particle maintains a constant velocity (including a value of zero), the forces on the particle balance
and Newton’s Second Law becomes.

F = 0