First Law of Motion

“An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the
same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”

3.0 N 4.0 N

Second Law of Motion

Once a force that acts on an object is unbalanced, it will accelerate and can be expressed as:

F=mass∗acceleration
F
A=
m

Conditions:

If mass increases, acceleration decreases.

Furthermore:

 Once a force that acts on an object is unbalanced, it will accelerate in the same direction as
the force.
 The acceleration of the object varies with its unbalanced force.
 The acceleration of the object varies inversely with its mass.

Sample Problem

1. If a 70kg skater acted upon by an unbalanced force of 161N (West), what is its acceleration?

A=? F = 161 N West

Solution:

F
A=
m
161 N West m
A= =2.3 2
70 kg s
2. A force of 360 N (East) was applied by a student on a box with a mass of 50 kg. What is the
acceleration of the box if a frictional force of 340 N acts in the opposite direction?

A=? F = 360 N East

340.0 N 50 kg 360.0 N

Computation:

If F net=20 N , then accelerationis :

20 N West m
A= =0.40 2
50 kg s
3. A 10 kg box is being pushed by an applied force and accelerates at 2.5 m/ s2 . What is the
applied force if a frictional force of 50N is acting in the opposite direction?

m F=?
A = 2.5 2
s
M = 10 kg

Computation:

Step 1:

F net=ma

( )
F net= (10 kg ) 2.5
m
s
2
=25 N

Step 2:

F net=F a + F f

25 N=F a + (−50 N )

25 N +50 N=F a

F a=75 N
 Model:

50.0 N 10 kg F a=?

Sample Problem:

1. What is the acceleration of a bowling bowl with a mass of 50 kg if a net force of 20 N is acting
on it?

A=? M = 50 kg
F = 20 N

Computation:

F
A=
m
20 N
A=
50 kg
m
A=0.4 2
s
m
2. What is the applied force needed on a 2.0 kg block of wood accelerating at 4 2 along a rough
s
table with a 10N force of friction acting in the opposite direction?
Step 1:

F net=ma

m
F net= ( 2kg ) (4 2
)
s
F net=8 N

Step 2:

8 N=F a + (−10 N )

8 N +10 N=F a

F a=18 N

Third Law of Motion

F escaping air =−F air−on−balloon

Sample Problem:

1. A force of 60 N (East) acts on a 20.0 kg and 10.0 kg blocks that are adjacent on a frictionless
surface. Determine the following:
a. Acceleration of blocks A and B
Formula:
F net
A=
m
Formula:
F net
A=
m
60 N (East)
A=
10 kg+20 kg
60 N (East )
A=
30 kg
m
A=2 2 East
s

b. Force exerted by block A on block B

F net=ma

(
F net= (10 kg ) 2
m
s
2 )
East =20 N

c. Force exerted by block B on block A

( m
F net= ( 20 kg ) 2 2 East =40 N
s )