Lecture 5:

Newton’s second law: Part 2

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2nd law: In an inertial frame of reference, the vector sum of the forces F on an
object is equal to the mass m of that object multiplied by the acceleration a of
the object.

ΣF=ma

inertial frame of reference ≡ frame of reference where

Newton’s laws apply.

(can be verified by experiments)

In most cases, if something is at rest or moving at a constant velocity relative to the ground,
and is without rotation, then it can be taken (roughly) as an inertial frame of reference.
(No acceleration!)

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Inertial vs. non-Inertial frame of reference

acceleration
a

N
Lift
Observer
y

mg
Ground x

Observer on ground
• inertial frame (assuming ground is not accelerating…)
• Newton’s 2nd law applies
ΣF = N – mg = ma
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Inertial vs. non-Inertial frame of reference

acceleration
a

y’

x’
Observer
You can feel (measure) the inertial force!
(when your elevator starts to move)

F’
Observer inside lift (accelerates with lift during motion)
• non-inertial frame, since frame is under acceleration
• must account for an “inertial” or “pseudo” force (F’) before
applying Newton’s 2nd law to describe motion
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Example 1: Non-inertial frame of reference (accelerating lift)

You are in a lift starting to move up with an

acceleration a (relative to the ground).

1. Find the normal force the lift exerts on you.

2. Evaluate Newton’s second law in frame of lift
a
1. ΣF = N – mg = ma N = mg + ma
N
y’ 2. You are at rest relative to the lift:

y v’ = 0 , a’ = 0
x’
But from above, ΣF ≠ 0
x
mg à this means ΣF ≠ ma’

Does this mean Newton’s 2nd law is violated? 54

Example 1: How to Make it Work?
We know that our non-inertial frame of reference has
an acceleration a with respect to the ground.

Now add a “fictitious” force F’ = – ma

a y’ ΣF = N – mg + F’

x’
= mg + ma - mg - ma
N
2. = 0 = ma’
y
The F’ is called the inertial or pseudo force.
It makes Newton’s laws work in a non-
F’ x inertial frame of reference.
mg
You feel this force when you are inside an
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accelerating lift (pushing you down)!
 Example 2
A small weight of mass m hangs from a string inside an
accelerating car, what happens to the mass?

It will move backwards, as if there is a force pushing it back

Net force causes car to accelerate (towards centre of curvature)

Inertial frame (ground) Non-inertial frame (inside car)

Note: by accounting for inertial forces in non-inertial frame, we can

solve various mechanics problems. 56
Example 3: Centripetal force
From last lecture, we solve this problem in Earth’s frame…

Net force causes car to accelerate (towards centre of curvature)

We can also solve this problem in the car’s frame (imagine you are sitting inside car)
à just need to account for centrifugal force (an inertial or pseudo force)
mg

centrifugal force

N
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Extended Case: Rotating Frame of Reference
North Pole

#!

North Pole North Pole

centrifugal
force Coriolis
force
inertial forces

For an object with a

“constant velocity” a = −#$# %$ + &'% $%&
• The Earth is not strictly an inertial frame of reference due to rotation!
(need to consider inertial forces)

• In many cases, the rotation of Earth is negligible. For our convenience, we

can then treat it as an inertial frame of reference.
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Linear Momentum
a
Push force = F

%P %:
A A

CO CO

Extra note: mass not always constant! (e.g. rockets)

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Linear momentum and impulse

/'
Newton’s second law: Σ - = /0 = / /5
5! 5! 5!
$*
Integrate over time: 1 Σ-$% = / 1 $% = / 1 $*
5$ 5$ $% 5$

= /(*J − *K )

principle of linear impulse and momentum

5!
2 ≡ 1 Σ-$% (linear impulse) 4 ≡ /* (linear momentum)
5$
2 = ∆4 SI unit: MN !/#

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Key Points on Newton’s 2nd law:

• F = ma
(more formally: Net force = change in linear momentum)

• Only valid for inertial frame of reference.

• If dealing with non-inertial frame of reference, must consider

inertial forces (e.g. centrifugal force acting on a rotating
object)

• The Earth is not strictly an inertial frame of reference due to

rotation, but close enough for most engineering problems!
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