Physics A Unit 4 Equilibrium Forces

This unit will begin your study of Newton’s Laws of Motion. Parts of the first two laws
were already known and parts were first proposed by Newton. His contributions were
revolutionary leaps forward concerning our understanding of the universe. In this unit
you will concentrate on the first law of motion. There are obvious short-cuts in this unit
that will almost guarantee an A on this test and an F on the next two tests. Do things the
way this unit suggests and later units will have more continuity; you will have less stress
and suffering. Before taking the test on Unit 4 you should be familiar with all of the
areas outlined below:

I. Mass

II. Forces Defined

A. Weight

B. Tension

C. Normal

D. Friction

III. Newton’s First Law of Motion

A. Condition required for this law

B. Resulting types of motion

This unit should take about six days to cover. The first day will consider mass and
weight. Day two will investigate the tension force. Day three will explore the method
for finding the normal force. Day four will analyze the force of friction. Day five is
small group work with practice and review. Day six is test day.

Newton’s First Law of Motion

If balanced forces act upon an object the object must either
1) remain at rest or
2) move with constant speed along a straight line

The reverse statement is also true. When you see an object with either type of motion
then it has balanced forces acting on it.
Lesson 1-17 Weight and Mass
Your physics course up to this point has looked at different ways that an object can
move. You will now turn your attention away from “how things move” and focus on
“what makes them move”. To begin you must recognize the definition of force. A force
is defined to be a push or pull. The symbol for force is “F”, a vector quantity. Forces are
measured in Kg times meters per second squared which has the name of Newtons. 1 N =
1 Kg∗m / s2. The first half of this unit will introduce four specific types of forces and
Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion. The second half of this unit will use the introduced
forces to look at Newton’s 2nd and 3rd Law of Motion.First Law of Motion
When the forces acting upon an object are balanced then an object will
a) remain at rest or b) move along a straight line at constant speed.

If you see an object sitting still or moving in a straight line at constant speed you should
realize that the forces acting on it will add to zero in every direction.
Σ Fx = 0 Σ Fy = 0 Σ Fz = 0
The above conditions can be used to get as many as three equations for three unknowns.
First year physics usually uses only the first two conditions. You will now look at four
special forces that show up in the two equations.

Weight
The force known as weight is a measure of how strong an object is gravitationally
attracted to another. For several weeks you will specifically consider how hard the earth
is pulling an object toward the center of the planet. The weight of an object will always
be shown on a free-body diagram as an arrow drawn down from the center of an object.
Consider the following examples:
A 40 Newton object A 50 N object on a
resting on a flat surface 37° inclined plane

40 N

50N 37°(

When an object is placed on an inclined plane

you should always break the weight into a
part that is parallel to the surface and a part
that is perpendicular to the surface using the
identities below: W⊥= 40N W|| = 30N

W⊥ = Wcos θ W|| = Wsin θ

You should recognize that the two parts of the weight on an inclined plane are the
opposite and adjacent sides of a triangle with the total weight being the hypotenuse.
 Often times in a physics problem either the weight or the mass of an object will be
stated as a mere adjective in a problem. You may read something like “A 50 N object is
…” or “A 5 Kg object is …”. As soon as either weight
or mass is given you should know the other value by W = mg
default. The relation between weight and mass is given
in the box to the right. At the surface of the earth weight
has a value of ten times an object’s mass. If the same object is taken from the surface of
the earth to the surface of the moon then the weight will have a different value. The
value of an object’s mass cannot change without adding to or taking a way from the
object. A 50 N object on the surface of the earth has a mass of 5 Kg. The same object
taken to the surface of the moon would weigh 8.3 N with a mass of 5 Kg. To sum up the
concept realize that mass is universal while weight depends upon how much gravitational
acceleration exists from point to point in space.
This leads to one final question, “What is mass?” Perhaps one of the most
misunderstood ideas in physics. Mass is the measure of an object’s inertia or resistance
to change in motion. The more mass or inertia an object has the more difficult it will be
to speed up, slow down or curve the object. Mass allows things at rest to remain at rest
and things in motion to remain in motion. Why is it that you can throw a baseball easier
than you can throw a bowling ball? It is also obvious from the previous equation that the
more inertia an object has the more it will be attracted to the center of a planet. Why?
Checkpoints for this Lesson

Write Newton’s 1st Law of motion and demonstrate both conditions with appropriate
examples.

Draw the weight vector on a free-body diagram and break the weight into parts for
objects on inclined planes.

Given weight or mass of an object determine the mass or weight of the object.

Explain the physical significance of mass as it is related to inertial properties.

Compare and contrast weight and mass.
Practice Problems
For each of the following determine the weight of the object parallel to the surface, the
weight of the object perpendicular to the surface and draw the free-body diagram.
1. A 26 Kg object is placed on a 22.6° inclined plane.
2. A 34 Kg object is placed on a 28.1° inclined plane.
3. A 34 Kg object is placed on a 61.9° inclined plane.
4. A 100 N object is placed on a 16.3° inclined plane.
5. A 100 N object is placed on a 36.9° inclined plane.

Total Parallel Perpendicular

Weight Weight Weight
1 260 N 100 N 240 N
2 340 N 160 N 300 N
3 340 N 300 N 160 N
4 100 N 28 N 96 N
5 100 N 60 N 80 N
Lesson 1-18 Tension*
Tension is a force associated with a pull due to a string, cable, chain, cord, rope etc.
Only when tension is associated with a rod can there be a push as well as a pull. For
lightweight strings, cables, etc. tension is equal in value at opposite ends. Consider the
tension in the lightweight strings for the four examples below:
A) ////////////////////// B)

100 N

A 100 N object hangs

from a ceiling. 36.9°

A 100 N object rests on a frictionless incline.

A cable runs from the object, parallel to the
incline and attaches to a vertical wall.

C) A 10 Kg object is suspended from a ceiling by three cables. Find the tension in

each of the three numbered cables.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
16.3°

#2

#3
#1

10 Kg
D) Find the tension in each of the two numbered cables in the figure below.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
53.1° 28.1°

#1 #2

56 Kg

*
Tension is also a 19th century expression for voltage as in a “high-tension wire”.
For the previous examples set up your equations according to the following method.
a) {What pulls up?} − {What pulls down?} = {Does it Accelerate?}
where the last question tells you to put zero if no and “ma” if yes.
b) {What pulls right?} − {What pulls left?} = {Does it accelerate?}
You should always sum the force parallel and perpendicular to the surface if possible.
Solutions to Example Problems:
A) Σ Fy = T – 100 N = 0 ∴T = 100 N.

B) Σ F|| = T – 100sin(36.9°) = 0 ∴T = 60 N

C) From the first example you should see that T1 is equivalent to the object’s weight.
You can get two equations to solve for two unknowns by realizing that the forces
acting on the knot will sum to zero.
Σ Fy = T2 sin(16.3) – 100 N = 0 Σ Fx = T3 – T2 cos(16.3) = 0
T2 = 356 N T3 = 342 N
D) Again sum the forces acting on the junction of ropes for two equations/unknowns.
ΣFx = T2cos (28.1) – T1cos(53.1) = 0 ΣFy = T1sin(53.1) + T2sin(28.1) – 560 = 0
Using any of the three methods from last week gives T1 = 500 N and T2 = 340 N.
I think that the matrix method is the easiest here.
Practice Problems: Find tensions in each of the following designated problems.
6. 7.
37.4° 36.9° 61.9°
#1
#2 #1 #2

13 Kg
105 Kg

8. 12.7° 9.
49.4° 53.1°
#2
#1
#1 #2

18 Kg 30 Kg

Answers T1 T2
6 214 N 170 N
7 500 N 850 N
8 800 N 820 N
9 184 N 200 N
Lesson 1-19 Normal Force
This force will show up in a free-body diagram anytime that an object is in contact
with a surface. The normal force represents how hard the surface pushes on an object.
The direction of the force is always drawn from the contact surface through the object
and is perpendicular to the surface. In math books the direction perpendicular to the
surface is known as the “normal” direction. The normal force, like tension, does not have
a standard formula and is determined using the same method as in the previous lesson.
Consider the following ten examples. A 20 Kg block is used in every case. In some
instances an applied force of 100 N is present. This applied force is due to a hand
pushing on the block. Where necessary an angle of θ = 30°° is used.
A) B) C)
Fap Fap

20 Kg 20 Kg 20 Kg

A 20 Kg block rests on a An applied force of 100N An applied force of 100N

flat surface. lifts up on the block. pushes down on the block.

D) E)

30°
Fap Fap
30°

20 Kg 20 Kg

An applied force of 100 N An applied force of 100 N

acts at 30° below the horizontal. acts at 30° above the horizontal.
(Lawnmower & shopping cart) (Wagons & snow sleds)

The following five examples occur on a 30° inclined plane. Consider only forces ⊥ to the
inclined surface. Don’t ask about the parallel forces until tomorrow!
F) G) H)
A 20 Kg block rests An applied force of 100 N An applied force of 100 N
on the incline. pushes parallel & up the plane. pushes parallel & down…

Fap

Fap

30°
30° 30°
The previous two examples demonstrated applied forces that are parallel to the inclined
plane. The next two examples have applied forces that are parallel to the ground.

I) An applied force of 100 N parallel to the J) An applied force of 100 N parallel to

ground pushes the block into the incline. the ground pulls the block away from
the incline.

Fap
Fap

30° 30°

Answers
A) 200 N B) 100 N C) 300 N D) 250 N E) 150 N
F) 173 N G) 173 N H) 173 N I) 223 N J) 123 N

Checkpoints for the previous two lessons:

Recognize that tension will be an appropriate force if cables, cords etc are involved.

Use the conditions from Newton’s 1st Law to determine the value for the tension in a
system of strings if the mass is suspended at rest.

Recognize that the normal force will be involved only if an object comes in contact
with a surface and that the normal force is drawn from the surface through the object.

Use the conditions from Newton’s 1st Law to determine the value of the normal force
on an object.

Draw a free-body diagram incorporating weight, tension, applied forces and/or
normal forces when appropriate.
Lesson 1-20 Friction
The force of friction is due to two surfaces interacting parallel to the surface rather
than perpendicular to the surface. Friction occurs for two surfaces when the surfaces are
at rest, when one surface is sliding over the other surface and when one surface is rolling
over the other surface. These different situations are known as static friction, kinetic
friction and rolling friction. Since rotational mechanics is not covered in this course we
can dispense with the last form. The first two types of friction are similar. They are
determined by the normal force and the roughness of the surfaces. To indicate the
roughness of the surface requires a measurement of the coefficient of friction, µ. Mu
ranges from 0 (frictionless) to 1 (very rough). In most instances the static measurement,
µS, yields a value higher than the kinetic measurement, µK. You may have noticed that it
is easier to keep something sliding than it is to get it started sliding.
Static Friction Kinetic Friction
Ff ≤ µSn Ff = µKn Except for lab we will ignore the “less
than” condition for static friction.
Ff = µn Practice Problems with Friction

1. A 10 Kg box is placed on a level surface.

A 50 N applied force acts horizontally on
the box to move it at constant speed. 10 Kg Fap = 50 N
Find the value for the normal force, the
kinetic coefficient of friction and the force
of friction acting on the box.

2. A 26 Kg block is placed on a level surface. 22.6°

An applied force of 260 N at 22.6° below Fap= 260N
the horizontal moves the block at constant
speed. Find the normal force, the force of 26 Kg
friction and the kinetic coefficient of friction.

3. An 83.33 kg crate is placed on a level sur-

face. An applied force of 500 N at 36.9° 36.9°
above the horizontal moves the block at
constant speed across the floor. Find the
normal force, force of friction and the 83.33 Kg
coefficient of friction.

4. A 10 Kg box placed at the top of a 38.66°

inclined plane slides slowly down the
incline at constant speed. Find the normal
force, the friction force and the coefficient
of kinetic friction between box and incline. 38.66°

5. A 30 Kg block is placed at the bottom of a 60° incline. The coefficient of kinetic

friction between block and incline is 5/6. How much force must be applied on the
block parallel to the incline in order to move the block up the ramp at constant speed?
First find the normal force and force of friction .
n= _____ Ff = ______ Fap= ______

Fap?

60°
6. A force Fap is used to move a 42 Kg crate
down a 19.5° incline at constant speed.
The applied force acts parallel to the incline
and down the ramp. The coefficient of
friction is 6/7. Find the normal force, the Fap
force of friction and the applied force needed
to move the crate down at constant speed. 19.5°

7. A 595 Kg block is placed at the top of a Ff

61.9° ramp. A force of 2949 N pushes
on the block parallel to the ground and Fap= 2949N
into the ramp. This allows the block to
slide down the incline at constant speed.
Find the normal force, force of friction
and the coefficient of friction between 61.9°
block and surface.

8. A 4654 N object is moved up a 26.5° in- Ff

clined plane at constant speed by means
of a horizontal applied force of 8123 N. 8123 N
Find the normal force, the force of friction
and the coefficient of friction between
object and surface.
26.5°

Answers
1 100 N 50 N 1/2
2 360 N 240 N 2/3
3 533 N 400 N 3/4
4 78.1 N 62.5 N 4/5
5 150 N 125 N 385 N
6 396 N 339 N 199 N
7 5404N 3860 N 5/7
8 7789N 5192 N 2/3

Final Checkpoints

Describe the relationship among friction forces, normal forces and mu.

Compare and contrast the static and kinetic coefficients of friction.

Compare and contrast the static and kinetic forces of friction.

Draw a free-body diagram including the force of friction.

Use Newton’s 1st Law to calculate force with friction.
Physics Practice Test 104 A Name ________________________
2
Use g= -10 m/s
A 6 Kg object is hung as shown in the A 6.8 Kg block is placed on a level
diagram below. The string labeled as #3 surface. An applied force of 249 N at 45°
forms a 50.2° angle with the horizontal. below the horizontal moves the block at
constant speed.

50.2° 45°
Fap= 249 N
#3

#1

#2
4. The coefficient of kinetic friction is
M a) 0.16
b) 0.30
c) 0.44
1. The tension in line #1 is ___ N. d) 0.58
a) 50 e) 0.72
b) 60 5. The normal force is ___N.
c) 70 a) 164
d) 80 b) 204
e) 90 c) 244
2. The tension in line #2 is ___ N. d) 284
a) 30 e) 324
b) 40 6. The force of friction is ____N.
c) 50 a) 35.8
d) 60 b) 61.2
e) 70 c) 95.1
3. The tension in line #3 is ___ N. d) 125
a) 67.5 e) 176
b) 78.1 7. To move the block sideways at
c) 89.4 constant speed over the same surface
d) 94.9 requires a horizontal applied force of
e) 106.3 ___ Newtons.
a) 25
b) 32
c) 40
d) 49
e) 59
Test 104A (continued) An unknown mass is hanging in the figure
below. The tension in cable #3 is 361.2N.
A 24 kg block is placed on a 22° inclined Cable #3 forms an angle of 41.6° with the
plane. A 219 N applied force parallel to horizontal. Cable #2 forms an angle of
the surface of the incline moves the block 64.3° with the horizontal.
up at constant speed.
Fap 64.3° 41.6°
#2 #3

22° M?

8. The normal force acting on the block 12. The unknown mass is ___ Kg.
is ___ N. a) 50 d) 80
a) 90.1 b) 60 e) 90
b) 125.9 c) 70
c) 206.3 13. The tension in cable #2 is ___ N.
d) 222.5 a) 241
e) 448.0 b) 354
9. The coefficient of friction between c) 469
block and incline is ___. d) 506
a) 0.23 e) 622
b) 0.42 14. The horizontal component of the
c) 0.58 tension in cable #3 is ___ N.
d) 0.70 a) 180
e) 0.85 b) 210
10. The force of friction is ___ N. c) 240
a) 63.1 d) 270
b) 107.1 e) 300
c) 129.1 15. The vertical part of the tension in
d) 175.4 cable #3 is ___ N.
e) 188.2 a) 140 d) 440
11. To move the block down the incline at b) 240 e) 540
constant speed would require a force c) 340
of ___ N parallel to the incline. 16. Tension in the vertical cable is ___N.
a) 13.2 a) 500
b) 25.5 b) 600
c) 39.2 c) 700
d) 52.6 d) 800
e) 68.2 e) 900
Test 104 A (continued)
Answers
A 26 kg box is lowered from the top of an 1. A
inclined plane. The incline has been 2. D
raised 67.4° from the horizontal. An 3. B
applied force of 173.3 N parallel to the 4. E
ground and toward the incline acts to 5. C
lower the box at constant speed. 6. E
7. D
8. D
9. C
Fap 10. C
11. C
12. D
67.4° 13. E
14. D
17. The force of friction acting on the 15. B
block is about ___ N. 16. D
a) 100 17. C
b) 148 18. D
c) 173 19. D
d) 182 20. C
e) 190
18. The normal force acting on the block
is about ___N.
a) 200
b) 220
c) 240
d) 260
e) 280
19. The part of the applied force parallel
to the incline is ___ N.
a) 50
b) 58
c) 60
d) 67
e) 96
20. The kinetic coefficient of friction is
a) 0.37
b) 0.50
c) 0.67
d) 0.76
e) 0.86