Foundation physics

(pyc101)lesson
Force
A force is anything that can cause a change to objects. Forces can:
i. Change the shape of an object
ii. Move or stop an object
iii. Change the direction
 TYPES OF FORCES

A force can be classified as either a contact or non-contact force.

• A contact force must touch or be in contact with an object to cause a
change. Examples of contact forces are:
i. The force that is used to pull or push things, like on a door to open
or close it.
ii. The force of the wind to turn a windmill
• A non-contact force does not have to touch an object to cause a
change. Examples of non-contact forces are:
i. The force due to gravity
ii. The force due to magnetism, like a magnet pulling a paper clip
toward itself.
iii. The Newton (N) is the SI unit of force. One Newton (1 N) is the
resultant force which will give a one kilogram (1 kg) mass an
acceleration of one meter per second squared (1 m/s2).
 Newton’s laws of motion
Newton’s first law of motion
• An object moves with a velocity that is constant in magnitude and
direction unless a non-zero force acts on it, or an object has no net
force acting on it, the object either remains at rest or continues
moving in a straight line with constant speed is known as newtons
first law of motion.
Relationship between Mass and inertia

• Inertia is the tendency of an object to continue its motion an example

is the seat belt mechanism.
• Mass is a measure of the object`s resistance to changes in its motion
due to a force, the object with a larger mass is accelerated less, thus
implying that acceleration is inversely proportional to mass.
Newton’s second law of motion

• The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force

acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.it is significant to
note that the acceleration and force of an object have the same
direction
• Mathematically it can be expressed as; σ 𝑭=m𝒂
• In component form, the same equation can be written as follows;
• σ 𝐹𝑥 =m𝑎𝑥 ,σ 𝐹𝑦 =m𝑎𝑦 , σ 𝐹𝑧 =m𝑎𝑧 .
• Note that
• When there is no net force on an object, its acceleration is zero,
which means that the velocity remains constant.
Newton’s third law of motion (Action and Reaction
law)
• For each force exerted on one body (object), there is an equal but
oppositely directed force on some other body interacting with it. This
is what is referred to as the law of Action and Reaction (Newton’s
third law of motion).
• It is important to note that the Action and Reaction forces act on
different bodies(objects).
 Examples of forces in Physics

1. Weight (W)
• The weight of an object is the gravitational force acting downward on
an object.
2. Tensile Force (T)
• The tensile force acting on a string is the applied force tending to
stretch it. The magnitude of the tensile force is the tension.
3. Normal Force (FN)
• The normal force on an object that is being supported by a surface is
the component of the supporting force that is perpendicular to the
surface.
4. Friction (Ff)
• The frictional force is force acting on an object that opposes the
moving or sliding of that object on an adjacent surface with which it is
in contact.
• The friction force is parallel to the surface and opposite to the
direction of motion.
• Only when the applied force exceeds the maximum static friction
force will an object begin to slide.
Static and Kinetic Friction

• Consider the figure below of weight, W = mg which rests on a table.

The block exerts a force W on the table. The table also exerts a force
FN (normal force) equal and opposite to W.
 FN FN

Fs F Fk F

W W
• If we apply an external horizontal force F to the block, acting to the
right, the block remains stationary if F is small.
• The force that counteracts F and keeps the block from moving acts to
the left and is called the force of static friction Fs.
• If we increase the magnitude of F, the block eventually moves.
• When the block is on the verge of sliding, Fs has its maximum value
Fsmax.
• When F exceeds Fsmax, the block moves and accelerates to the right.
• When the block is in motion, the friction force is less than Fsmax.
• We call the force for an object in motion the force of kinetic friction,
Fk.
• The net force Fnet = F – Fk in the x – direction produces acceleration to
the right according to Newton’s second law.
 Coefficient of Static Friction (µs) and Kinetic Friction
(µk)
• The coefficient of static friction (µs) is defined for the case in which
one surface is just on the verge of sliding across another surface. It is:

maximum friction force F f (max)

s = =
normal force FN

• where the maximum friction force occurs when the object is just on
the verge of slipping but is nonetheless at rest.
• The coefficient of kinetic friction (µk) is defined for the case in which
one surface is sliding across another surface at constant speed. It is:
Applications On The First ,Second And Third Law Of
Motion
1. An airboat with mass of 3.50× 102 Kg, including the passenger, has
an engine that produces a net horizontal force of 7.70 × 102 N, after
accounting for forces of resistance.
a) Find the acceleration of the airboat.
b) Starting from rest, how long does it take the airboat to reach a
speed of 12.0 m\s.
c) After reaching that speed, the Pilot turns off the engine and Drifts
to a stop over a distance of 50.0 m find the resistance force,
assuming is constant.
2. A 10 kg box is placed on a table. A horizontal force of 32 N is applied
to the box to the right. A frictional force of 7 N is present between the
surface and the box. Calculate the acceleration of the box.
3. A man is pulling a 20 kg box with a rope that makes an angle of 60°
with the horizontal. If he applies a force of 150 N and a frictional force
of 15 N is present, calculate the acceleration of the box.
4. A 5 kg box is placed on a rough surface and a 10 N force is applied at
an angle of 40° to the horizontal. The box does not move.
a) Calculate the normal force, FN between the box and the surface.
b) Calculate the frictional force on the body.
Applications on Coefficient of Friction

1. A horizontal force of 140 N is needed to pull a 60 kg box across the

horizontal floor at constant speed. What is the coefficient of friction
between the floor and the box?
2. A 70 kg box is slid along the floor by a 400 N force as shown in the
figure below. The coefficient of friction between the box and the floor
is 0.50 when the box is sliding.
a) Find the friction force Ff.
b) Find the acceleration of the box.
Equilibrium of Coplanar Forces

• If the external forces act in such a way that there is no change in its
translational and rotational states of the body, then the body is said
to be in equilibrium.
• Translational equilibrium is when a body remains at rest or moves
with a constant speed in a straight line.
• Rotational equilibrium is when a body rotates at constant angular
speed.
 Conditions for Equilibrium

1. First condition for Equilibrium

• It states that the vector sum of all the external forces acting on a body
(at rest or moving at constant speed) is zero.
i.e. F = 0.
• Or in component form, that;
 F = 0 and  F = 0
x y

• That is, the resultant of all external forces acting on the object must
be zero.
 Steps in Solving Problems

1. Draw a free body diagram and label all the forces acting on the
body.
2. Split each force into x and y components with proper sines and
cosines.
3. Write down the equations involved.
4. Solve the equations for the unknowns
2. Second Condition for Equilibrium (Moments and Torques)
• It states that the sum of the torques acting on a body must be zero.
• Or the algebraic sum of the clockwise and anticlockwise moments on
it must be zero.
• The turning effect of a force is known as the moment of force.
• It is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the
line of action of the force to the pivot or point where the object will
turn.
Moment of force = Force  Perpendicular distance
 Applications on the Conditions for Equilibrium

1. The object below weighs 400 N and hung at rest. Find the tensions
in the three cords that hold it.
2. Consider the situation shown in the figure below.

The uniform 0.60 KN beam of length L is hinged at P. Find the tension in

the rope.