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General Physics 1
Quarter 1 – Module 4
Newton’s Law’s of Motion
Inertial Reference Frames
Action at a distance forces
Types of Contact Forces: Tension, Normal Force,
Kinetic And Static Friction, Fluid Resistance
Action-Reaction Pairs

Learning Competency:
Learning Competencies Code
Define inertial frames of reference STEM_GP12N-Id-28
Identify action-reaction pairs STEM_GP12N-Id-31
Draw free-body diagrams STEM_GP12N-Id-32
Apply Newton’s 1st law to obtain quantitative and STEM_GP12N-Ie-33
qualitative conclusions about the contact and noncontact
forces acting on a body in equilibrium
Differentiate the properties of static friction and kinetic STEM_GP12N-Ie-34
friction

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 What I Need To Know
Introduction / Learning Objectives:

This self-learning kit will serve as a guide in understanding classical mechanics. This
describes the relationship the relationship between the motion of objects found in our everyday
world and the forces acting on them. This modules will also introduce Newton’s three laws of motion.
The first law states that a force. The first law states that a force must be applied to an object in order
to change its velocity. Changing an object’s velocity means accelerating it, which implies a
relationship between force and acceleration. This relationship, the second law, states that the net force
on an object equals the object’s mass times its acceleration. Finally, the third law says that whenever
we push on something, it pushes back with equal force in the opposite direction. Those are the three
laws in a nutshell.

The learning activities in this module can develop learners’ knowledge and skills on
the different exercises aligned to the said learning competency that they can use to improve
their daily lives and personal experiences.

Objectives:

At the end of this self-learning kit, the learners will be able to

1. Define inertial frames of reference.
2. Identify action-reaction pairs.
3. Draw free-body diagrams.
4. Apply Newton’s 1st law to obtain quantitative and qualitative conclusions about
the contact and noncontact forces acting on a body in equilibrium.
5. Differentiate the properties of static friction and kinetic friction.

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 What I Know
Pre-Assessment:

For questions 1-2, refer to the figure below.

Source: https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/58ee3946239c450169038498/frame-of-reference
1. How fast does the plane appear to be moving to a person riding in the car?
A. 520 m/s B. 30 m/s C. 460 m/s D. 490 m/s
2. How fast does the hot air balloon appear to be moving to the person in the boat?
A. 1 m/s to the left B. 5 m/s to the left C. 1 m/s to the right D. 5 m/s to the right
3. An archer shoots an arrow. Consider the action force to be the bowstring against the arrow. The
reaction to this force is the _____.
A. arrow’s push against the bowstring C. air resistance against the bow
B. weight of the arrow D. grip of the archers hand on the bow
4. A player catches a ball. Consider the action force to be the impact of the ball against the player’s
glove. What is the reaction to this force?
A. Friction of the ground against the player’s shoes.
B. The force the glove exerts on the ball.
C. The player’s grip on the glove.
D. none of the above
5. If a horse pulls on a wagon at rest, the wagon pulls back equally on the horse. Can the wagon be
set into motion?
A. Yes, because there is a net force acting on the wagon.
B. Yes, because there is a time delay between action and reaction.
C. No, because the forces cancel each other.
D. none of the above
6. As a ball falls, the action force is the pull of Earth’s mass on the ball. What is the reaction to this
force?
A. The pull of the ball’s mass on Earth. C. Nonexistent in this case.
B. The acceleration of the ball. D. Air resistance acting on the ball.

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7. An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance. Select the free-body diagram
showing the forces involved.
A. C.

B. D.

8. A book is at rest on a table top. Which of the following shows the correct free-body diagram of the
situation?

A. C.

B.
D.

9. A sheet of paper can be withdrawn from under a 10-peso coin without carrying it if the paper is
jerked quickly. The reason this can be done is that
A. gravity pulls very hard on the coin C. the coin has very little weight
B. the coin has inertia D. None of the choices
10. Which statement is true regarding static and kinetic friction?
A. Kinetic friction is the force acting between two stationary surfaces
B. Kinetic and static friction acts in the direction an object is moving
C. The coefficient of kinetic friction is always less than the coefficient of static friction.
D. The coefficient of static friction is always less than the coefficient of kinetic friction.
11. The force of friction depends upon
A. Nature of surface of contact C. Material of objects in contact
B. Both A and C D. None of the choices
12. A box is dragged without acceleration in a straight-line path across a level surface by a force of 13
N. What is the frictional force between the box and the surface?
A. 13 N C. Less than 13 N
B. More than 13 N D. Need more information to say

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13. Which of the following statements correctly states Newton's first law of motion?
A. Every object retains its state of rest or its state of accelerated straight-line motion unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force.
B. Every object retains its state of rest or its state of uniform straight-line motion unless acted
upon by a balanced force.
C. Every object retains its state of rest or its state of uniform straight-line motion unless acted
upon by an unbalanced force.
D. None of the above is correct.
14. If the forces on an object are balanced, the object will
A. remain at rest if initially at rest.
B. continue moving in a straight line if initially moving in a straight line.
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
15. Which of the following indicate that an object has been subjected to an unbalanced force?
A. The object speeds up. C. The object slows down.
B. The object changes direction. D. Any of the choices

5
 What’s In
Review:

In module 2 and 3, we learned how to analyze motion in terms of kinematics. Now we need to
know more about the dynamics of motion – that is, what causes motion and changes in motion. This
inquiry leads us to the concept of force.
If an object is at rest, a push or a shove may set it into motion, as when we push a sled or a
stalled automobile. That is, a force is applied to the object. Similarly, an object in motion may be
speeded up or slowed down by applying a force, as when we push a grocery cart or bring it to a stop.
We can also change the direction of an object’s motion by means of a force – think what happens
when a batter hits a fastball over the center-field fence. In fact, we shall find that all changes in
motion results from the action of a force or forces.
There are several types of forces. For example, there is gravitational force that attracts people
and objects to the Earth, giving rise to the force we call weight. There is also the common force of
friction, which tends to oppose motion. For simplicity, frictional effects are sometimes ignored (as
they were in module 2 and module 3 when air resistance was neglected in analyzing free fall and
projectile motion). However, in many instances, friction cannot be ignored and must be included in
the analysis of motion. In general, it is important to recognize a force acting on an object and to be
able to calculate the effects of the force.
The study of force and motion occupied many early
scientists. It was Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the English scientist
(Fig. 4.1), who summarized the various relationships and
principles into three statements, or laws, which not surprisingly
are known as Newton’s laws of motion. These laws sum up the
concepts of dynamics. In this module, you will learn what Newton
had to say about force and motion.

Fig 4.1. Isaac Newton. was a

physicist and mathematician who
developed the principles of modern
physics, including the laws of
motion and universal law of
gravitation. He was also one of the
inventors of calculus.

Source: https://www.biography.com/scientist/isaac-newton

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 What’s New
Activity:

Law of Inertia

Materials:
Glass of water, cardboard, coin, ping-pong ball

Procedure:
1. Lay a small cardboard on a glass of water.
2. Place the coin on top of the cardboard.
3. Pull the cardboard abruptly. Observe what
happens.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using a ping-pong ball.

Fig 4.2. Coin on top of the

cardboard in a glass of water.

source: http://spm-physics-402.blogspot.com/2009/01/mass-and-inertia.html

What Is It
Discussion:
1. What happens to the coin as you pull the cardboard abruptly to the side? Explain.
2. What happens to the ping-pong ball as you pull the cardboard abruptly to the side?
Explain.

Answer:
The coin stays in its position and fall to the mouth of the glass of water because it has greater
inertia to stay at rest. However the ping-pong ball goes with the cardboard as you pull the cardboard
abruptly. This gives you an idea that the mass of an object has something to do with inertia. An object
with a greater mass has greater inertia.

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Mini-Lesson:

Inertial Frames of Reference

Inertia is defined as a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or
uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force. Inertial frame of
reference is a reference frame in which an object stays either at rest or moving at a constant velocity.
That is, it is moving at a constant speed in a straight line, or it is standing still. Understand that when
something is standing still, it has a constant velocity. Its velocity is constantly zero meters per second.
Such a constant velocity frame of reference is called an inertial frame because the law of
inertia holds in it. That is, an object whose position is determined from this frame will tend to resist
changes in its velocity. An object perceived with this frame will not spontaneously change its
velocity. An object within this frame will only change its velocity if an actual non-zero net force is
applied to it.
There are several ways to describe an inertial frame. Here are a few descriptions:
 An inertial frame of reference is a frame of reference with constant velocity.
 An inertial frame of reference is a non-accelerating frame of reference.
 An inertial frame of reference is a frame of reference in which the law of inertia
holds.
Consider the situation on the right.
The bus travelling at constant velocity
remains to be an inertial frame of reference. The
bus would cease to be an inertial frame of reference
when it changed its velocity. That would happen if
it slowed down, or if it speed up, or if
it turned around a corner. Each of these changes in
velocity would constitute an acceleration.
If the bus accelerates, the bus is no longer
an inertial frame of reference. Its velocity is
changing and is now an accelerating frame of
reference. So, the Newton’s law of inertia motion
no longer holds. This accelerating frame is already
called a non-inertial frame of reference. Fig 4.2. The bus travelling at constant velocity is an
example of an inertial frame of reference.
source:
http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/framesOfReference/inertialFrame.html

Identifying Interaction (Action-Reaction) Force Pairs

A force is a push or a pull that acts upon an object as a result of its interaction with another
object. Forces result from interactions. According to Newton, whenever objects A and B interact with
each other, they exert forces upon each other. When you sit in your chair, your body exerts a
downward force on the chair and the chair exerts an upward force on your body. There are two forces
resulting from this interaction - a force on the chair and a force on your body.
According to Newton's third law, for every action force there is an equal (in magnitude) and
opposite (in direction) reaction force. Forces always come in pairs - known as "action-reaction force
pairs." Identifying and describing action-reaction force pairs is a simple matter of identifying the two

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interacting objects and making two statements describing who is pushing on whom and in what
direction.
The size of the forces on the first object equals the size of the force on the second object. The
direction of the force on the first object is opposite to the direction of the force on the second object.
Forces always come in pairs - equal and opposite action-reaction force pairs.
Even though the forces are equal in magnitude (strength) and opposite in direction, they do
not cancel each other. The third law addresses two objects, each with only one force exerted on it.
 Each object is exerting one force on the other object.
 Each object is experiencing only one force.

Below are some of the examples of action-reaction forces.

A swimmer swimming forward:

The swimmer pushes against the water
(action force), the water pushes back on the
swimmer (reaction force) and pushes her forward.

A ball is thrown against a wall:

The ball puts a force on the wall (action
force), and the wall puts a force on the ball Fig 4.3. A swimmer swimming forward
(reaction force) so the ball bounces off.
Source: https://physicinswimming.weebly.com/newtons-laws-of-motion.html

A boy is jumping off the boat:

The boy puts a force on the boat (action force)
pushing it, and the boat puts a force on the boy (reaction
force) pushing them in the opposite direction.

A person is pushing against a wall:

A person pushes against a wall (action force), and
the wall exerts an equal and opposite force against the
person (reaction force).

Fig 4.4. A person pushes against a wall

and the wall exerts an equal and opposite
force against the person.

Source: https://socratic.org/questions/do-action-and-reaction-pairs-of-forces-balance-one-
another

Free-Body Diagram

Free-body diagrams are diagrams used to show the relative magnitude and direction of all
forces acting upon an object in a given situation. A free-body diagram is a special example of the
vector diagrams that were discussed in the earlier modules. These diagrams will be used throughout
our study of physics. The size of the arrow in a free-body diagram reflects the magnitude of the force.
The direction of the arrow shows the direction that the force is acting. Each force arrow in the
diagram is labeled to indicate the exact type of force. It is generally customary in a free-body diagram

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to represent the object by a box and to draw the force arrow from the center of the box outward in the
direction that the force is acting. An example of a free-body diagram is shown below.
The free-body diagram above depicts four forces
acting upon the object. Objects do not necessarily always
have four forces acting upon them. There will be cases in
which the number of forces depicted by a free-
body diagram will be one, two, or three. The only rule for
drawing free-body diagrams is to depict all the forces that
exist for that object in the given situation. Thus, to
construct free-body diagrams, it is extremely important to
know the various types of forces. If given a description of
a physical situation, begin by using your understanding of
the force types to identify which forces are present. Then
determine the direction in which each force is acting. The
larger the force, the longer the vector arrow should be.
Finally, draw a box and add arrows for each existing force
in the appropriate direction; label each force vector arrow Fig 4.5. An example of a free-body
diagram.
according to its type. With constant velocity situations,
vectors are equal and with acceleration/deceleration,
vectors are unequal.
Source: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-2/Drawing-Free-Body-Diagrams

Below is the table for the list of forces and their symbol, definition, and direction in order to
understand the various force types and their appropriate symbols.

Force Symbol Definition Direction

Friction Ff The contact force that acts to oppose Parallel to surface & opposite
sliding motion between surfaces direction of sliding

Normal FN The contact force exerted by a surface Perpendicular to & away from
on an object the surface

Spring Fsp A restoring force, that is, the push or Opposite the displacement of
pull a spring exerts on an object the object at end of spring

Tension FT/tens The pull exerted by a string, rope, or Away from object & parallel to
cable when attached to a body & spring, rope or cable at point of
pulled taut attachment

Thrust Fthrust A general term for the forces that In same direction as
move objects such as rockets, planes, acceleration of object
cars & people

Weight Fg/grav A long-range force due to gravitational Straight down toward center of
attraction between two objects, Earth
generally Earth & an object

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Applied Fapp A force applied on an object either Depending on the direction of
pushed or pulled the force applied

A book is at rest on a table top. A rightward force is applied to a

book at rest, in order to move it
across a desk at constant velocity.
Consider frictional forces. Neglect
air resistance. Construct a free-body
An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Adiagram
skydiverfor is
the falling
book. with a constant
velocity. Consider air resistance.

A man drags a sled across loosely packed A car runs out of gas and coasts to a stop
snow with a rightward acceleration. on flat ground.

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Newton’s First Law of Motion

Balanced Forces- Two or more forces exerted on an object that cancel each other and do not
change object’s velocity
– Net force is zero
Unbalanced Forces- Effects of the forces don’t cancel and the object’s velocity changes
– Net force is not zero

There are two clauses or parts to this statement - one that predicts the behavior of stationary
objects and the other that predicts the behavior of moving objects. The two parts are summarized in
the following diagram.
The behavior of all objects can be explained by saying that objects manage to "keep on doing
what they're doing" (unless acted upon by an unbalanced force). If at rest, they will continue in this
same state of rest. If in motion with an eastward velocity of 5 m/s, they will continue in this same
state of motion (5 m/s, East). The state of motion of an object is maintained as long as the object
is not acted upon by an unbalanced force. All objects resist changes in their state of motion - they tend
to "keep on doing what they're doing."
Conceptual Question:
You are riding a bus to school. When you finished your candy bar, you stand up to walk to
the front of the bus. Suddenly, a mouse runs in front of the bus and the bus driver slams on his brakes
(he loves mice). What will happen to you? why?
Simply your body will be pushed forward because it has the inertia to stay in its state of
motion. Your body will continue moving forward because it will resist changes in its state of motion.
That’s why seat belts are used to provide safety for passengers whose motion is governed by Newton's
laws. The seat belt provides the unbalanced force that brings you from a state of motion to a state of
rest. Perhaps you could speculate what would occur when no seat belt is used.
Newton’s first law of motion:

An object at rest will stay at rest, an object in motion at constant velocity will continue at a
constant velocity (constant speed in a straight line) unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

By observing the motion of objects on an inclined plane Galileo deduced that objects move
with a constant speed when no force acts on them. He observed that when a marble rolls down an
inclined plane, its velocity increases. When marble falls under the unbalanced force of gravity as it

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rolls down and attains a definite velocity by the time it reaches the bottom. Its velocity decreases
when it climbs up as shown in Fig. 4.6.

Source:
Fig 4.6. Galileo’s experiment on rolling a marble in an inclined https://slideplayer.com/slide/5756022/
plane.
Galileo argued that
up on the opposite side to the same height from which it was released. If the inclinations of the planes
on both sides are equal then the marble will climb the same distance that it covered while rolling
down. If the angle of inclination of the right-side plane were gradually reduced, then the marble
would travel greater distances till it reaches the original height. If the right-side plane were ultimately
made horizontal (that is, the slope is reduced to zero), the marble would continue to travel forever
trying to reach the same height that it was released from (Fig. 4.7).

The unbalanced forces

(external) force is required to

Fig 4.7. Galileo’s experiment on rolling a marble in an inclined
plane. change the motion of the marble
but no net force is needed to sustain
the uniform motion of the marble. In practical situations it is difficult to achieve a zero unbalanced
force. This is because of the presence of the frictional force acting opposite to the direction of motion.
Thus, in practice the marble stops after travelling some distance. The effect of the frictional force may
be reduced by using a smooth marble and a smooth plane and providing a lubricant on top of the
planes.

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Think about the law of inertia and provide explanations for each application.
 Blood rushes from your head to your feet while quickly stopping when riding on a descending
elevator.
 The head of a hammer can be tightened onto the wooden handle by banging the bottom of the
handle against a hard surface.
 To dislodge ketchup from the bottom of a ketchup bottle, it is often turned upside down and
thrusted downward at high speeds and then abruptly halted.
 Headrests are placed in cars to prevent whiplash injuries during rear-end collisions.

Inertia and Mass

Newton’s first law of motion illustrates that there is a resistance offered by an object to
change its state of motion. If it is at rest it tends to remain at rest; if it is moving it tends to keep
moving. This property of an object is called its inertia. Do all objects have the same inertia? We know
that it is easier to push an empty box than a box full of files. Similarly, if we kick a basketball ball it
flies away. But if we kick a stone of the same size with equal force, it hardly moves. We may, in fact,
get an injury in our foot while doing so! A force that is just enough to cause a small cart to pick up a
large velocity will produce a negligible change in the motion of a train. This is because, in comparison
to the cart the train has a much lesser tendency to change its state of motion. Accordingly, we say that
the train has more inertia than the cart. Clearly, heavier or more massive objects offer larger inertia.
Quantitatively, the inertia of an object is measured by its mass. We may thus relate inertia and
mass as follows:
Inertia is the natural tendency of an object to resist a change in its state of motion or of
rest. The mass of an object is a measure of its inertia.
Friction
Friction is defined as the force that acts oppose the relative motion of two surfaces. It is
usually high for dry and rough surfaces and low for smooth and wet surfaces. At the contact surface
between, this is the component of force directed parallel to the surface.
Static friction acts to keep an object at rest (static) against its contact surface. It can take on
any magnitude up to a maximum value
fs < fsMAX = μsn
where n is the normal force acting on the object at the surface. The direction of fs is opposed
to the sum of other applied forces.
Once the force of static friction is overcome, the Force of Kinetic Friction is what slows down
a moving object. Kinetic friction acts when there is relative motion along the interface. It takes on a
constant value
fk = μ k n
The direction of fk is opposite the velocity of the object relative to the surface.
To initiate motion of the box the man
must overcome the Force of Static
Friction

Fig 4.8. Overcoming the force of static

friction
Source: https://science4fun.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/pushing-box-friction.jpg

14
 Upon sliding, the baseball player
will come to a complete stop due
to the Force of Kinetic Friction

Fig 4.9. Baseball player sliding to the base.

Source: https://www.wired.com/2008/09/science-stumped/

The table below shows the value of static & kinetic friction coefficients

Material Coefficient of Static Coefficient of Kinetic Friction

Friction S k

Rubber on Glass 2.0+ 2.0

Rubber on Concrete 1.0 0.8

Steel on Steel 0.74 0.57

Wood on Wood 0.25 – 0.5 0.2

Metal on Metal 0.15 0.06

Ice on Ice 0.1 0.03

Synovial Joints in Humans 0.01 0.003

Sample Problem 1:
A 5.0 kg box is at rest on a table. The static friction coefficient μs between the box and table
is 0.50 and the kinetic friction coefficient μk is 0.30. Then, a 30 N horizontal force is applied to the
box. What are the values of the force of static and kinetic friction?

fsMAX = μsn
= 0.50 (5.0 kg) (9.8 m/s2)
= 24.5 N so a force greater than this value will set the box in motion

Since 30 N force is greater than the fsMAX value, this force is enough to set the box in motion.
fk = μkn
= 0.30 (5.0 kg) (9.8 m/s2)
= 14.7 N

15
 What’s More

Independent Activity 1:

1. A diver dives off of a raft - what happens to the diver? The raft? How does this relate to Newton's
Third Law? Action Force: _______________ Reaction Force: _____________

2. A tennis racquet hits a tennis ball. Why doesn't the racquet swing backwards when the ball hits it?
(Shouldn't it swing back because of action-reaction forces?)
Action Force: _______________ Reaction Force: _____________

3. What action-reaction forces are involved when a rocket engine fires? Why doesn't a rocket need air
to push on?
Action Force: _______________ Reaction Force: _____________

4. What forces are acting on a book sitting on a table? Are action-reaction forces involved in this
situation?

5. If two people each standing on a scooter board push off of each other what happens (Newton's 3rd
Law)?

6. In #5 how would the distance moved by the scooter boards compare if one person had a lot more
mass than the other person?

7. If a person standing on a scooter board pushes off of a wall, what happens? Can this situation be
explained in terms of Newton's 3rd Law (action-reaction)?

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Independent Assessment 1:

1. Free-body diagrams for four situations are shown below. For each situation, determine the net
force acting upon the object. For each situation, write if the forces are BALANCED or
UNBALANCED.

2. Free-body diagrams for four situations are shown below. The net force is known for each situation.
However, the magnitudes of a few of the individual forces are not known. Analyze each
situation individually and determine the magnitude of the unknown forces.

17
Independent Activity 2:

Instruction: Construct free-body diagrams for the various situations described below.

Situations Free-Body Diagram

A gymnast holding onto a bar, is suspended
motionless in mid-air. The bar is
supported by two ropes that attach to the
ceiling. Diagram the forces acting on the
combination of gymnast and bar.

A flying squirrel is gliding (no wing flaps)

from a tree to the ground at constant
velocity. Consider air resistance. Diagram
the forces acting on the squirrel.

A rightward force is applied to a book in

order to move it across a desk with a
rightward acceleration. Consider frictional
forces. Neglect air resistance. Diagram the
forces acting on the book.

A rightward force is applied to a book in

order to move it across a desk at constant
velocity. Consider frictional forces. Neglect
air resistance. Diagram the forces acting on
the book.

A college student rests a backpack upon his

shoulder. The pack is suspended motionless
by one strap from one shoulder. Diagram the
vertical forces acting on the backpack.

A skydiver is descending with a constant

velocity. Consider air resistance. Diagram
the forces acting upon the skydiver.

A force is applied to the right to drag a sled

across loosely packed snow with a rightward
acceleration. Neglect air resistance. Diagram
the forces acting upon the sled.

A football is moving upwards towards its

peak after having been booted by the punter.
Neglect air resistance. Diagram the forces
acting upon the football as it rises upward
towards its peak.

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Independent Assessment 2:

1. Imagine a place in the cosmos far from all gravitational and frictional influences. Suppose
that you visit that place (just suppose) and throw a rock. The rock will
a. gradually stop.
b. continue in motion in the same direction at constant speed.

2. A 2-kg object is moving horizontally with a speed of 4 m/s. How much net force is
required to keep the object moving at this speed and in this direction?

3. Mac and Tosh are arguing in the cafeteria. Mac says that if he flings the Jell-O with a
greater speed it will have a greater inertia. Tosh argues that inertia does not depend
upon speed, but rather upon mass. Who do you agree with? Explain why.

4. Supposing you were in space in a weightless environment, would it require a force to set
an object in motion?

5. Norris spends most Sunday afternoons at rest on the sofa, watching pro football games and
consuming large quantities of food. What effect (if any) does this practice have upon
his inertia? Explain.

6. Nicole is being chased through the woods by a bull moose which he was attempting to
photograph. The enormous mass of the bull moose is extremely intimidating. Yet, if
Nicole makes a zigzag pattern through the woods, she will be able to use the large
mass of the moose to her own advantage. Explain this in terms of inertia and
Newton's first law of motion.

7. Two bricks are resting on edge of the lab table. Daisy stands on her toes and spots the two
bricks. She acquires an intense desire to know which of the two bricks are most
massive. Since Daisy is vertically challenged, she is unable to reach high enough and
lift the bricks; she can however reach high enough to give the bricks a push. Discuss
how the process of pushing the bricks will allow Daisy to determine which of the two
bricks is most massive. What difference will Daisy observe and how can this
observation lead to the necessary conclusion?

8. Whiplash sometimes results from an automobile accident when the victim’s car is struck
violently from the rear. Explain why the head of the victim seems to be thrown
backward in this situation. Is it really? Do headrests really help prevent whiplash
injuries? Why?

19
Independent Activity 3:

1. In general, the frictional force

A. is greater for smooth surfaces C. depends on slow sliding speeds
B. is proportional to the load D. depends on the surface area
2. The coefficient of kinetic friction
A. is usually greater than s
B. usually equals s
B. equals the applied force that exceeds the maximum static force
D. is unitless
3. In general k is less than s. Can you suggest why?

4. In moving a 35.0 kg desk from one side of a classroom to the other, a professor finds that a
horizontal force of 275 N is necessary to set the desk in motion and a force of 195 N is
necessary to keep it in motion with a constant speed. What are the coefficients of a) static and
b) kinetic friction between the disk and the floor

Independent Assessment 3:
1. An example of an inertial reference frame is:
A. any reference frame that is not accelerating
B. a frame attached to a particle on which there are no forces
C. any reference frame that is at rest
D. a reference frame attached to the center of the universe

A. 9.8 kg ⋅ m/s2 C. 1 kg ⋅ m/s2

2. The unit of force called the newton is:

B. defined by means of Newton's third law D. 1 kg of mass

3. The inertia of a body tends to cause the body to:
A. speed up C. slow down
B. resist any change in its motion D. fall toward the Earth
For Nos. 4-5. This truck platform serves as the “rest” frame for Observers A and B, but it moves with
a speed v towards Observer C, who stands on the roadside.

A B C

A B C
v
4. Observer A throws a baseball to Observer B at a speed of 30 m/s; B catches the ball. The truck
platform moves in the same direction with a speed of 20 m/s.
A. Observer C says the ball had a speed of 10 m/s.
B. For Observers B & C, the ball travels the same distance.
C. For Observers B & C, the ball is in the air for the same amount of time.
D. Observers A & B both say the ball has a speed of 50 m/s.
5. Observer A blows a whistle. The speed of sound is 340 m/s in air; no wind is blowing. The truck
has a speed of 20 m/s. For the sound wave moving in the direction of C
A. B&C agree that the whistle’s sound travels at 360 m/s.
B. B says the speed is 360 m/s, while C says 340 m/s.
C. B says the speed is 340 m/s, while C says 320 m/s.

20
 D. B says the speed is 320 m/s, while C says 340 m/s.

What I Have Learned

GENERALIZATION:

Fill in the blanks.

1. An _________________ of reference is a non-accelerating frame of reference.

2. Whenever the motion of an object changes, __________ has been applied.
3. The amount of force needed to cause a mass of 1 kilogram to accelerate at 1 m/s 2 is
__________.
4. If force is represented by an arrow, the length of the arrow represents the __________ of
the force.
5. When unequal and opposite forces act on an object, the forces are said to be __________.
6. When two forces act on an object in the same direction, the net force equals the
__________ of the two forces.
7. Rough surfaces have __________ friction than smooth surfaces.
8. Heavier objects have __________ friction that lighter objects.
9. Increasing the area of surfaces that are touching __________ friction between them.
10. __________ friction occurs between objects that are not moving.

21
 What I Can Do
Application:

1. A 40.0 kg crate, is at rest on a level surface. If the coefficient of static friction between the crate and
the surface is 0.69, what horizontal force is required to move the crate?

2. If you were in a spaceship and fired a cannonball into space, how much force would have to be
exerted on the ball to keep it moving once it has left the spaceship?

3. Suppose you place a ball in the middle of a wagon, and then accelerate the wagon forward.
Describe the motion of the ball relative to the ground. Describe its motion relative to the
wagon.

4. If a carabao were chasing you, its enormous mass would be most threatening. But if you zigzagged,
its mass would be to your advantage. Why?

5. Two closed containers look the same, but one is packed with lead and the other with a few feathers.
How could you determine which has more mass if you and the containers were orbiting in a
weightless condition in outer space?

6. If the force of friction acting on a sliding crate is 100 N, A) how much force must be applied to
maintain a constant velocity? B) What will be the net force acting on the crate? C) What will
be the acceleration?

7. How much does an astronaut weigh out in space, far from any planets?

22
 Assessment
Post-Assessment:

For questions 1-2, refer to the figure below.

Source: https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/58ee3946239c450169038498/frame-of-reference
1. How fast does the plane appear to be moving to a person riding in the car?
A. 520 m/s B. 30 m/s C. 460 m/s D. 490 m/s
2. How fast does the hot air balloon appear to be moving to the person in the boat?
A. 1 m/s to the left B. 5 m/s to the left C. 1 m/s to the right D. 5 m/s to the right
3. An archer shoots an arrow. Consider the action force to be the bowstring against the arrow. The
reaction to this force is the _____.
A. arrow’s push against the bowstring C. air resistance against the bow
B. weight of the arrow D. grip of the archers hand on the bow
4. A player catches a ball. Consider the action force to be the impact of the ball against the player’s
glove. What is the reaction to this force?
A. Friction of the ground against the player’s shoes.
B. The force the glove exerts on the ball.
C. The player’s grip on the glove.
D. none of the above
5. If a horse pulls on a wagon at rest, the wagon pulls back equally on the horse. Can the wagon be
set into motion?
A. Yes, because there is a net force acting on the wagon.
B. Yes, because there is a time delay between action and reaction.
C. No, because the forces cancel each other.
D. none of the above
6. As a ball falls, the action force is the pull of Earth’s mass on the ball. What is the reaction to this
force?
A. The pull of the ball’s mass on Earth. C. Nonexistent in this case.
B. The acceleration of the ball. D. Air resistance acting on the ball.

23
7. An egg is free-falling from a nest in a tree. Neglect air resistance. Select the free-body diagram
showing the forces involved.
A. C.

B. D.

8. A book is at rest on a table top. Which of the following shows the correct free-body diagram of the
situation?

A. C.

B.
D.

9. A sheet of paper can be withdrawn from under a 10-peso coin without carrying it if the paper is
jerked quickly. The reason this can be done is that
A. gravity pulls very hard on the coin C. the coin has very little weight
B. the coin has inertia D. None of the choices
10. Which statement is true regarding static and kinetic friction?
A. Kinetic friction is the force acting between two stationary surfaces
B. Kinetic and static friction acts in the direction an object is moving
C. The coefficient of kinetic friction is always less than the coefficient of static friction.
D. The coefficient of static friction is always less than the coefficient of kinetic friction.
11. The force of friction depends upon
A. Nature of surface of contact C. Material of objects in contact
B. Both A and C D. None of the choices
12. A box is dragged without acceleration in a straight-line path across a level surface by a force of 13
N. What is the frictional force between the box and the surface?
A. 13 N C. Less than 13 N
B. More than 13 N D. Need more information to say

24
13. Which of the following statements correctly states Newton's first law of motion?
A. Every object retains its state of rest or its state of accelerated straight-line motion unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force.
B. Every object retains its state of rest or its state of uniform straight-line motion unless acted
upon by a balanced force.
C. Every object retains its state of rest or its state of uniform straight-line motion unless acted
upon by an unbalanced force.
D. None of the above is correct.
14. If the forces on an object are balanced, the object will
A. remain at rest if initially at rest.
B. continue moving in a straight line if initially moving in a straight line.
C. both A and B
D. neither A nor B
15. Which of the following indicate that an object has been subjected to an unbalanced force?
A. The object speeds up. C. The object slows down.
B. The object changes direction. D. Any of the choices

Additional Activities
1. How much support force does a table exert on a book that weighs 15 N when the book is placed
on the table?

- What if a hand pushes down on the book with a force of 20 N?

- What if a rope lifts up on the book with a force of 10 N? (The hand is no longer there.)

2. When a 100 N bag of nails hangs motionless from a single vertical strand of rope, how many
newtons of tension are exerted in the strand?

- What if the bag is supported by four vertical strands?

3. An object weighs 98 N on Earth. How much does it weigh on Planet X where the acceleration
due to gravity is 6 m/s2?

25
 Glossary
external force
a force acting on an object from the outside, as opposed to forces acting within the object
force
push or pull on an object
friction
force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are touching
inertia
tendency of an object to resist any change in its state of rest or in its state of motion
inertial frame
a reference frame in which the observers are not subject to any force of acceleration
kilogram
unit of mass
mass
quantity of matter present in an object and is the measure of inertia
net force
sum of all the forces acting on an object
newton
unit of force in the metric system
normal force
the upward force that balances the weight of an object on a surface, also called the support
force
reference frame
A coordinate system or set of axes within which the position, orientation, and other properties
of objects in it can be measured. It may also refer to an observational reference frame tied to
the state of motion of an observer.
relative velocity
The vector difference between the velocities of two bodies, or the velocity of a body with
respect to another body which is at rest.
weight
the force of gravity on an object

Answer Key
What I Know Independent Activity 1
Pre-Assessment 1. The action force is the diver pushing off of the raft, and the reaction
Post-Assessment force is the raft pushing back on the diver (causing the diver
1. A
Independent to go forward and into the water).
2. C
Assessment 3 2. The racquet does not swing backwards because the force of your
3.
1. AA arm keeps it from going back. The action force is the ball
4. 26(which your arm “absorbs”), the reaction
2. BC hitting the racquet
5. A force is the racquet pushing back on the ball causing it to go
3. B
6. A back across the net.
4. C
7. A 3. The action force is the rocket pushing out the “hot” gases produced
Independent Assessment
Independent Activity 2 1 Independent
Independent Activity 23
Assessment
1. A = BALANCED 1. B
1. b, According to Newton's first law, the rock will
B = UNBALANCED 2. D
continue in motion in the same direction at
C = BALANCED 3. The coefficient is typically less than the coefficient
constant speed.
D = UNBALANCED of static friction, reflecting the common
2. 0 N. An object in motion will maintain its state
2. A = 50 N E = 300 N experience that it is easier to keep something in
of motion. The presence of an unbalanced force
B = 200 N F = same with H motion across a horizontal surface than to start it
changes the velocity of the object.
C = 200 N G = 50 N in motion from rest.
3. Tosh is correct. Inertia is that quantity which
D =20 N H = same with F 4. s = 0.80
depends solely upon mass. The more mass, the
k = 0.57
more inertia. Momentum is another quantity in
Physics which depends on both mass and speed.
Momentum will be discussed in a later unit.
4. Absolutely yes! Even in space objects have
mass. And if they have mass, they have inertia.
That is, an object in space resists changes in its
state of motion. A force must be applied to set a
stationary object in motion.
5. Norris’ inertia will increase! Norris will
increase his mass if he makes a habit of this.
And if his mass increases, then his inertia
increases.
6. The large mass of the bull moose means that the
bull moose has a large inertia. Thus, Nicole can
more easily change her own state of motion
(make quick changes in direction) while the
moose has extreme difficulty changing its state
of motion. Physics for better living!
7. The bricks, like any object, possess inertia. That
is, the bricks will resist changes in their state of
motion. The one with the most mass will be the
one with the most inertia. This will be the brick
which offers the most resistance. This very
method of detecting the mass of an object can be
used on Earth as well as in locations where
gravitational forces are negligible for bricks.
8. The head is demonstrating Newton’s first law,
an object at rest tends to stay at rest. The body
is strapped to the car seat, which is being
violently forced forward, whereas the head is
free to stay at rest and therefore the body is
being flung forward of the head. Headrests
prevent the head from behaving independently
of the body. Therefore, as the body is thrust
forward27 by the seat, so to is the head by the
headrest preventing whiplash.
What I Have Learned What I Can Do Additional Activities
1. inertial frame 1. 271 N 1. A. 15 N
2. force 2. 0, no additional force to keep it B. 35 N
3. 1 N moving C. 5 N
4. magnitude 3. The ball stays in its position 2. A. 100 N
5. unbalanced relative to the ground. Relative B. 25 N each strand
6. sum to the wagon, it will move 3. 6 N
7. greater / larger backward because it has the
8. greater / larger inertia to stay at rest.
9. increases 4. The large mass of the carabao
10. static means it has more inertia. Since
you have a smaller/lighter mass,
you have lesser inertia and can
easily change your position.
5. Stopping the containers with
your hands ( or any body part)
will let you determine which of
the two containers is more
massive.
6. A. 100 N
B. 0
C. 0 / no acceleration
7. 0 / weightless

28
 References
Santos, Gil Nonato C. 2017. General Physics 1. Manila, Sampaloc: Rex Book Store Inc.

Wilson, Jerry D, Anthony J. Buffa. 1998. Physics 3 rd Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07548:
Prentice Hall Inc.

Bregente, Norris. “Inertial Frame of Reference.” Inertial Frame of Reference | Zona Land Education.
Accessed August 7, 2020.
http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/framesOfReference/inertialFrame.html.

Bregente, Norris. “Frame of Reference - Quiz.” Quizizz. Accessed August 7, 2020.

https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/58ee3946239c450169038498/frame-of-reference.

Bregente, Norris. “Isaac Newton.” Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, July 9, 2020.
https://www.biography.com/scientist/isaac-newton.

Bregente, Norris. “Pushing Box Friction JPG.” science4fun. Accessed August 7, 2020.
https://science4fun.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/pushing-box-friction.jpg.

Bregente, Norris. “Newton's Third Law of Motion.” The Physics Classroom. Accessed August 7,
2020. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-4/Newton-s-Third-Law.

Bregente, Norris. “Drawing Free-Body Diagrams.” The Physics Classroom. Accessed August 7, 2020.
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/newtlaws/U2L2c.cfm.

Bregente, Norris. Newton's Third Law of Motion Worksheet. Accessed August 7, 2020.
http://www.mayfieldschools.org/Downloads/Worksheet%202_Newton's%203rd%20Law.pdf.

Bregente, Norris. “Do Action and Reaction Pairs of Forces Balance One Another?: Socratic.”
Socratic.org, April 22, 2014. https://socratic.org/questions/do-action-and-reaction-pairs-of-
forces-balance-one-another.

Bregente, Norris. “Newton's Laws of Motion.” PHYSICS IN SWIMMING. Accessed August 7, 2020.
https://physicinswimming.weebly.com/newtons-laws-of-motion.html.

Bregente, Norris. “Mass and Inertia.” Nota Fizik Tingkatan 4 Sukatan Pelajaran SPM. Accessed
August 7, 2020. http://spm-physics-402.blogspot.com/2009/01/mass-and-inertia.html.

Keim, Brandon. “Physicists Say Headfirst Slide to Base Faster, Maybe.” Wired. Conde Nast, June 5,
2018. https://www.wired.com/2008/09/science-stumped/.

Phillips, Jonas. “Newton's First Law of Motion - Ppt Video Online Download.” SlidePlayer, August
18, 2017. https://slideplayer.com/slide/5756022/.

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