Mechanics

W3

THE LAWS OF
MOTION
Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.2
Study Organiser
Before you begin this week’s study, please check through your study organiser. It
shows the topics that we’ll be covering, the skills you need to acquire (the
learning outcomes) and the activities you’ll do to help you acquire these skills.

Topic Learning outcomes Key Terms

Chapter 5: • State Newton’s law in words and • Contact forces

mathematically
The Laws of Motion • Field forces
• Draw free body diagrams for
• Fundamental force
objects
• Newton’s laws
• Apply Newton’s laws to solve
problems • Coefficient of friction

Chapter 6: • Apply Newton’s laws to objects • Uniform circular

Circular Motion and travelling in circular path motion
Other Applications • Conical pendulum
of Newton’s Laws
• Non-uniform circular
motion

Study time
You should be able to complete this section by the end of Week 3.

Readings/ Resources

Chapters 5 and 6 of your textbook: R.A. Serway and J.W. Jewett (Jr) J. W. Jewett
(Jr) 2019/2014, Physics for Scientists and Engineers with modern Physics, 10th
ed., Student Edition: ISBN: 978-1-337-55329-2. Thomson Learning Academic
Resource Centre, USA.
As you work through the topics, we will direct you to the relevant sections in
your textbook for this week. It is important for you to read these chapters to
better understand the concepts discussed. It is updated from 7th Edition in 2008

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.3

3.0 Introduction
Chapter 5 deals with cause that keeps an object at rest or accelerates it while in
motion. We would look at dynamics and the 3 laws of motion. The concept of
free body diagram to solve problem is emphasised in this section.

In Chapter 6, Newton’s laws are applied to circular motion. We shall begin by

looking at the various kinds of forces that exist around us.

3.1 The Concept of

Force(Chapter 5, 5.1)
Contact force involves physical contact between two objects;
whereas field force does not involve any kind of physical contact.
Fundamental forces in nature are all field forces. These forces are:

• Gravitation forces between objects,

• Electromagnetic forces between electric charges,
• Strong forces between subatomic particles, and
• Weak forces that arise in certain radioactive decay.
See Figure 5.1 for examples of applied forces.

See picture of Sir Isaac Newton on page 101 of your textbook and read his
inventions and formulations in the caption.

Figure 5.2 illustrates the vector nature of a force.

We shall begin by looking at the Newton’s laws. The three laws are stated and the
applications of these laws are given below.

3.2 Newton’s First Law and

Iner tial F ra m e s (C h ap t er 5, 5 .2 )
Law of inertia (Newton’s first law) states that if an object does not interact with
other objects, it is possible to identify a reference frame in which the object has
zero acceleration.

In the absence of external forces and when viewed from an inertial reference
frame, an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion continues in
motion with a constant velocity (i.e. with a constant speed in a straight line)

It means that when no force acts on an object, the acceleration of the object is
zero. Hence, an accelerating object experiences a force. Thus, force causes a
change in motion.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.4

 QUICK QUIZ 5.1 in the textbook

Attempt Quick Quiz 5.1 on page 99 of the textbook and test your understanding
of the first law. Check the answer on page 136 of your textbook.

3.3 Mass
Mass is the inherent property of an object. It is independent of the object’s
surrounding and of the method used to measure it. Mass and weight are two
different quantities.

3.4 Newton’s Second Law

When viewed from an inertial reference frame, the acceleration of an object is
directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its
mass.

a = F /m [3.1]

Hence, if proportionality constant is 1 then

F = ma [3.2]

And in component form

 Fx = ma x ;  Fy = may ; and  Fz = ma z

QUICK QUIZ 5.2 in the textbook

Read through Quick Quiz 5.2 provided on page 100 of your textbook.

Pitfall Prevention 5.3 on page 100 of the textbook: Tells you that
ma is not a force, the net force is equated to the product of mass of the
object and the acceleration that results from the net force.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.5

 Example 3.1

Example 5.1 on page 101 of the textbook is very important. It shows you the
component nature and how to find the resultant acceleration. Spend some time on
it until it is very clear in your mind.

3.5 The Gravitational Force and

Weight (C ha p t er 5 , 5 . 5)
The attractive force exerted by the earth on an object is called the gravitational
force. This force is directed towards the center of the earth and its magnitude is
called the weight of the object.

Fg = mg [3.3]

Pitfall Prevention 5.4 and 5.5: Read and understand. It mentions that
weight is a property of a system of items and also kilogram is not a
unit for weight.

QUICK QUIZ 5.4 in the textbook

Quick Quiz 5.4 on page 103 of the textbook explores your understanding of
weight. Assume the unit price of gold is same on both planets and find out who is
richer!

Example 3.2

Read Conceptual Example 5.2 on page 103 of your textbook. This example is
often asked in every day life, why you feel heavier in a lift when it is accelerating
upwards.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.6

3.6 Newton’s Third Law ( Cha p t er 5 ,
5 . 6)
If two objects interact, the force F12 exerted by object 1 on object 2 is equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction to the force F21 exerted by object 2 on object 1.

F12 = F21

The force that object 1 exerts on object 2 is called the action force and the force
of object 2 on object 1 is called the reaction force.

In all cases, the action and reaction forces act on different objects and must be of
the same type.

In Figure 5.5 on page 108 of the textbook, note the direction and magnitude of
the arrows that denote the forces.

Pitfall Prevention 5.6 on page 104 of the textbook explains that

normal force is not always equal to the weight.

Pitfall Prevention 5.7 on page 104of the textbook identifies action

reaction pairs and forces that may be same and yet they are not action
reaction pairs. See figure 5.6.

Pitfall Prevention 5.8 on page 104 of the textbook explains the free
body diagram. You need to understand that you need to draw only
those forces that act on the object including any field forces such as
gravitational force. This is very important concept that helps you to
solve problems in mechanics.

QUICK QUIZ 5.5 in the textbook

Do this quick on page 104 of the textbook.

3.7 Some Application of Newton’s

Laws (C ha p te r 5 , 5 . 7)
In this section we are interested in modelling an object as particle and neglecting
any rotation or friction force acting on it. We assume that the object is
accelerating in a straight line or is in equilibrium with acceleration equal to zero.
Note that we are interested only in external forces that act on the object.

3.7.1 The Particle in Equilibrium

A particle in equilibrium applies to an object that is modelled as a particle and its
acceleration is zero.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.7

 F = 0

Figure 5.7, note that  F y = T − Fg = 0

3.7.2 The Particle Under a Net Force

Particle under a net force model is applied to an object that experiences an
acceleration. i.e. acceleration is not zero.

T
Figure 5.9 on page 106 of the textbook, note that  F x = T = ma x or a x =
m
and the y component of force;  F y ( )
= n + - F g = 0 or n = Fg

Figure 5.10 on page 106 of the textbook: Here is the case when the normal force
is more than the weight.

3.8 Forces of Friction ( C h a p t e r 5, 5.8)

Force of friction is the resistance to motion because the object interacts with its
environment. Force of static friction fs is the force on an object that counteracts
the applied force F and prevents the object from moving.

* The force of kinetic friction fk is the friction force for an object in motion.

* When an object is in motion, the force of kinetic friction is less than fs, max.

* While in motion, the net force F - fk produces an acceleration.

If F = fk the acceleration is zero and the object moves with a constant velocity.
If the applied force F is removed then the fk acting in the opposite direction
eventually brings the object to a stop.

Both fs ,max and fk are proportional to the magnitude of the normal force.

fs  s n , where s is the coefficient of static friction and n is the normal force

exerted by one surface on the other. However, on the verge of slipping;

fs = s n

fk  k n, where k is the coefficient of kinetic friction. Note that s and k

depend on the nature of the surface and k is generally less than s.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.8

 Pitfall Prevention 5.9 on page 115 of the textbook: It tells you about
the equal sign used in the equation above.

Pitfall Prevention 5.10 on page 116 of the textbook: It explains the

friction equation.

Pitfall Prevention 5.11 on page 116 of the textbook clarifies the

direction of friction force.

QUICK QUIZ 5.6 in the textbook

Quick Quiz 5.6 on page 116 of the textbook, try this out!!! Check your answer on
page 136 of your textbook.

Example 3.9

Examples 5.11, 5.12, and 5.13 on pages 116–118of the textbook are very
important. Follow through each one carefully.

3.9 Newton’s Second Law for a

Particle in Uniform Circular
Motion ( Ch ap t er 6, 6. 1)
The magnitude of the acceleration of a particle in uniform circular
motion moving with constant speed v in a circular path of radius r
is

v2
ac = [3.4]
r

This acceleration ac called centripetal acceleration and

• is directed to towards the center of the circle , and

• always perpendicular to v

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.9

The net force causing this centripetal acceleration is given by

v2
 F = m ac = m [3.5]
r

This force

• acts towards the center of the circular path, and

• causes a change in the direction of the velocity vector.

Figure 6.1 on page 138 of the textbook illustrates the force in a circular motion.

Pitfall Prevention 6.1 on page 128 of the textbook: Read in relation

to figure 6.2.

Figure 6.2 on page 128 of the textbook shows the direction of travel when the
string breaks.

QUICK QUIZ 6.1 in the textbook

Attempt Quick quiz 6.1 on page 128 of the textbook and check your answer on
page 162 of your textbook.

Example 3.10

Example 6.1 on page 129 of the textbook is very important. It defines a conical
pendulum. Take care to the components of force. The final expression of v is a
function of length, gravity and the angle it subtends with the vertical. Note that
the expression is independent of mass.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.10

 Example 3.11

Example 6.2 on page 130 of the textbook refers to figure 6.1. Note that the force
in the string is known as the tension in the string.

Example 3.12

Another very important concept is shown in Example 6.3 provided on page 130
of the textbook. You should bear in mind that this is a situation of a flat horizontal
road that curves!!! Read through the example with care and note the purpose of
static friction.

3.2 Nonuniform Circular

Motion(Chapter 6, 6.2)
In this situation a particle moves with varying speed in a circular path. Hence
apart from radial component of acceleration it also has a tangential component of
acceleration see figure 6.7 on page 143 of the textbook (read the caption as well).

Thus, the total acceleration a is the vector sum of ar and at. Hence, the toal force
is  F =  Fr +  Ft

Note:  Fr is:

• directed toward the center of the circle,

• responsible for the centripetal acceleration, and

 Ft is

• tangent to the circle ,

• responsible for tangential acceleration which represents a change in the

particles speed with time.

Example 3.15

Example 6.6 on page 134 of the textbook is important. Note the difference
between this example and example 6.5. Note this example is a motion in a

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.11

vertical circle. Note the speed is different for different positions in this example.
The free body diagram is important to set up the equation. Note that the forces
are resolved in radial and tangential direction.

Note: Leave out section 6.3 and section 6.4.

Summary
Summary on page 154 of the textbook provides a brief outline of the materials
covered. However, I would suggest that you follow through all examples in
sections 6.1 and 6.2.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.12

Solved Problems
Problem 1:
Three forces, given by F1 = (-2.00 i + 2.00 j) N, F2 = (5.00 i – 3.00 j) N, and F3 =
(-45.0 i) N, act on an object to give it an acceleration of magnitude 3.75 m/s2.

(a) What is the direction of the acceleration?

(b) What is the mass of the object?

(c) If the object is initially at rest, what is its speed after 10.0 s?

(d) What are the velocity components of the object after 10.0 s?

 F = m a reads

( −2.00ˆi+ 2.00ˆj+ 5.00ˆi− 3.00ˆj− 45.0iˆ) N = m (3.75 m s ) aˆ 2

where â represents the direction of a

( −42.0ˆi− 1.00ˆj) N = m ( 3.75 m s ) aˆ 2

 1.00
tan−1 
F = ( 42.0) 2 + (1.00) 2 N  42.0
at below the –x-axis

 F = 42.0 N (
at181 = m 3.75 m s2 a
ˆ ) .

For the vectors to be equal, their magnitudes and their directions must be equal.

 a
ˆ is at181
(a) counter clockwise from the x-axis.

42.0 N
m = = 11.2 kg
3.75 m s2
(b)

(d)
(
v f = vi + at= 0 + 3.75 m s2 at181 10.0 s ) so
v f = 37.5 m s at181

v f = 37.5m s cos181ˆ
i+ 37.5m s sin181ˆ
j
so
vf = ( −37.5iˆ− 0.893ˆj) m s

v f = 37.52 + 0.8932 m s = 37.5 m s

(c)

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.13

Problem 2:
Consider a conical pendulum with an 80.0-kg bob on a 10.0-m wire making an
angle of 5.00 with the vertical. Determine

(a) the horizontal and vertical components of the force exerted by the wire on
the pendulum; and

(b) the radial acceleration of the bob.

(
T cos5.00 = m g = ( 80.0 kg) 9.80 m s2 )

(a) T = 787 N : T = ( 68.6 N ) iˆ+ ( 784 N ) ˆj

(b) T sin 5.00 = m ac: ac = 0.857 m s2 toward the center of the circle.

The length of the wire is unnecessary information. We could, on the other hand,
use it to find the radius of the circle, the speed of the bob, and the period of the
motion.

Week 3: The Laws of motion 3.14