Chapter 4

The LaWs of Motion

Contact forces Field forces

m M

(a) (d)

–q +Q

(b) (e)

F I G U R E 4.1 Some examples of force s

Iro n N S applied to various objects. In each case,
a force is exerted on the particle or
object within the boxed area. Th e
environment external to the boxed
(c) (f) area provides this force .

0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
0
1

3 3 3
2
3

4 4 4
4

F2
θ

F1 F1
F
F1
F2
F2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
:
F I G U R E 4.2 The vector nature of a force: is tested with a spring scale. (a) A downward vertical: force F 1 elongates the sprin g
:
1.00 cm. (b) A downward vertical force F 2 elongates the spring 2.00 cm. (c) When F 1 and F 2 are applied simultaneousl y,
: :
the spring elongates by 3.00 cm. (d ) When F 1 is downward and F 2 is horizontal, the combination of the two force s
el on gates th e spr i n g √(1.00 cm) 2 (2.00 cm) 2 √5.00 cm.
 Air flow

Electric blower

F I G U R E 4.3
On an air hockey table, air blown
through holes in the surface allows the puck to
move almost without friction. If the table is not
accelerating, a puck placed on the table will
remain at rest with respect to the table if there
are no horizontal forces acting on it.
 y
and F2

F1 = 5.0 N
F2 = 8.0 N

60°

x
20°

F1

F I G U R E 4.4
(Example 4.1) A hockey
puck moving on a frictionless surface
accelerates in the direction of the net
: : :
force, F F1 F2 .
 Fnh
Fhn
F I G U R E 4.5Newton’s third law.
:
(a) The force F 12 exerted by
object 1 on object 2 is equal in

(John Gillmoure, The Stock Market)

magnitude and opposite in
:
direction to the force F 21 exerted
F12 = –F21
by object 2 on object 1. (b) The 2
:
force F hn exerted by the hammer F12
F21
on the nail is equal in magnitude
and opposite in direction to the
:
force F nh exerted by the nail on 1
the hammer. (b)
(a)

n = Ftm n = Ftm

Fg = FEm

Fg = FEm
Fmt

FmE

(a) (b)

F I G U R E 4.6
(a) When a computer monitor is sitting on a table, several forces are acting. (b) The free-body diagram for the
: : :
monitor. The forces acting on the monitor are the normal force :
n F tm and the gravitational force Fg F Em .
 Fhs
Fsh

f sled f horse
(a) (b) (c)

F I G U R E 4.7 (Thinking Physics 4.2) (a) A horse pulls a sled through the snow. (b) The forces on the sled. (c) The forces on
the horse.
 (a)
n

y
T

Fg

(b)

F I G U R E 4.8 (a) A crate being pulled

to the right on a frictionless surface.
(b) The free-body diagram that
represents the external forces on the
crate.
 (i)

(ii)

F I G U R E 4.9 (Quick Quiz 4.7) (i) An

individual pulls with a force of
magnitude F on a spring scale attached
to a wall. (ii) Two individuals pull with
forces of magnitude F in opposite
directions on a spring scale attached
between two ropes.
 T3 y
T2
37.0° 53.0°
T1
T1 T2

37.0° 53.0°
x
T3

F I G U R E 4.10 (Example 4.2) (a) A

traffic light suspended by cables. (b) The
free-body diagram for the traffic light.
Fg T3 (c) The free-body diagram for the knot
(a) (b) (c)
in the cable.
 y

n
a

mg sin θ

d
mg cos θ θ x

θ mg
(a) (b)

F I G U R E 4.11(Example 4.3) (a) A child on a sled sliding down

a frictionless incline. (b) The free-body diagram.
 T
T
+

m1 m1
m2 m2

+ m1g

m
(a) (b)
FIGURE 4.12 (Example 4.4) The Atwood
machine. (a) Two objects connected by a light
string over a frictionless pulley. (b) The free-body
diagrams for m1 and m2.
 F
m1 m2

(a)

n1
n2
y
F P21 P12
x m1 m2

m 1g m 2g

(b) (c)

F I G U R E 4.13 (Example 4.5)(a) A force is applied to a

block of mass m1, which pushes on a second block of mass
m 2. (b) The free-body diagram for m 1. (c) The free-body
diagram for m 2.
a a

mg mg

(a) (b)

F I G U R E 4.14 (Example 4.6) (a) When

the elevator accelerates upward, the spring
Observer in scale reads a value greater than the fish’s
inertial frame
true weight. (b) When the elevator
accelerates downward, the spring scale
reads a value less than the fish’s true
weight.
 (Roger Viollet, Mill Valley, CA, University Science Books, 1982)

Figure Q4.16
F2
F2

90.0°
60.0°
m F1 m F1
(a) (b)

Figure P4.7
 θ1 θ2

T1 T2

T3

Figure P4.18 Problems 4.18 and 4.19.

 (© Tony Arruza/CORBIS)

Figure P4.20 Figure P4.21

5.00 kg 5.00 kg
(a)

5.00 kg

30.0°

(c)
(b)

Figure P4.22
 60.0°
40.0° 50.0°
T1
T1 T2 T2

T3
T3

5.00 kg 10.0 kg

(a) (b)
Figure P4.24

Figure P4.26 Problems 4.26, 4.29, and 4.46.

s2
F2 m/
10.0
a= 30.0°

1.00 kg
F1

Figure P4.27

5.00 kg

9.00 kg

Figure P4.28
 m1 m2

Figure P4.30
B

60.0°
A 50.0°

Figure P4.31

Figure P4.33
8.00
kg Fx

2.00
kg

Figure P4.35
 P1
P2
m1

m2

Figure P4.38