Chapter 12 KINETICS OF PARTICLES:

NEWTONS SECOND LAW

Denoting by m the mass of a particle, by S F the sum, or
resultant, of the forces acting on the particle, and by a the
acceleration of the particle relative to a newtonian frame of
reference, we write

S F = ma
Introducing the linear momentum of a particle, L = mv,
Newtons second law can also be written as
.
SF=L
which expresses that the resultant of the forces acting on a
particle is equal to the rate of change of the linear momentum
of the particle.
Dr. Ashok Kaushal
 y ay
To solve a problem involving the motion of a
P particle, S F = ma should be replaced by
az
ax equations containing scalar quantities. Using
rectangular components of F and a, we have

z x S Fx = max S Fy = may S Fz = maz

Using tangential and normal components,
y an dv
at S Ft = mat = m
dt
P v2
S Fn = man = m
O x r
aq Using radial and transverse components,
.. . 2
P
ar S Fr = mar= m(r - rq )
r
q .. ..
O x S Fq = maq = m(rq + 2rq) Dr. Ashok Kaushal
 y
HO mv The angular momentum HO of a
particle about point O is defined as
f the moment about O of the linear
P momentum mv of that particle.
r
O
z
x HO = r x mv
We note that HO is a vector
perpendicular to the plane containing r and mv and of magnitude

HO = rmv sin f
Resolving the vectors r and mv into rectangular components,
we express the angular momentum HO in determinant form as

i j k
HO = x y z
mvx mvy mvz Dr. Ashok Kaushal
 y
HO
mv i j k
f HO = x y z
r
P mvx mvy mvz
O x
z In the case of a particle moving
in the xy plane, we have z = vz = 0.
The angular momentum is perpendicular to the xy plane and is
completely defined by its magnitude

HO = Hz = m(xvy - yvx)
.
Computing the rate of change HO of the angular momentum HO ,
and applying Newtons second law, we write
.
S MO = HO
which states that the sum of the moments about O of the
forces acting on a particle is equal to the rate of change of the
angular momentum of the particle about O. Dr. Ashok Kaushal
 mv When the only force acting on a
f particle P is a force F directed
P toward or away from a fixed
r mv0 point O, the particle is said to be
O f0 moving under a central force.
r0 P0 Since S MO = 0 at any .given
instant, it follows that HO = 0 for
all values of t, and

HO = constant
We conclude that the angular momentum of a particle moving
under a central force is constant, both in magnitude and
direction, and that the particle moves in a plane perpendicular
to HO .

Dr. Ashok Kaushal

 mv
f Recalling that HO = rmv sin f, we
P have, for points PO and P
r mv0
O f0 rmv sin f = romvo sin fo
r0 P0 for the motion of any particle under
a central force.
. .
Using polar coordinates and recalling that vq = rq and HO = mr2q,
we have
.
r2q = h
where h is a constant representing the angular momentum per
unit mass Ho/m, of the particle.

Dr. Ashok Kaushal

 mv
f .
P r2q = h
r mv0
O f0
r0 P0
The infinitesimal area dA swept by
the radius vector OP as it rotates
through.dq is equal to r2dq/2 and,
r dq thus, r2q represents twice the
dA P areal velocity dA/dt of the particle.
dq The areal velocity of a particle
F
O moving under a central force is
q
constant.

Dr. Ashok Kaushal

 An important application of the motion
r under a central force is provided by the
m
orbital motion of bodies under gravitational
F attraction. According to Newtons law of
-F universal gravitation, two particles at a
M distance r from each other and of masses
M and m, respectively, attract each other
with equal and opposite forces F and -F directed along the line
joining the particles. The magnitude F of the two forces is
Mm
F=G 2
r
where G is the constant of gravitation. In the case of a body of
mass m subjected to the gravitational attraction of the earth, the
product GM, where M is the mass of the earth, is expressed as
GM = gR2
where g = 9.81 m/s2 = 32.2 ft/s2 and R is the radius of the earth.
Dr. Ashok Kaushal