FORCES AND NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION

NEWTON’S FIRST LAW : Law of Inertia

An object continues in a state of rest or in a state of motion at a constant
speed along a straight line, unless compelled to change that state by a
net force. It is sometimes known as “Law of Inertia”.

Consider: V V

At rest. In constant speed/velocity

DEFINITION OF INERTIA AND MASS

Inertia is the natural tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion at
a constant speed along a straight line. The mass of an object is a
quantitative measure of inertia.
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW : Law of Acceleration
When a net force ƩF acts on an object of mass “m”, the acceleration “a” that
results is directly proportional to the net force and has a magnitude that is inversely
proportional to the mass.
Consider:
a a
m F m F

m 2a 2F a/2
2m F

3a
m 3F
a/3
3m F
a~F
Acceleration is directly proportional to
the Force. a~1/m

a ~ ƩF / m Acceleration is inversely proportional

ƩF = ma to the mass.
ƩF ~ ma
ƩF = kma Where: “ƩF” is the net force on the object. (N)
k = constant of
“m” is the mass of the object. (kg)
proportionality
k = 1.0 “a” is the acceleration of the object. (m/s2)
If the motion is along horizontal
System of Units
ƩFx = max m a F
If the motion is along vertical MKS kg m/s2 N
CGS gm cm/s2 Dyne
ƩFy = may
FPS slug ft/s2 lb

Sign convention
Motion F=+ Motion F=+

F=- F=-
Motion

Motion
F=- F=+ F=+ F=-

NEWTON’S THIRD LAW : Law of Interaction

For every force acting on an object, there is always equal and opposite reaction.
Problem 1: A 1580-kg car is traveling with a speed of 15.0 m/s. What is the
magnitude of the horizontal net force that is required to bring the car to a halt in
a distance of 50.0 m?
Solution:
w = mg
F=?

N Vi= 15 m/s X = 50 m Vf = 0
a
t

ƩFx = max Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ax

-F = max (0)2 = (15)2 + 2a(50)

-F = (1580)(-2.25) a = -2.25 m/s2

F = 3,555.00 N
Problem 2: A student is skateboarding down a ramp that is 6.0 m long and
inclined at 18o with respect to the horizontal. The initial speed of the
skateboarder at the top of the ramp is 2.6 m/s. Neglect friction and find the
speed at the bottom of the ramp.

Vi = 2
.6 m/
s
w
N X=6 Vf2 = Vi2 + 2ax
.0 m 18o
a=? Vf = ?
t=? Vf2 = (2.6)2 + 2(3.03)(6.0)
motion
Vf = 6.57 m/s
Y
ƩFx = max
N
X
wx = wsin18o wx = max

18o
wsin18o = max
w
mgsin18o = max
wy = wcos18o
ax = 3.03 m/s2
Problem 3: A 95.0-kg person stands on a scale in an elevator. What is the apparent
weight when the elevator is (a) accelerating upward with an acceleration of 1.80 m/s2,
(b) moving upward at a constant speed, and (c) accelerating downward with an
acceleration of 1.80 m/s2?
Solution: T w w w
(a) (b) (c)

motion
motion

motion
N N N

wTotal ƩFy = may ƩFy = may ƩFy = may

N – w = may N–w=0 - N + w = may
N = (95)(9.8) + N = (95)(9.8) N = (95)(9.8) -
(95)(1.80) (95)(1.80)
w
N = 1,102.00 N N = 931.00 N
N = 760.00 N
(Apparent Weight) (True Weight) (Apparent Weight)
N
Problem 4: A woman stands on a scale in a moving elevator. Her mass is 60.0 kg,
and the combined mass of the elevator and scale is an additional 815 kg. Starting
from rest, the elevator accelerates upward. During the acceleration, there is a
tension of 9,410 N in the hoisting cable. What is the reading on the scale during
the acceleration?
wW = 588 N

T = 9,410 N ƩFy = may

motion
T – w = may

9,410 – 8575 = (875)ay N=?

motion

ay = 0.95 m/s2
ƩFy = may

N - wW = may

N – 588 = (60)(0.95)
wT = (875)(9.8)

wT = 8,575 N N = 645 N
Problem : A 92-kg baseball player slides into second base. The coefficient of
kinetic friction between the player and the ground is µk = 0.61. (a) What is the
magnitude of the frictional force? (b) If the player comes to rest after 2.10 s,
what is his initial speed?
w
ƩFx = max

fK - fk = max
Vi X Vf = 0
- 549.98 = max
N a
- 549.98 = (92)ax
t = 2.10 sec
ax = -5.98 m/s2
w = (92)(9.8) fk = µkN

w = 901.6 N fk = (0.61)(901.60) Finally:

ƩFy = 0 Vf = Vi + at
fk = 549.98 N
N–w=0
0 = Vi + (-5.98)(2.1)
N=w
N = 901.6 N Vi = 12.56 m/s