CHAPTER 3

FORCE

By Dr. NURUL NADIA ADNAN

Abridged by: Dr. Ahmad Hassan Sallehudin

1
 Contents:
3.1 Definition of force
3.2 Types of Forces
3.3 Newton’s: Law of Motion and its
application
3.4 Static equilibrium under concurrent
force

2
 3.1:
Introduction of force

Sub-topic:
Force.

3
 Introduction of force
Force
• A force is push or pull exerted on an object.
• Force is a vector quantity that has magnitude and
direction.
• The unit of force is Newton ( or kg ms-2).
• Can cause object to accelerate / change in velocity.
• Examples:
– Gravitational force,
– electromagnetic force,
– nuclear forces between subatomic particles etc

4
FORCE
An object at rest needs a force
to get it moving; a moving
object needs a force to change
its velocity.

The magnitude of a force

can be measured using a
spring scale.
5
 3.2:
Types of forces
Sub-topic:

Gravitational force.
Normal force
Frictional force
Tensional force

6
Types of Forces

1. Gravitational Force
 is the force with which the gravity pulls downward
upon it

Gravitational force 7
 Weight, W
Weight is the force exerted on that object by
gravity.

W = mg

Mass is measured in kilogram (kg)

W
Mass is not weight
Direction: directly downward from the object.

8
 Normal Force, N
N

A reaction force exerted by

object
surface
Cannot exist on its own
floor
Direction: Always
perpendicular to the surface

9
 Frictional Force , f
is defined as a force that resists the motion of one surface
relative to another with which it is in contact.
is independent of the area of contact between the two
surfaces..
is directly proportional to the reaction force

10
Tensional Force, T
 is the force with which the strings pulls upon the object to
which it is attached.
 The magnitude of the tensile force is the tension (T)

11
 3.3:
Newton Law of Motion and its
application
Sub-topic:

Newton’s 1st Law, inertia, mass and examples

Newton’s 2nd Law and examples
Newton’s 3rd Law and examples

12
Newton’s First Law, Second Law and Third
Law of Motion

Newton’s first law

An object in its state of rest will continues at rest, or an
object moving at constant velocity will continues
moving at constant velocity as long there are no external
force on the object.

If ∑ F = 0 , then v = constant , or a = 0

13
 Inertia and Mass
• Inertia is the tendency for an object to continue its
motion in the absence of a force.
• Mass is a measure of the resistance of an object to
changes in its motion due to a force.
(Mass is a measure of inertia)
- Scalar quantity
- SI units are kg
• Mass is not weight:
• Mass is a property of an object. Weight is the force
exerted on that object by gravity.
– If you go to the moon, whose gravitational
acceleration is about 1/6 g, you will weigh much less.
Your mass, however, will be the same.
14
Situation Involving Inertia 1 - Jerking a Card

Jerking a Card
When the cardboard is jerked quickly,
the coin will fall into the glass.

Explanation:
•The inertia of the coin resists the
change of its initial state, which is
stationary.
•As a result, the coin does not move with
the cardboard and falls into the glass
because of gravity.

15
 Situation Involving Inertia 2 - Pulling a Book

Pulling a Book

When the book is pulled out, the

books on top will fall downwards.

Explanation:
Inertia tries to oppose the change to
the stationary situation, that is,
when the book is pulled out, the
books on top do not follow suit.

16
 Relationship between mass and inertia

Larger Mass - Greater Inertia

Bucket filled with sand is more

difficult to be moved. It's also more
difficult to be stopped from
swinging.

Explanation:
Object with more mass offers a
greater resistance to change from its
state of motion. Object with larger
mass has larger inertia to resist the
attempt to change the state of
motion.
17
Empty Cart is easier to be moved

Empty cart is easier to be moved

An empty cart is easier to be
moved compare with a cart full
with load.

This is because a cart with larger

mass has larger inertia to resist
the attempt to change the state
of motion.

18
 QUESTION!

Which vehicle has

more inertia?

19
• Study case:
What happen to the passengers in the bus when the
driver suddenly had an emergency brake?

• The law of inertia says that an object's velocity will

change (i.e., it will accelerate) if a nonzero force is
applied to it. Therefore, force causes acceleration.
Newton's second law picks up on this theme and tells
us, quantitatively, how the acceleration relates to the
net force. 20
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW

Newton’s second law is

the relation between
acceleration and force.
Acceleration is
proportional to force
and inversely
proportional to mass.

21
 Example
Determine the accelerations which result when a 12-N net
force is applied to a 3-kg object and then to a 6-kg
object.

Solution :
F  m a F  m a
12 N  3 kg  a 12 N  6 kg  a
2 2
a  4.0 ms a  2.0 ms
22
 Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Any time a force is exerted on an object, that force is
caused by another object.
…or
Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object,
the second exerts an equal force in the opposite
direction on the first.

23
24
 Application of 2nd Newton’s Law
• From the Newton’s 2nd law of motion,
ΣF = Fnett = ma

• There are a five steps in applying the equation above to

solve the problems:
1. Identify the object whose motion is
considered.
2. Determine the forces exerted on the object

25
 3. Draw a free body diagram for each object.
• Is define as a diagram showing the chosen body by
itself, with vectors applied to the body by the other
bodies that interact with it.

4. Choose a system of coordinates so that calculations may

be the equation simplified.

5. Apply the equation above,

∑ Fx = max for along x-axis
∑ Fy = may for along y-axis

26
Object on horizontal surfaces

• Object static (not moving).

FN
• Two force involve on the object.
object • FN or N, normal force. Always
perpendicular to the surface.
• FG or W weight force. Due to
floor gravity.
F • A reaction force exerted by
G
surface whenever a force such as
g = 9.81 m/s2 gravitational force acts on the
FN = W = mg surface.
Fx = 0 • Cannot exist on its own.
27
Object motion on horizontal surfaces

FN • Object moving horizontal line.

object
• A force, F was exerted on the
object to move in horizontal
F line.
• Either to right (+ve) or to left (-
floor ve).
F • There will be an acceleration,
G a.
ΣFx = ma
ΣFy = 0

28
 Example 3.1:

1. Find the acceleration for object (a), (b) and (c).

(a)

1 kg F= 2N
(c)
F1=
1 kg 2N
F=
floor F3= 2

1N 4N

(b) floor
F1= 2N
1 kg F2= 4N

floor

29
2. Find the normal force for object (d) and (e).

(d) N
200 N
30o

floor (Ans: 400 N)

W = 500 N

(e)
N
200 N

30o

floor
W = 150 N
(Ans: 250 N)
30
3. Two blocks, each of mass 4 kg and 2 kg respectively, are pushed
by a 10 N force, as shown in Figure below. If the floor is
frictionless, calculate the acceleration of the system. (Past
year:mar2012/phy130) a

10 N 10 N FBA
4 kg 4 kg
2 kg

floor a
Solution: FAB
m = 4 + 2 = 6 kg 2 kg

F = ma
a = F/m
= 10 N/6 kg = 1.67 ms-2
31
4. A boy pulls a box of toys on a smooth horizontal floor with a
force of 100 N in a direction of 37.0o above the horizontal. If
the mass of the box and the toys is 40.0 kg,
a. Draw the forces acting on the box.
b. What is the normal force on the box?
c. What is the acceleration of the box?
(Ref:past year:Apr2001/phy103)

Solution:
(a) Sketch of forces acting on the box
N F sin 37 F = 100 N
F cos 37

W = mg 32
(b) From the figure, determine an equation to find normal force
Fy  0
N  F sin 37  mg  0
N  mg  F sin 37
N  (40)(9.8)  100 sin 37  331.82 N

(c) From the figure, determine an equation to find acceleration

Fx  ma
F cos 37  ma
100 cos 37
a  2 ms 2
40
33
 Exercise 3.1

1. A 3.0 N net force is applied to a 1.5 kg mass. What is the object’s

acceleration? (Ans: 2.0 ms-2)

2. What is the mass of an object that accelerates at 3.0 m/s2 under

the influence of a 5.0 N net force? (Ans: 1.7 kg)

3. A worker pushes on a crate that experiences a net force of 75 N. If

the crate also experiences an acceleration of 0.50 m/s2, what is its
weight? (Ans: 1472 N)

4. What is the mass of a person weighing 740 N on the Earth? (Ans:

75.5 kg)
34
5. A boy pulls a box of mass 30 kg with a force of
25 N in the direction shown in Fig. 1. (a)
Ignoring friction, what is the acceleration of
the box? (b) What is the normal force exerted
on the box by the ground?
(Ans: 0.72 ms-2, 2.8 x 102 N)

25 N

30

Fig. 1
35
6. A girl pushes a 25 kg lawn mower as shown in Fig. 2. If F=
30 N and θ = 37, (a) what is the acceleration of the mower,
and (b) what is the normal force exerted on the mower by
the lawn? Ignore friction.
(Ans: 0.96 ms-2, 2.6 x 102 N)

Fig. 2
36
When object acting on incline surface (smooth surface
or frictionless)

N≠w
w sin θ θ
θ w cos θ

ΣFx = mxa ΣFy = 0

F + w sin θ = ma N + (-w cos θ) = 0

F + mg sin θ = ma N = w cos θ
37
 Example 3.2:

1. Draw the vector free body diagram and find the

acceleration and normal force of the object.

θ = 40o

38
Solution:

(a) ΣFx = mxa

F-mg sin 40= ma
200-98 sin 40= 10a
137.01=10a
a=13.7 ms-2
θ
w = mg
(b) ΣFy = 0
N – mg cos 40 = 0
No friction involve N = mg cos 40
N = (98) cos 40
N = 75.07 N

39
 Exercise 3.2:

1. Draw the vector free body diagram and find

the force of the object. Given the mass of the
box is 15 kg and moving at constant
acceleration 1.2 ms-2.

θ = 30o

(Ans: F = -55.5 N (downwards))

40
2. A block weighing 50 N rests on an inclined
plane. Its weight is a force directed vertically
downward, as illustrated in Fig. 3.
a. Draw the vector free body diagram and,
b. Find the components of the force parallel to the surface
of the plane and perpendicular to it.

Fig. 3

w = 50 N

 = 37

(Ans: N=40 N; F = 3041 N)

Frictional force, ƒ
• Is define as a force that resist the motion of one
surface relative to another with which it is in contact.
• Is independent of area of contact between two
surfaces.
• Formula for frictional force.

f  N
ƒ : frictional force
μ : coefficient of friction
N : reaction force
42
Coefficient of friction, μ
• Is defined as the ratio between frictional force to
reaction force.

f

N
• Depend on the nature of the surfaces.
• There are three types of frictional force:
– Static, fs (object static before moved)
– Kinetic, fk (when object moved)
– Rolling, fr (object when its rolling)

43
 Important note

• The direction of the frictional force exerted by a

surface on an object is always in the opposite direction
of the motion.
• The frictional and the reaction forces are always
perpendicular.

44
Friction: Horizontal surface

Consider a box of mass m is N

a
pulled along a horizontal surface
by a horizontal force, F as shown F
in figure, ƒ
floor
w = mg
x – component : ΣFx = Fnett = ma
Fx  F  f  ma
y – component : ΣFy = 0
Fy  N  mg  0

45
 Example 3.3:

1. A horizontal force of 140 N is needed to pull a 60 kg

box across the horizontal floor constant speed. What
is the coefficient of friction between floor and box?

Solution:
N

F = 140 N
f
floor
W
46
The box does not move up or down, ay = 0. Therefore
ΣFy = may = 0
N – mg = 0
N = mg = (60 kg)(9.8 m/s2)
N = 588.6 N
Further, because the box is moving horizontally at constant speed,
ax = 0 and so
ΣFx = ma = 0
140 – f = 0
f = 140N

From which the friction force is f = 140 N. We then have

f 140
   0.238
N 588.6
47
 Exercise 4.3:

1. Given F1 is 10 N, F2 is 20 N, mass of the box is 2 kg

and the friction is 0.2 N. Find the acceleration of the
box.
a
F2

450
F1

floor

(Ans: a = 11.97 ms-2)

48
2. A box weighing 400 N is pushed horizontally across
the floor of a room by a force 900 N as shown in
figure below. If the coefficient of kinetic friction
between the box and the floor is 0.56, find the
acceleration of the box.
(Ans: 16.56 ms-2, Past year:oct2008)

F = 900 N

floor

49
Friction: Inclined plane
Consider a box of mass m is pulled along an inclined
plane by a force, F as shown in figure,

F
y
x
wx

θ wy

w = mg,

50
x - component (parallel to the inclined plane):
ΣFx = ma

Fx  F  f  mg sin   ma

y – component (perpendicular to inclined plane):

ΣFy = 0

Fy  N  mg cos   0

51
 Example 3.4:

1. The block shown below slides at a constant speed

down the incline.
a. How large is the friction force that opposes its
motion?
b. What is the coefficient of kinetic between the
block and the floor?

θ = 40o
52
Solution:

(a) ΣFx = ma

mg sin 40  f  0
f  mg sin 40 f
f  (60 N ) sin 40
mg sin 40
f  38.6 N
θ mg cos 40

(b) Fy  0 w

N  mg cos 40  0
f  N
N  mg cos 40 f 38.6
N  (60 N ) cos 40    0.84
N 45.96
N  45.96 N 53
 Exercise 4.4:

1. A block of mass 3 kg is pulled by force F along a 40o

inclined plane, if F = 100 N and the coefficient of
friction μ = 0.3.
a. Draw the forces acting on the block.
b. What is the acceleration of the block.

(Ans: a = 24.78 ms-2)

54
Tension, T
• When a cord (or rope, cable, or other such object) is
attached to a body and pullet taut, and the cord pulls
on the body with a force T directed away from the
body and the cord.
• Also known as tension force, T because the cord is
said to be in state of tension.
• A cord is massless.
• Exits only as a connection between the body.
• Tension without pulley and with pulley.

55
Tension: Without pulley (Horizontal movement)
Consider a box of mass mA connected to box mass mB is
pulled along a horizontal surface by a horizontal force, F
as shown in figure,
a
T
F mA mB

floor
Since the box pulls at same force, so the acceleration are same.
a
Equation for box A: T
F mA
F - T = m Aa

Equation for box B: a

T = mBa T
mB
56
 Example 3.5:

1. A 10 kg block is connected to a 40 kg block as

shown in the figure. The surface on that the
blocks slide is frictionless. A force of 50 N
pulls the blocks to the right. Find
a. the acceleration of the 40 kg block?
b. the tension T in the rope that connects the two blocks?
(cutnell/testbank)

57
Solution:
(a) The both box is moving horizontally to the right, so
m1 + m2 = 50 N
ΣFx = ma
50N = 50a
a = 1 ms-2

(b) ΣFx = ma
F - T = ma a a
T T
T = F - ma 10 kg 40 kg F
T = 50N – 40N
T = 10N
58
 Exercise 3.5:
1. Assume that the three blocks in Figure below
move on a frictionless surface and that a 42 N
force acts as shown on the 3.0 kg block.
Determine:
a. the acceleration given this system.
b. the tension in the cord connecting the 3.0 kg and the
1.0 kg blocks.

(Ans: a = 7.0 ms-2, T = 21 N) (Servey/c4/q27)

59
Tension: Pulley (vertical motion)
Consider two blocks connected by a cord that passes over
the frictionless pulley as shown in figure,

Tension of the cord is same, therefore

m1
Equation for block m1:
m2
T – W1 = m1a
T

Equation for block m2: T

W2 - T = m2a a m1 m2 a

w1 w2 60
 Exercise 3.6:

1. Determine
T
a. the tension in the string and
T
b. the acceleration of the m1
objects.
(given m1 = 2 kg and m2 = 3 kg. g m2
=9.8 m/s) W1

W2

(Ans: a = 1.96 m/s2, T = 23.5 N)

61
Tension: Pulley (horizontal and vertical motion)
Consider two blocks connected by a cord that passes over
the frictionless pulley as shown in figure,
a

Tension of the cord is same, therefore m1

Equation for block m1: (smooth)

T = m1a m2

Equation for block m2: a T T1

W2 - T = m2a a a
m3
m1 T m2 m3
Equation for block m3:
W3 - T1 = m3a w2 w3
62
 Exercise 3.7:

1. Determine the tension in the string and force.

a = 2 ms-2 (Ans: T1 = 94.4 N, T2 = 70.8 N), F = 104.4 N
T
F=? 5 kg

T
(smooth)

2 kg

T2

6 kg
63
Tension: other examples

64
 3.4:
Static equilibrium under
concurrent force
Sub-topic:
Equilibrium
Hanging object

65
 Concurrent Force
• The force whose lines of action all pass through a common
point.
• The forces acting on a point object are concurrent because
they all pass through the same point, the point object.

66
 Equilibrium
• The object is in equilibrium under the action of
concurrent forces provided it is not accelerating.
• Because of the object not moving either in x-axis or y-
axis, therefore the equation can be write as;
∑ Fx = 0 for x-axis
∑ Fy = 0 for y-axis.
• Keep track of the signs of the various force
components.
• Examples:
– Hanging object (neglect air resistance)
67
Hanging object

• An object hanging to ceiling.

ceiling • Due to gravity the object force
downwards.
T rope
• Also the rope fill tension, T
opposite the weight of the
object object.
• This give an equation,

W = mg Fx = 0 …. Eq (1)
Fy = 0 …. Eq (2)
T – W = 0 …. Eq (3)
68
 Example 3.6:

1. Figure below show an object, W hung from two

strings. The whole system is in equilibrium. If the
weight of the object, W = 880 N, calculate T1 and
T2.

(Ans: T1 = 1116.74 N, T2 = 687.53 N)

69
Solution:
Sketch free body
x-component: T1 cos 52 – T2 = 0 diagram

T2 = T1 cos 52 …… (1) T1

T2 52
y-component: T1 sin 52 – W = 0
W
T1  W
sin 52
T1 = 1116.74 N …… (2)

Get eq (2) into eq (1):

T2 = 1116.14N cos 52
T2 = 687.53 N 70
 Exercise 3.9:

1. Draw free body diagram and find tension on the

object given where mass of the picture is 10 kg.
ceiling

(Ans: T = 98 N)
71
2. Draw a free body diagram and find tension on the
strings. Given mass of the signboard is 10 kg.

ceiling

35o 45o

(Ans: T1 = 81.52 N, T2 = 70.37 N)

72
3. Draw free body diagram and find the tension in each
cable supporting the 600 N cat burglar

(Ans: T1 = 796.19 N, T2 = 996.8 N)

73
Please do more exercises on
your own.

Practices make prefect

74