Forces and Motion

PHY111: Mechanics and Thermo Properties of

Matter

GT Taulo
Physics Department
Chancellor College
Box 280 Zomba , Malawi
The First Law of Motion
▪ Newton’s first law of motion states that an object at rest will
remain at rest, and an object moving at a constant velocity will
continue moving at a constant velocity , unless it is acted
upon by an external unbalanced force.
▪ If an object is not moving, it will not move until a force acts on it.
▪ Clothes on the floor of your room will stay there unless you pick
them up.
▪ If an object is already moving, it will continue to move at a
constant velocity until a force acts to change either its speed or
direction.
Inertial
▪ Whether an object is moving or not, it resists any change to its state
of motion.
▪ Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion.
▪ Newton’s first law of motion is called the law of inertia.
▪ Inertia explains many common events, such as why you
move forward in your seat when a car stops suddenly.
▪ When the car stops, inertia keeps you moving forward.
▪ A force, such as the pull of a seat belt, is required to
change your motion.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
▪ According to Newton’s second law of motion, acceleration
depends on the object’s mass and on the net force acting on the
object.
▪ This relationship can be written as an equation:
Acceleration = Net Force/ Mass
▪ Acceleration is measured in meters per second per second
(m/s2), and mass is measured in kilograms (kg).
▪ According to Newton’s second law, then, force is measured in
kilograms times meters per second per second (kg x m/s2).
▪ The short for this unit of force is the newton (N).
▪ Recall that a newton is the metric unit of force.
▪ You can think of one newton as the force required to give a 1-kg
mass an acceleration of 1 m/s2.
Sample Problem
▪ A speedboat pulls a 55 kg water skier. The force causes the
skier to accelerate at 2.0 m/s2. Calculate the net force that
causes this acceleration.

What information are you given?

▪ Mass of water skier = 55 kg
▪ Acceleration of the water skier = 2.0 m/s2

What quantity are you trying to calculate? Then; 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎

▪ The net force 𝐹 = 55𝑘𝑔 2.0 𝑚Τ𝑠 2

▪ What formula will you use? = 1.1 × 102 𝑁
 Acceleration = Net force ÷ mass

 OR Net Force = mass x acceleration

Exercise
▪ Look at the pictures below.

▪ Which vehicle do you think would require a greater force to push

and why?

▪ Using the equation, solve for the amount of force.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion
▪ Newton proposed that whenever one object exerts a force on a
second object, the second object exerts a force back on the first
object.
▪ The force exerted by the second object is equal in strength and
opposite in direction to the first force.
▪ Think of one force as the “action” and the other force as the
“reaction.”

Another way to state Newton’s third law

is that for every action there is an equal
but opposite reaction.
Action-Reaction Pairs
▪ You’re probably familiar with many examples of Newton’s third
law.

▪ Pairs of action and reaction forces are all around you.

▪ When you jump, you push on the ground with your feet.

▪ This is the action force.

▪ The ground pushes back on your feet with an equal and

opposite force.

▪ This is the reaction force.

Detecting Motion
▪ Can you always detect motion when paired forces are in action?
The answer is no.
▪ For example, when Earth’s gravity pulls on an object, you
cannot detect Earth’s equal and opposite reaction.
▪ Suppose you drop your pencil.
▪ Gravity pulls the pencil downward.
▪ At the same time, the pencil pulls Earth upward with an equal
and opposite reaction force.
▪ You don’t see Earth accelerate toward the pencil because
Earth’s inertia is so great that its acceleration is too small to
notice.
Do Action-Reaction Forces
Cancel?
▪ Earlier you learned that if two equal forces act in opposite
directions on an object, the forces are balanced.

▪ Because the two forces add up to zero, they cancel each other
out and produce no change in motion.

▪ Why then don’t the action and reaction force in Newton’s third
law of motion cancel out as well?

▪ After all, they are equal and opposite.

▪ The action and reaction forces
do not cancel out because they
are acting on different objects.
▪ Look at the volleyball player.
▪ She exerts an upward action
force on the ball.
▪ In return, the ball exerts an
equal but opposite downward
reaction force back on her
wrists.
▪ The action and reaction forces
act on different objects.
▪ On the other hand, the volleyball players are both exerting a
force on the same object – the volleyball.

▪ When they hit the ball from opposite directions, each of their
hands exerts a force on the ball equal in strength but opposite in
direction.

▪ The forces on the volleyball are balanced and the ball does not
move either to the left or to the right.
Frictional Force
▪ Friction is a “catch-all” term that collectively refers to all forces
which act to reduce motion between objects and the matter they
contact.
▪ Friction often transforms the energy of motion into thermal energy
or the wearing away of moving surfaces.
Kinetic friction
▪ Kinetic friction is sliding friction. It is a force that resists sliding or
skidding motion between two surfaces.

▪ If a crate is dragged to the right, friction points left. Friction acts

in the opposite direction of the (relative) motion that produced it.
A Model for Kinetic Friction
▪ The force of kinetic friction 𝐹𝑓 between two surfaces equals the
coefficient of kinetic friction 𝜇𝑘 times the normal force 𝐹𝑁 .
𝐹𝑓 = 𝜇𝑘 𝐹𝑁

▪ But what is this coefficient of friction, 𝜇𝑘 ?

▪ The coefficient of friction is a constant that depends on both
materials. Pairs of materials with more friction have a higher 𝜇𝑘 .
𝐹𝑓
𝜇𝑘 =
𝐹𝑁
▪ The 𝜇𝑘 tells you how many newtons of friction you get per
newton of normal force. Do you see why 𝜇𝑘 has no units?
▪ The coefficient of friction 𝝁𝒌 is typically between 0 and 1.
Example
▪ Consider a 30 N brick sliding across a floor at constant speed.
.

▪ What is the friction force on the brick if 𝜇𝑘 = 0.5?

𝐹𝑓 = 𝜇𝑘 𝐹𝑁
= 0.5 30𝑁 = 15𝑁
▪ The force F needed to make the board slide at constant speed
must also be 15 N.
Static Friction
▪ Static friction is gripping friction. It is a force that prevents
relative motion between surfaces in contact with each other.
▪ Without static friction between your feet and the floor, you could
not walk or run. Your feet would slip.
▪ Without static friction between your tires and the road, you could
not start or stop a car.
Static Friction
Static friction prevents this crate from
sliding when pushed . . .

. . . until the pushing force is greater

than the maximum static friction force
available.

How much static friction acts

in case a? 120 N

In case b? 160 N

The crate is at rest so the net force

must be zero. The static friction
increases exactly as needed to keep
the box at rest.
A Model for Static Friction
▪ The maximum static friction force 𝐹𝑓 between two surfaces is the
coefficient of static friction 𝜇𝑠 times the normal force 𝐹𝑁 .

𝐹𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁
Calculating Static Friction
▪ A 10 N board is at rest on a table. How much force does it take
to start the board sliding if 𝜇𝑠 = 0.2?

Ask yourself:
What forces act on the
block? Draw the free-
body diagram.

𝐹𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑠 𝐹𝑁 = 0.2 10𝑁 = 2𝑁

▪ 2 N is the maximum force of static friction available.
▪ 2 N is also the minimum force needed to start the board moving
Example
▪ A toboggan loaded with vacationing students slides down a
long, snow-covered slope having a coefficient of kinetic friction
𝜇𝑘 . The slope has just the right angle to make the toboggan
slide with constant speed. Find the angle of the slope.
Example continues
▪ Since the toboggan is sliding at constant speed, the
acceleration is zero. We choose a frame of reference that is
parallel to the slope.
▪ In this frame of reference, the force equations are shown in the
diagram below.

▪ Here 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔.
Solution
▪ Lets start with sum of forces in y-axis
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹𝑁 − 𝐹𝑔𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦 = 0 → 𝐹𝑁 − 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 = 0

→ 𝑭𝑵 = 𝒎𝒈 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽
▪ Sum of forces in x-axis will be;
෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹𝑓 − 𝐹𝑔𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0 → 𝝁𝒌 𝑭𝑵 − 𝒎𝒈 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = 𝟎

▪ Substituting the two equations we have the following.

𝜇𝑘 𝑚𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 − 𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 = 0
▪ Dividing 𝑚𝑔 cos 𝜃 from the entire equation we get.
tan 𝜃 = 𝜇𝑘
Example
▪ A block of mass m1 moves on a level surface with a coefficient
of kinetic friction μk. It is connected by a light (massless),
flexible cord passing over a small, frictionless pulley to a second
hanging block of mass m2. What is the acceleration of the
system, and what is the tension in the cord connecting the two
blocks?
Solution
▪ We treat each block as a separate system. Starting with the
block on the table we get

▪ Sum of forces in y-axis

෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹𝑁 − 𝐹𝑔𝑦 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑦 = 0 → 𝐹𝑁 − 𝑚1 𝑔 = 0

→ 𝑭𝑵 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒈
▪ Sum of forces in x-axis will be;
෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑇 − 𝐹𝑓 = 𝑚1 𝑎 → 𝑻 − 𝝁𝒌 𝑭𝑵 = 𝒎𝟏 𝒂
Solution
▪ From the previous equations;
𝑇 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔
𝑇 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔 = 𝑚1 𝑎 → 𝑎 =
𝑚1
▪ From here we see that we have an unknown in T, so lets
consider the second block.

▪ Sum of x components is zero.

▪ Sum of y components: σ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑇 − 𝑚2 𝑔 = −𝑚2 𝑎
𝑇 = 𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝑚2 𝑎
Solution
▪ After solving, you will get the acceleration and tension forces as
follows;

𝑚2 𝑔 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑚1 𝑔
𝑎=
(𝑚1 + 𝑚2 )𝑚1

𝑚1 𝑚2 𝑔(1 + 𝜇𝑘 )
𝑇=
𝑚1 + 𝑚2
Exercise

▪ The man pushes/pulls with a force of 200 N. The child and sled
combo have a mass of 30 kg and the coefficient of kinetic
friction is 0.150. For each case:
a) What is the frictional force opposing his efforts?
b) What is the acceleration of the child?

𝐹𝑓 = 59.1𝑁, 𝑎 = 3.80𝑚Τ𝑠 2 / 𝐹𝑓 = 29.1𝑁, 𝑎 = 4.80𝑚Τ𝑠 2

Exercise

▪ Given m1 = 10 kg and m2 = 5 kg:

a) What value of 𝜇𝑠 would stop the block from sliding?
b) If the box is sliding and 𝜇𝑘 = 0.2
I. what is the acceleration?
II. what is the tension of the rope?
▪ (a) 𝜇𝑠 = 0.5 (b)(i) a = 1.96𝑚Τ𝑠 2 (b)(i) 𝑇 = 39.2𝑁
Exercise
▪ What is the minimum 𝜇𝑠 required to prevent a sled from slipping
down a hill of slope 30 degrees?

𝜇𝑠 = 0.577
Uniform Circular Motion
Speed/Velocity in a Circle
Consider an object moving in a circle
around a specific origin. The DISTANCE
the object covers in ONE REVOLUTION
is called the CIRCUMFERENCE. The
TIME that it takes to cover this distance
is called the PERIOD.
𝑑 2𝜋𝑟
ҧ
𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 = =
𝑇 𝑇

Speed is the MAGNITUDE of the

velocity. And while the speed may be
constant, the VELOCITY is NOT.
Since velocity is a vector with BOTH
magnitude AND direction, we see
that the direction of the velocity is
ALWAYS changing.

We call this velocity, TANGENTIAL velocity as its

direction is draw TANGENT to the circle.
Centripetal Acceleration
Magnitude ac of the centripetal acceleration depends
on the speed v of the object and the radius r of the
circular path.
Acceleration in velocity divided by the elapsed time
𝑎 = ∆𝑣ൗ∆𝑡

∆𝑡 is very small, the

arc length OP is
approximately a
straight line whose
length is the distance
𝑣∆𝑡 traveled by the
object.
 COP is an isosceles triangle. Both triangles have
equal apex angles  .

v vt
=
v r

The direction is toward the center of the circle.

Drawing the Directions Correctly
So for an object traveling in a counter-clockwise
path. The velocity would be drawn TANGENT to
the circle and the acceleration would be drawn
TOWARDS the CENTER.

To find the MAGNITUDES of each we have:

Circular Motion and Newton’s
Second Law
v2
Recall that according to FNET = ma ac =
Newton’s Second Law, the r
acceleration is directly mv 2
proportional to the Force. FNET = Fc =
r
Fc = Centripetal Force
Since the acceleration and the force are
directly related, the force must ALSO point
towards the center. This is called
CENTRIPETAL FORCE.
NOTE: The centripetal force is a NET FORCE.
Example
The blade of a windshield wiper moves
through an angle of 90 degrees in 0.28
seconds. The tip of the blade moves on
the arc of a circle that has a radius of
0.76m. What is the magnitude of the
centripetal acceleration of the tip of the
blade?

2r 2 (.76)
vc = vc = = 4.26 m / s
T (.28 * 4)
Example What is the minimum coefficient of static
friction necessary to allow a penny to rotate
𝟏
Top view along a 33 rpm record (diameter= 0.300
𝟑
m), when the penny is placed at the outer
edge of the record?

FN
Ff F f = Fc
mv 2
mg FN =
r
Side view mv 2
mg =
r
v2
=
rg
Example : Centripetal Force
and Safe Driving
Compare the maximum
speeds at which a car can
safely negotiate an
unbanked turn (r= 50.0m)

S --dry = 0.9
 S − dry = 0.9
S --icy = 0.1

N
FS

FS
mg
The car does not accelerate ,
FN – mg = 0 FN = mg.
N

fS
mg

2
v
 s g = v =  s gr
r
 Dry road (  s =0.900)

v = (0.900 )(9.80 m / s 2 )(50.0m) = 21.0m / s

Icy road (  s =0.100)

v = (0.100 )(9.80 m / s 2 )(50.0m) = 7.00 m / s

As expected, the dry road allows the greater

maximum speed.
Banked Curves
 A car is going around a friction-free banked
curve. The radius of the curve is r.

FN sin is the force that points toward the

center C 2
mv
FC = FN sin  =
r
FN cos and, since the car does not accelerate in the
vertical direction, this component must balance the
weight mg of the car.

FN cos  = mg
 FN sin  mv / r 2
=
FN cos mg
2
v
tan =
rg

At a speed that is too small for a given  , a car

would slide down a frictionless banked curve: at a
speed that is too large, a car would slide off the
top.
MOMENT OF FORCE
Forces and moments
The longer
the spanner,
the greater
the turning
effect (force)

Spanners are
used for
tightening and
loosening nuts.
They help to
produce a
larger turning
effect.
Forces and moments

Moment of = force x perpendicular

a force about distance from
a point the point

Moments may be described as clockwise or

anticlockwise, and the moment of a force is
also called a torque.
 Forces and moments

To increase the force

applied to undoing a
wheel nut, extend the
length of the spanner –
you can do this by
inserting a length of
pipe over the end.
 3N

Let’s look at a
few examples X
of calculations
involving 5m
moments.
Moment about X = 3 x 5 = 15N
(anticlockwise)

4m

5N

Moment about X = 5 x 4 = 20N

(clockwise)
The Principle of Moments

This beam is in a state of balance.

In order to be balanced, the
clockwise forces must be equal to
the anticlockwise forces.
We say that the beam is in a state
of equilibrium.
The Principle of Moments

In order to be
This beam is balanced, the clockwise
in a state of moments must be equal
balance. to the anticlockwise
moments.
We say that the beam
is in a state of
equilibrium.
The Principle of Moments

The Principle of Moments states

that:
“If an object is in equilibrium, the
sum of the clockwise moments
about any point is equal to the sum
of the anticlockwise moments
about that point.”
The Principle of Moments Let’s look
at some
worked
examples
1m
2m
0.5m

20N 20N 5N

Anticlockwise moment Combined clockwise moment

= 20 x 1 = 20Nm = (5 x 2) + (20 x 0.5) = 20Nm
 EXAMPLE

Given that the system below is in a state of

equilibrium, calculate the value of force F.

OA = 1.5m, OB = 2m, OC = 4m
Solution

Since the beam is in a state of equilibrium

then the sum of clockwise moments is equal to
the sum of anticlockwise moments

50N x 1.5m + 4m x Fsin30 = 250N x 2m

75 + 2F = 500
2F = 500 – 75
F = 425/2 = 212.5N