Mechanics – Connected Particles

Pre-University 3
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson you are expected to be able to:
• Use Newton’s third law for objects that are in contact
• Calculate the motion or equilibrium of objects
connected by rods
• Calculate the motion or equilibrium of objects
connected by strings
• Calculate the motion or equilibrium of objects that
are moving in elevator
Prerequisite Knowledge
The effect of attached to something
• Will the motion of a
car with its trailer be
different if we can put
the trailer and it’s
content into the car?
• When objects
connected, the forces
between them can
affect or prevent
motion.
• We only consider the
object connected in
touch with other
object.
Newton’s Third Law
• For every action there is an equal reaction in
opposite direction.
Newton’s Third Law
• For every action there is an equal reaction in
opposite direction.
Objects connected by rods
• Rod in the lesson assumed as a mass-less rigid
connector.
• In a system, we can apply Newton’s second law to
the entire system or to the individual components of
the system.
Worked example
Worked example
Worked example
Worked example
Worked example
Practice
• A bucket hangs from a vertical rod. Another rod is
attached to the bottom of the bucket and a second
bucket hangs on the end of this rod. Each bucket is
partially filled with water and they hang in
equilibrium.
1. A, work out the tension on each rod when
a. Each bucket of water has mass 12 kg
b. The first bucket of water has mass 8 kg and the second has mass
16 kg
2. What assumption have been made?
Object connected by strings
Rods vs. strings:
• A string can change direction
• A string can be in tension or be slack
• The force in a string can never be a thrust.

Always assume that the mass of the string is negligible.

Object connected by strings
• When a string passes over a smooth pulley, the
magnitude of the tension is unchanged but the
direction can change.
Object connected by strings
• We can apply Newton’s second law to any part of
the connected system in which all objects are moving
with the same acceleration and in the same
direction.
Example

Since M2 > M1,

F = ma for the heavier object,
M2g - T = M2a
F = ma for the lighter object,
T - M1g = M1a
+ =>M2g - M1g = (M1 + M2)a
a = (M2g - M1g)/ (M1 + M2)
Example

If M2 > M1,
F = ma for the heavier object,
M2g - T = M2a
F = ma for the lighter object,
T = M1a (assumed the table to be smooth - no friction)
+ =>M2g = (M1 + M1)a
a = M2g / (M1 + M2)
Example

If M2 > M1,
F = ma for the heavier object,
M2g - T = M2a
F = ma for the lighter object,
T - M1g sin x = M1a (assumed the table to be smooth -
no friction)
> + =>M2g - M1g sin x = (M1 + M1)a
a = (M2g - M1g sin x) / (M1 + M2)
Resource
https://www.vivaxsolutions.com/maths/alpulleys.aspx
Modelling Assumption
Practice
1. A bucket of mass 3kg rests on scaffolding at the top
of a building. The scaffolding is 22.5 m above the
ground. The bucket is attached to a rope that
passes over a smooth pulley. At the other end of
the rope there is another bucket of mass 3 kg,
which initially rests on the ground. The bucket at
the top of the building is filled with 6kg of bricks
and is gently released. As this bucket descends, the
other bucket rises.
a. Find how long it will take the descending bucket to reach
the ground.
b. What modeling assumption have been made?
Objects in Moving lifts (elevators)
T T

W w w W R

• Whole system : T – W – w = (M + m).a

• System human only : R – w = m.a
• System lift only : T – R – W = M.a
Checklist of learning and understanding