Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

PH1011 Physics
Week 2
Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s First Law (N1L) Newton’s Third Law (N3L)

- No net force ⟺ either stationary or constant velocity -For every action force, there is an
- or 𝑎⃗ = 0 equal and opposite reaction force
- Checks FBDs by looking out for
the action and the reaction forces.

Applications:
- Daily Applications on Newton’s Second Law (N2L)
page 2 𝑑𝑝⃗
Original version: 𝐹⃗456 =
- Other Applications on 𝑑𝑡
page 3 Mass constant version: 𝐹⃗456 = 𝑚𝑎⃗

Solving Problems (Force Method):

1. Draw FBDs using the catalog of forces.
2. Form N2L equations by filling in the left hand side, i.e. 𝐹456
of N2L from the FBDs.
3. Exercise your algebra skills and solve for acceleration.
4. You may need the acceleration to solve for other quantities
using kinematics.

Applications:
- Elevator example on page 5
- 2 slope examples on page 6

Dynamics Problems
- Pushing Two Blocks on page 7
- Three Weights Hanging on page 7
- Giancoli 4-13, Atwood’s Machine on page 7
- Man on a Rope on page 9
- Which rope has a larger tension? on page 9
- Two Connected Masses on page 9
- Double Pulley on page 10
- Triple Pulley on page 10
- Giancoli pg 108 problem 4.56 on page 11

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s First Law (N1L):

Definitions:

First Law (Inertia): An object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion will continue in
motion with a constant velocity (i.e., constant speed in a straight line) unless it experiences a
non-zero net external force.

Remarks:

a) The first law involves a property of objects known as inertia - its tendency to resist any
change in its state of motion. The physical quantity associated with inertia is mass measured in
SI units kilogram (kg). It is an intrinsic property of the object that does not vary with location,
surroundings etc.

b) (Constant velocity) If either the direction or speed of an object is not constant, we can infer
that there is a non-zero net external force acting on it.

c) (External force) Forces acting on the object by other objects.

d) (Non-zero net) There can be several different external forces acting on an object but if the
vectorial sum of these forces is zero, there will be no change in the state of motion of the
object.

e) Conversely, an object moving at constant velocity has no net external force acting on it.

Newton’s First Law (N1L) >> Applications:

Some Daily Applications:

a) The `being pushed forward' sensation of the passengers when a moving car brakes.

b) Pen dropped on an airplane flying at constant velocity doesn't fly to back of the plane.

c) Another way to get the last bit of the (stubborn) ketchup / shampoo out of a bottle.

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s First Law (N1L) >> Applications:

Some Applications Related to Problem Solving:

a) A bowling ball dropped out of an airplane that is flying at constant velocity 𝑣. Sketch the path
of the bowling ball.
What initial velocity of the bowling ball that
dropped out of the plane should you use if you
want to solve for its subsequent trajectory?

b) A ball is swirled in a vertical circle but the string broke as shown below. If you want to
analyse the subsequent motion, what is the initial velocity that you should use?

e
ok
br

Newton’s Second Law (N2L):

We need to introduce Momentum first:

Definition: Momentum 𝑝⃗ (having units of kg m/s) of an object is given by the product of its mass
𝑚 with its velocity 𝑣⃗:
𝑝⃗ = 𝑚𝑣⃗

Intuition: If you have a choice of stopping a mouse or elephant running towards you at the
same velocity (say 10 m/s) which would you choose?

Newton’s Second Law Definition:

The rate of change of linear momentum of an object is proportional to the net force (vector sum
of all forces) acting on it and occurs in the direction of the net force:
𝑑(𝑚𝑣⃗) 𝑑𝑝⃗
𝐹⃗ = =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
If the mass is constant, we can write
𝑚𝑣⃗A − 𝑚𝑣⃗C 𝑣⃗A − 𝑣⃗C
𝐹⃗ = =𝑚 = 𝑚𝑎⃗
𝛥𝑡 𝛥𝑡
Here, the forces are in units of Newtons (N), the mass is in kilograms (kg), velocity in metres
per second (m/s) and acceleration in (m/s2 ). We will see a more complete version later (with
varying mass).

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Simple Application:

Calculate the force required to stop a 1000 kg car moving at 80 km/h on the expressway in
a) 3 s
b) 10 s.

Guidelines for Solving Problems:

1. Draw FBDs using the catalog of forces.
2. Form N2L equations by filling in the left hand side, i.e. 𝐹456 of N2L from the FBDs.
3. Exercise your algebra skills and solve for acceleration.
4. You may need the acceleration to solve for other quantities using kinematics.

FBD Concept Check 1:

A ball in vertically upwards during a Physics lesson. Sketch arrows to

indicate the forces acting on the ball (you can neglect the effects of air
resistance.)

a) at A, shortly after the ball leaves the hand;

b) at B, the highest point it reaches.

FBD Concept Check 2:

A rocket is drifting sideways as shown below (A -> B) in deep space, with its engine off. It is not
near any planets or outside forces. At B, its engine is turned on (and exerts a constant force at
right angles to the original direction) for two seconds and it moved to point C.

a) Sketch its path after the engine has been

turned off at point C.

b) Sketch its path between point B and C.

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s Second Law (N2L) >> An Elevator and Normal Contact Force Example:

What does a weighing scale read?

1. My weight 𝑚𝑔.
2. How hard I press down on the scale, i.e. the normal contact force 𝐹G .
3. The net force of weight and normal force.
4. Don’t know

Object in Elevator:

Applying Newton’s second law:

𝐹net = 𝐹G − 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑎

Then consider this case where 𝐹G − 𝑊 > 0 and hence 𝑎 > 0:

Is the object in the elevator speeding up or slowing down (with respect to ground level)?
1. Speeding up
2. Slowing down
3. Not enough information
4. No idea

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s Second Law (N2L) >> 2 Slope Examples:

Stationary Car on a Slope:

a) Draw a free body diagram for the car.

b) Select an appropriate coordinate system to analyse the problem.
c) Apply Newton’s second law to this car of mass 𝑚.

Car on ramp

(Modified) Giancoli pg 335 problem 12.73:

A 23-kg sphere rests between two smooth planes as shown in Fig. 12–87. a) Draw a free body
diagram for the sphere.
b) Select an appropriate coordinate system to analyse the problem.
c) Apply Newton's second law to this sphere.
d) Determine the magnitude of the force acting on the sphere exerted by each plane.

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s Third Law (N3L):

Definition:
Third Law: If object A exerts a force on object B (an ``action''), then body B exerts a force on
object A (a ``reaction''). These two forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

Remarks:

1. The two forces are always opposite in direction.

2. The two forces are at all times equal in magnitude.
3. The forces must act on different bodies.
4. The forces must be of the same type.
5. FBD checker: If two objects are interacting, then after we drew the 2 FBDs, we should check
that each object has one of the pair of forces.

N3L Concept Check:

An apple is at rest on a table. We note that its weight 𝑚𝑔 and the

normal contact force 𝐹G are equal and pointing in opposite directions.
Does the weight 𝑚𝑔 and the normal contact force 𝐹G form an action-
reaction pair?

Dynamics Problems >> Pushing Two Blocks:

An artist wearing spiked shoes pushes two crates across her frictionless horizontal studio floor.
(See the figure.) If she exerts a horizontal force of 47.0 N on the smaller crate, what is the
force exerted by the smaller crate on the larger crate?

Hints and Clues:

Two blocks

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Dynamics Problems >> Three Weights Hanging:

In a museum exhibit, three equal weights are hung with identical wires, as shown in the figure.
Each wire can support a tension of no more than 75.0 N without breaking. Start each of the
following parts with an appropriate free-body diagram.
Hints and Clues:

Three balls

Dynamics Problems >> Giancoli example 4-13 (Atwood’s Machine):

A system of two objects suspended over a pulley by a flexible cable is sometimes referred to
as an Atwood’s machine. Here, let the mass of the counterweight be 1000 kg. Assume the
mass of the empty elevator is 850 kg, and its mass when carrying four passengers is 1150 kg.
For the latter case calculate

a) the acceleration of the elevator and

b) the tension in the cable.
Hints and Clues:

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Dynamics Problems >> Man on a Rope:

What is the tension in the rope below?

Hints and Clues:

Dynamics Problems >> Which rope has a larger tension?:

Hints and Clues:

Dynamics Problems >> Two Connected Masses:

Two boxes are connected by a light string that passes over a light, frictionless pulley. The ramp
is frictionless. Draw a free body diagram for each mass and apply Newton’s 2nd law.

Hints and Clues:

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Dynamics Problems >> Double Pulley:

The 10.2 kg block in the figure is held in place by the massless rope passing over two
massless, frictionless pulleys. Find the tensions 𝑇K to 𝑇L and the magnitude of force 𝐹.
Hints and Clues:

Dynamics Problems >> Triple Pulley:

For the system of masses and pulleys, the blocks have
masses 𝑚M = 4 kg, 𝑚O = 3 kg and 𝑚Q = 2 kg. All strings are
inextensible and pulleys are light and smooth. the system is
released from rest. Find the accelerations of all three blocks.
Hints and Clues:

C
A B
C

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 Lecture 3: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Dynamics Problems >> Giancoli pg 108 problem 4.56:

The double Atwood machine has frictionless, massless pulleys
and cords. Determine

a) the acceleration of masses 𝑚M , 𝑚O and 𝑚Q , and

b) the tensions 𝐹RM and 𝐹RQ in the cords.
(Hint: You need to think about relative acceleration of 𝑚M and 𝑚O
with respect to the movable pulley in order to relate all 3
accelerations.)
Hints and Clues:

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