PHYS101 Lesson 2

Dynamics Part 1
Forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion,
and the First Condition of Equilibrium
Force
• a push or a pull.
• the interaction between two bodies or between a body and its environment.
• a vector quantity, with magnitude and direction.

Types of Forces
1. contact forces
• normal force (N) - the force exerted on an object by
any surface with which it is in contact. The normal
force is always perpendicular to the surfaces in normal force
contact.
• friction force (f) - the force exerted on an object by
the surface it is sliding against. The friction force is
always parallel to the surfaces in contact.
• tension force (T) – a pulling force exerted on an
object by a rope, cord, string, etc. friction force tension force

2. non-contact or long range forces

• Forces that act even when the bodies are separated by empty space.
• Gravity, magnetic force, and electric force are non-contact forces.
Units of Force
• The standard (SI) unit of force is newton N in mks and dyne dyn in the cgs.
• 1 N = 100, 000 dynes.

Superposition of Forces
When two or more forces are applied at a point on a body at the same time (concurrent
forces), these forces combine.

The resultant force, is a single force that has the same effect as the all the concurrent forces.
It is equal to the vector sum of all the concurrent forces.

Two forces F1 and F2 acting on a point A on the body

have the same effect as the single force R.

A force F that acts on a body at an angle can be resolved

into its components Fx and Fy .

Fx = F cos  Fy = F sin 
Newton’s Laws of Motion

In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) published Philosophiae Naturalis

Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy) which
includes three statements that explain the principles of dynamics.
These statements are known as Newton’s Laws of Motion.

Newton’s First Law of Motion: The Law of Inertia

“A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body moving with constant velocity will continue doing
so, unless a net force acts on it.”

Newton’s Second Law of Motion: The Law of Acceleration

“A body acted upon by a net force will accelerate with an acceleration that is directly
proportional to (and in the same direction as) the net force and is inversely proportional to its mass.”

Newton’s Third Law of Motion: The Law of Interaction

“If a body exerts a force on another body, the second body also exerts a force of the same
magnitude on the first body but in the opposite direction.”
Newton’s First Law: The Law of Inertia
“A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body moving with constant velocity will continue doing
so, unless a net force acts on it.”

inertia – the resistance of a body to change its state of motion.

net force – an unbalanced force that causes a body to change its state of motion.

If the net force on a body is zero, it will not change its state of motion – the body is in a state of
(translational) equilibrium.

A body is in a state of (translational) equilibrium if it is either at rest or moving with constant

velocity.

The First Condition of Equilibrium: Translational Equilibrium

“A body is in translational equilibrium if the vector sum of all forces acting on it is equal to zero.”

Fx = 0
F = 0 Fy = 0
Fz = 0
EXAMPLE 1. In the figure, the weight W = 100 N is in equilibrium. If 1 = 2 = 30o,
find the tensions T1 and T2.

1 2

T1 T2

W
EXAMPLE 3. In the figure, the weight of the engine is W and it is hanging in equilibrium from
chains attached to the ceiling and wall. Find the tensions (in terms of W) T1 , T2 , and T3 on the
chains. Assume that the weights of the chains are very small compared to the weight of the
engine.
EXAMPLE 4. In the figure, the weight W=100 N is in equilibrium. If  = 30o, find the
force F on the boom and the tension T on the cable. Assume that the weight of the
boom is negligible.

W
EXAMPLE 5. In the figure, the weight W=100 N is in equilibrium. Find the force F on the boom
and the tension T on the cable. Assume that the weight of the boom is negligible.

30o 40o
W