Chapter 4

FORCE

Dr. Siti Noraiza binti Ab Razak

Department of Science & Mathematics

Centre for Diploma Studies

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

– The objectives of this chapter are to impart students:

With the basic knowledge in dynamics.
Able to explain Newton’s First Law, Newton’s Second Law
and Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
 Able to apply Newton’s First Law, Newton’s Second Law
and Newton’s Third Law of Motion to solve frictional force
and static equilibrium
 FORCE
 Definition

A push or pull that one object exerts on another under

any influence that causes a free body to undergo a
–

change in speed, direction, or shape.

 The SI unit for force is Newton, N (kgms-2)

 Force is a vector quantity, which means it has magnitude

and direction
 Types of Forces
Weight (W) Σ𝐹𝑥 = 𝑓𝜇 + −𝑇
- The force exerted on that object by gravity.
Σ𝐹𝑦 = 𝑁 + (−𝑊)
- W = mg

𝒂
N
Normal force (N)
- A reaction force exerted by surface
- Always perpendicular to the surface
T fμ
Tension (T)
- Exist at rope, cable
- Direction, always away from body

Frictional force (fμ)

W
- Always oppose the motion direction
- Exist at rough surface fμ = μN Free-body diagram
 Coefficient of friction, μ
f

N
Defined as the ratio between frictional
force to reaction force
Dimensionless

5
 NEWTON’S LAW

 Newton’s laws of motion are three physical laws which

provide relationships between forces acting on a body and
the motion of the body.
 They were first compiled by Sir Isaac Newton.
 The laws form the basis of classical mechanics.
 The three Newton’s laws are related to inertia, force and
friction.
Application of
Newton’s Law of
Motion – Three main application of Newton’s
laws of motion:
 Body on a horizontal plane
 Body on an inclined plane
 Object on an ideal cord with
frictionless pulley
 NEWTON’S FIRST LAW
 Definition:
An object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion tends to
stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force.

When no force acts on an object, F = 0, a=0

 In other words, they can be described by saying that objects tend to “keep on doing
what they are doing” (unless acted upon by an unbalanced force).

 Also called Law Of Inertia

 
Fnett   F  0
 INERTIA
Definition:
- The tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion.

When the cardboard covering the glass

When the cardboard covering the
is pulled out quickly, the coin resting
glass is pulled out quickly, what will
on the cardboard drops into the glass.
happens to the coin???
 Object at rest remain at rest

A lot of Inertia!!! Very little inertia..

Since the train is so huge, it
is difficult to change its
speed. In fact, a large net
force is required to change its
speed or direction.
Since the baby carriage is so
small, it is very easy to
change its speed or direction.
A small net force is required
to change its speed or
direction.
Object at motion remain at motion
A lot of Inertia!!!
Since the train is so huge, it
is difficult to stop it once it
is moving. It is difficult to
change its speed. In fact, a
large net force is required to
change its speed.
Very little inertia..
Since the soccer ball is so
small, it is very easy to stop
it once it is moving. A small
net force is required to
change its speed.
 NEWTON’S SECOND LAW
 This law pertains to the behavior of objects for which all existing forces are not
balanced.
 States that:
The acceleration, a is directly proportional to the net force, F and is
inversely proportional to the mass, m.

∑F = ma  F : resultant force
m : mass of an object
a : acceleration

 The direction of acceleration is the same with the direction of the net force.
 FREE BODY DIAGRAM
1. Draw a sketch.
2. For one object, draw a free-body diagram, showing ALL
the forces acting on the object. Label each force. If
there are multiple objects, draw a separate diagram
for each one.
3. Resolve vectors into components.
4. Apply Newton’s second law to each component.
5. Solve.
 Horizontal Plane
Consider a box of mass m is pulled along a horizontal rough surface by a
horizontal force, F  
N a

 F
f 
mg

– x-component : F x  Fnett  ma
F  f  ma

– y-component : F y0
N  mg
 Inclined Plane
CASE 1: An object lies at rest on a rough inclined plane as shown below.
 y
N x

Wx Component of the weight :

Wy Wx  mg sin θ


  Wy  mg cos θ
W  mg
F y 0

F y  N  Wy  0
Therefore N = Wy 15
 Inclined Plane
CASE 2: Consider a box of mass m is pulled along a rough inclined plane by a
force, F.
 y 
 a x F
N

Wx
 Wy
f 

 
x-component (parallel to the inclined plane)
W  mg
y-component (perpendicular to the inclined plane

F x  ma F 0 y
F  ma  mg sin θ  f N  Wy  0
F  Wx  f  ma N  mg cos θ
Example 1:
Draw Free Body Diagram for figure below;

a) b)

c) d)
EXAMPLE 2:

A box of mass 20 kg is on a rough horizontal plane. The box is pulled by a force,

F which is applied at an angle of 30 above horizontal as shown in figure 3.28. If
the coefficient of static friction between the box and the plane is 0.3 and the box
moves at a constant speed, calculate
a. the normal reaction force,
b. the applied force F,
c. the static friction force.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)
EXAMPLE 3:
A car, which weighs 1000 kg, is out of gas. A man pushes the car
which managed to move at 0.05 ms-2 to the nearest gas station.
Calculate the net force applied by the man in order to make the car
move.
EXAMPLE 4:
A 10 N force acts on a wooden box of mass 4 kg, which is placed on
a smooth horizontal surface. Determined the acceleration of the
object.

4 kg 10 N
EXAMPLE 5:
Two balls A and B of masses 2 kg and 4 kg respectively are suspended by a string through a
pulley. If the system is released, find the acceleration of the system.
Solution :
Both balls move with the same acceleration, Since they are
connected by the string.
T
a
a A
T
mg
B

Mg
EXAMPLE 6: 4 kg
An object A, of mass 4kg on a smooth table is connected with another
object B, of mass 2 kg by a string through a pulley as shown in the
diagram
a) Find the acceleration of the system and the tension in the string
if there is a frictional force of 10 N acting on A
2 kg
N

W T
W
EXAMPLE 7:

Two masses, m1 = 2.5 kg and m2 = 3.5 kg rest on a frictionless surface and are
connected by a light string. A horizontal force F1 = 12 N is applied to
m1 as shown in the figure.
(a) What is the magnitude of acceleration of the system?
(b)What is the magnitude of the tension T1 and T2 ?

Solution
(b) The tensional forces T1 and T2 in the connecting string are equal in
magnitude but acts in the opposite direction. This will result in the string
pulled taut. The magnitude of tension in the string,
 NEWTON’S THIRD LAW

 Also known as Action-Reaction Principle

 Definition:
For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.

Σ𝐹𝐴 = −Σ𝐹𝑅
Whenever one object exerts a force
on a second object, the second
exerts an equal force in the opposite
direction on the first. (action
reaction)

A key to the correct application of

the third law is that the forces are
exerted on different objects.
Make sure you don’t use them as
if they were acting on the same
object
 Action and Reaction Forces Act on Different Objects

Force of Force of Man

Ceiling on on Floor Force of
Man Wall on
Force of Hands
Floor on Force of
Man Hands on
Wall

Force of Man on
Ceiling
 EQUILIBRIUM CONDITION

 The condition when the net force acting on a body acceleration, a, is equals to zero.
 Conveys the idea that the forces are in balance
 Any object with constant velocity, whether at rest or moving in straight line is said to
be in equilibrium
F1

F1 = F2
F4 F3 F3 = F4

F2
Example 8
Figure below shows a frictionless pulley and the system hangs in equlibrium.
If F3 is 100 N, calculate F1 and F2.

50⁰ 35⁰

F2 F3

F1
EXAMPLE 9:
A traffic light weighing 1.0 x 102 N hands from a vertical cable tied to two other
cables that are fastened to support, as in Figure 1. The upper cables make
angles of 37.0° and 53.0° with the horizontal. Find the tension in each of three
cables.
EXERCISE:

A force of 15.0 N is applied at an angle of 30 to the horizontal on a

0.75 kg block at rest on a frictionless surface (See Figure 7.4).What is
the magnitude of the resulting acceleration of the block and the normal
force acting on the block? (Answer : a = 17.3 ms-2 ,N = 14.9 N)

F
300
m = 0.75 kg

Figure 7.4
 EXERCISE:

A block of mass 200 kg is pulled along an inclined plane of 30 by a force, F =

2 kN as shown in figure 3.29. The coefficient of kinetic friction of the plane is
0.4. Determine
a. the normal force, (N = 1015N)
b. the nett force, (F = 492N)
c. the acceleration of the block, (a = 2.46 ms-2)
d. the time taken for the block to travel 30 m from rest. (t = 4.94 s)
32
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)
 Exercises
1) A book is at rest on a horizontal table. The mass of the book is 0.8 kg. What is the
normal force, N acting on the book? (Answer: 7.84 N)
2) In a game of tug of war, Team A pulls the rope with a force of 50 N while Team
B pulls with 75 N. Calculate the net force acting on the rope. (Answer: 25 N towards
Team B)

3) Calculate the force needed to keep a book sliding at a constant speed, if the mass
of the book is 2 kg. Given μk = 0.75. (Answer: 14.7 N)