Dynamics in Physics

Definition:

Dynamics is the branch of physics that deals with the study of motion and the forces that cause or
change that motion. It focuses on understanding the relationship between forces, mass, and motion of
objects.

Newton’s Laws of Motion:

Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia):

An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move with a constant
velocity unless acted upon by an external force.

Inertia is the tendency of an object to maintain its state of motion.

Newton’s Second Law (Law of Acceleration):

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely
proportional to its mass.

Mathematically, F = ma, where F is the net force, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration
produced.

Newton’s Third Law (Action-Reaction Law):

For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

When object A exerts a force on object B, object B exerts an equal and opposite force on object A.

Force:

Force is a vector quantity measured in Newtons (N).

It is represented by the symbol “F” and is defined as any push or pull that can cause an object to change
its state of motion.

Types of Forces:
Normal Force (N):

The force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it.

It acts perpendicular to the surface.

Gravity (Weight) Force (W):

The force with which the Earth (or any other celestial body) attracts an object towards its center.

It acts vertically downwards and is equal to the object’s mass multiplied by the acceleration due to
gravity (usually 9.81 m/s² on Earth’s surface).

Friction Force (F_friction):

The force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion of two surfaces in contact.

It acts parallel to the surface and opposes the direction of motion.

Tension Force (T):

The force transmitted through a string, rope, cable, etc., when it is pulled taut by forces acting from
opposite ends.

It acts along the direction of the string or rope.

Applying Newton’s Second Law:

To calculate the acceleration of an object, use Newton’s second law: a = F / m.

The direction of acceleration is the same as the direction of the net force acting on the object.

Free Body Diagrams (FBD):

Free body diagrams are used to represent the forces acting on an object as vectors.

The FBD helps analyze the forces involved in a particular situation, making it easier to apply Newton’s
laws.

Applications of Dynamics:
Dynamics is crucial for understanding various real-world phenomena, including the motion of planets,
the behavior of machines, the trajectory of projectiles, and more.