Newton's first law of motion 

: An object at rest tends to stay 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.
Balanced Forces vs Unbalanced Forces
In order to determine if a force is balance or
unbalanced, you must determine the NET FORCE. The  BALANCED: Net force = 0
net force is the sum of all the forces.  UNbalanced: Net force ≠ 0

REMEMBER:
 Balanced forces: arrows should be the same size
 Unbalanced forces: the biggest force should have the biggest arrow
A) Using Vector Diagrams:
Example #1: for vectors in the SAME direction:
Vector Diagrams Net force Resultant Vector Balanced or
Unbalanced? WHY?

Example #2: for vectors in the OPPOSITE direction:

Vector Diagrams Net force Resultant Vector Balanced or
Unbalanced? WHY?

B) Using Free Body Diagrams

NOTE: If either all the vertical forces (up and down) do not cancel each other and/or all
horizontal forces do not cancel each other, then an unbalanced force exists.

Example #1
Free Body Diagram Net force Balanced or Unbalanced? WHY?

Example #2
Free Body Diagram Net force Balanced or Unbalanced? WHY?
PRACTICE
Part 1: For each Vector diagram, 1) determine the net force, 2) draw the resulting
vector and 3) then, determine whether it is Balanced OR Unbalanced,
explaining WHY.
Vector Diagrams Net force Resultant Vector Balanced or
Unbalanced? WHY?

Part 2: For each Free Body diagram, 1) determine the net force, 2) draw the
resulting vector and 3) then, determine whether it is Balanced OR
Unbalanced, explaining WHY.
Free Body Diagram Net force Balanced or Unbalanced? WHY?
The Nature of Force

◆ Understanding Main Ideas Write the phrases listed below in the Venn diagram.

Write the characteristics shared by unbalanced and balanced forces in the area of overlap.

change an object’s motion push or pull do not change an object’s motion

have direction net force = 0 net force not = 0

1. An object in motion will slow down unless it is acted on by an unbalanced force in the
direction of motion. (true/false) False
2. An o object in motion will maintain its speed and direction forever unless acted on by an
unbalanced force. (true/false) true
3. An object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. (true/false) true
4. An object acted on by an unbalanced force will always accelerate in the direction of the
unbalanced force. (true/false) true

Luke Autbeloe drops an approximately 5.0 kg box of shingles (weight = 50.0 N) off the roof
of his house into the swimming pool below. Upon encountering the pool, the box encounters
a 50.0 N upward resistance force (assumed to be constant). Use this description to answer
the following questions.

1. Which one of the velocity-time graphs best describes the motion of the box? Support
your answer with sound reasoning.

Ans: Graph B is correct. The box first accelerates with a negative (downward)

acceleration until it hits the water. Upon hitting the water, the box experiences a
balance of forces (50 N downwards due to gravity and 50 N upwards due to the
water). Thus, the box will finish its motion moving with a constant velocity. Graph B
depicts both the initial negative acceleration and the final constant velocity.

2. Which one of the following dot diagrams best describes the motion of the falling box
from the time that they are dropped to the time that they hit the bottom of the pool?
The arrows on the diagram represent the point at which the box hits the water.
Support your answer with sound reasoning.

Tape A is correct.

The box first accelerates with a negative (downward) acceleration until it hits the
water. Upon hitting the water, the box experience a balance of forces (50 N
downwards due to gravity and 50 N upwards due to the water). Thus, the box will
finish its motion moving with a constant velocity. Diagram A depicts both the initial
downward acceleration and the final constant velocity.

3.

3. Several of Luke's friends were watching the motion of the falling box. Being
"physics types", they began discussing the motion and made the following
comments. Indicate whether each of the comments is correct or incorrect? Support
your answers.

a. Once the box hits the water, the forces are balanced, and the box will stop.

 False.

Once the box hits the water, the forces are balanced (50 N down and 50 N up).
However, an object in motion (such as the box) will continue in motion at the same
speed and in the same direction. When the box strikes the water, it stops
accelerating; yet it does not stop moving.

b. Upon hitting the water, the box will accelerate upwards because the water applies
an upward force.

False.

Once the box hit the water, the forces are balanced (50 N down and 50 N up). The
upward force of the water on the box is balanced by the downward pull of gravity.
The box will continue in motion at constant speed.

 c. Upon hitting the water, the box will bounce upwards due to the upward force.

False.

Once the box hits the water, the forces are balanced (50 N down and 50 N up). The
box would only bounce upwards if the water applied an upward force greater than
50 N. As stated in the problem, the water applies only 50 N of upward force.
Furthermore, the upward force would first contribute to slowing the box down (an
upward acceleration) before it could begin to actually move it upward.

 4. If the forces acting upon an object are balanced, then the object

a. must not be moving.

b. must be moving with a constant velocity.

c. must not be accelerating.

d. none of these

The answer could be A (but does not have to be A) and it could be B (but does not
have to be B). An object having balanced forces definitely cannot be accelerating.
This means that it could be at rest and staying at rest (one option) or could be in
motion at constant velocity (a second option). Either way, it definitely is not
accelerating - choice C of your four choices.
Match each term with its definition by writing the letter of the correct definition in the right column
on the line beside the term in the left column.

________ 1. inertia a. amount of matter in an object

________ 2. mass b. sum of all forces acting on an object

________ 3. force c. tendency to resist a change in motion

________ 4. unbalanced forces d. push or pull

________ 5. balanced forces e. can change an object’s motion

________ 6. net force f. will not change an object’s motion

Write the letter of the correct answer on the line at the left.

1. If you increase the force on an object, its acceleration

a. decreases. b. stays the same. c. also increases. d. stops.

2. If you increase the mass on an object, its acceleration

a. decreases. b. stays the same. c. also increases. d. stops.

3.How much force is needed to accelerate a 3 kg skateboard at 5 m/s 2 ?

a. 8 N b. 0.6 N c. 1.6 N d. 15 N

4. How much force is needed to accelerate a 25 kg bowling ball at 2 m/s 2 ?

a. 5 N b. 12.5 N c. 50 N d. 100 N

5.If a 2 kg bird is pushed by the wind with a force of 2 N, how fast does the bird accelerate?

a. 1 m/s2 b. 2 m/s2 c. 4 m/s2 d. 1 m

6. What is the newton used for measuring? Force

7.

1 N = 1 kg × 1 _______________1 m/s2

8.
Determine the accelerations that result when a 12-N net force is applied to a 3-kg object
and then to a 6-kg object.

A 3-kg object experiences an acceleration of 4 m/s/s. A 6-kg object experiences an

acceleration of 2 m/s/s.

9.

 A net force of 15 N is exerted on an encyclopedia to cause it to accelerate at a rate of 5

m/s2. Determine the mass of the encyclopedia.

Use Fnet= m * a with Fnet = 15 N and a = 5 m/s/s.

So (15 N) = (m)*(5 m/s/s)

And m = 3.0 kg

10.

Suppose that a sled is accelerating at a rate of 2 m/s 2. If the net force is tripled and the
mass is doubled, then what is the new acceleration of the sled?

Answer: 3 m/s/s

The original value of 2 m/s/s must be multiplied by 3 (since a and F are directly
proportional) and divided by 2 (since a and m are inversely proportional)

11.

Suppose that a sled is accelerating at a rate of 2 m/s 2. If the net force is tripled and the
mass is halved, then what is the new acceleration of the sled?

Answer: 12 m/s/s

The original value of 2 m/s/s must be multiplied by 3 (since a and F are directly
proportional) and divided by 1/2 (since a and m are inversely proportional)

12.

Match each term with its definition by writing the letter of the correct definition in

the right column on the line beside the term in the left column.

Gravity a. the force that accelerates objects toward

Earth
fluid friction b. the kind of friction that exists between oil
and a door hinge
Friction c. the general term for the force that one
surface exerts on another when they rub
against each other
air resistance d. the kind of friction that slows a falling object
free fall e. the state that exists when the only down
ward force acting
Sliding Friction f. the kind of friction that results when you rub
sandpaper against wood
Rolling friction g. the kind of friction that results when a wheel
weight h. a measure of the force of gravity on an
object
Terminal velocity i. a falling object reaches this when forces of
gravity

1. What are the two factors that affect the friction force between two surfaces?

Type of surface involved 

How hard the surfaces press together (weight of the object)

2. What is one way you could reduce the friction between two surfaces?

Using lubricants such as oil or grease can reduce the friction

between the surfaces; Smooth out the surface by greasing it

3. The acceleration due to gravity of all objects in free fall is the same. Why,

then, do some objects fall through the air at a different rate?

The air resistance is different for all objects.

4. How does mass differ from weight?

Weight is measure of force of gravity on object and mass is measure of amount of

matter of object.

5. What is the law of universal gravitation?

The force of gravity acts between all objects in the universe.

True and false

a. Friction opposes the relative motion between two surfaces in contact.
b. A force can act on an object with or without being in contact with it.
c. Gases does not exert pressure on the walls of their container
 d. The force exerted by a charged body on another charged or uncharged body
is known as gravitational force
e. Magnetic force is a contact force
f. Force of gravity is an attractive force
g. Atmosphere pressure at high altitudes is less than the pressure at ground
h. People at plains suffer from nose bleeding.

a. True
b. True
c. False
d. false
e. False
f. true
g. true
h. False

Fill in the blanks.

a. An example of a non-contact force is __________.
b. The pressure exerted by air around us is known as __________.
c. SI unit of force is __________.
d. Application of force can change the ______  or  __________ of an object.
e. Force exerted by our muscles is called __________ force.
f. Direction of force of friction is always __________ to the direction of motion.
g. Force per unit area is called ___________.
h. The force exerted by a charged body on another charged or uncharged bod is
known as  ______________________
i. Force has ________ as well as _________

a. Magnetic Force
b. Atmospheric pressure
c. Newton
d. Shape or state of motion
e. Muscular
f. Opposite
g. Pressure
h. Electrostatic force
i. Magnitude and direction

MCQ

1. A ball rolling on the ground slows down and finally stops because
(a) force
(b) less force applied
(c) friction
(d) none of the above
 
2. The force involved in falling of an apple from a tree is known as?
(a) magnetic force
(b) electrostatic force
(c) contact force
(d) gravitational force
 
3. Which of the following is an example of a non-contact force?
(a) The force exerted by us to lift a bucket
(b) push a stationary car
(c) The force exerted by magnets
(d) Force due to friction
 
5. Which one of the following forces is a contact force?
(a) force of gravity
(b) magnetic force
(c) force of friction
(d) electrostatic force
  
8. Opening the door is an example of which type of force?
(a) contact force
(b) spring force
(c) non-contact force
(d) magnetic force
 
9. Name the force used in removing iron scrap from a heap of mixed scrap.
(a)  Magnetic Force
(b) Electrostatic force
(c) Gravitational force
(d) Friction Force
 
10.  The pressure on an object _______ with the increase in altitude  from earth surface
(a) Increase
(b) decrease
(c) same
(d) None

1. (c) friction
2. (d) gravitational force
3. (c) The force exerted by magnets
5. (c) force of friction
8. (a) contact force
9. (a) Magnetic Force
10. (b) decrease

MCQ 2

1. If a rock is brought from the surface of the moon:

 A. Its mass will change
B. Its weight will change, but not mass
C. both mass and weight will change
D. Its mass and weight will remain the same
2. When an object undergoes acceleration:
A. Its speed always increases
B. Its velocity always increases
C. It always falls towards the earth
D. A force always acts on it
3. External forces are:
A. Always balanced
B. Never balanced
C. May or may not be balanced
D. None of these
4. The net force acting on a body of mass 1kg moving with a uniform
velocity of 5ms-1
A. 5N
B. 0.2N
C. 0N
D. None of these
5. Which of the following is a non-contact force :
A. Magnetic force
B. Frictional force
C. Impact force
D. None of these
6. A force can:
A. Change the direction of a moving body
B. Change the state of rest or uniform motion of a body
C. Change the shape of a body
D. All of the above
7. When a cricket ball strikes the stumps, a force of _____________
uproots the stumps.
A. pull
B. push
C. push or pull
D. can’t say
8. Force is a:
A. Vector quantity
B. Scalar quantity
C. Both (A) & (B)
D. None of these
9. A body is moving with certain velocity towards right. A force of 5N is
applied on it towards right and force of 6N is applied on it towards left
then:
A. Speed of body increases towards right
B. Speed of body increases towards left
C. Speed of body remains the same
D. Speed of body decreases
10. How much force is required to lift a mass of 100g
A. 10N
 B. 1N
C. 100N
D. 1000N

1. B 2. D 3. C 4. C 5. A 6. D 7. B 8. A 9. B 10. B

Free fall:

In the diagrams below, free-body diagrams showing the forces acting upon an 85-kg
skydiver (equipment included) are shown.

For each case, use the diagrams to determine the net force and acceleration of the skydiver
at each instant in time.

a)

The Fnet = 833 N, down and the a = 9.8 m/s/s, down

a = (Fnet / m) = (833 N) / (85 kg) = 9.8 m/s/s

b)
The Fnet = 483 N, down and the a = 5.68 m/s/s, down

a = (Fnet / m) = (483 N) / (85 kg) = 5.68 m/s/s

c)

The Fnet = 133 N, down and the a = 1.56 m/s/s, down

a = (Fnet / m) = (133 N) / (85 kg) = 1.56 m/s/s

d)
The Fnet = 0 N and the a = 0 m/s/s

a = (Fnet / m) = (0 N) / (85 kg) = 0 m/s/s.

Newtons third law:

a. While driving down the road, a firefly strikes the windshield of a bus and
makes a quite obvious mess in front of the face of the driver. This is a clear
case of Newton's third law of motion. The firefly hit the bus and the bus hits
the firefly. Which of the two forces is greater: the force on the firefly or the
force on the bus?

Trick Question! Each force is the same size. For every action, there is an equal ... (equal!). The
fact that the firefly splatters only means that with its smaller mass, it is less able to withstand
the larger acceleration resulting from the interaction. Besides, fireflies have guts and bug
guts have a tendency to be splatterable. Windshields don't have guts. There you have it.

2.

For years, space travel was believed to be impossible because there was nothing
that rockets could push off of in space in order to provide the propulsion necessary
to accelerate. This inability of a rocket to provide propulsion is because ...

a. ... space is void of air so the rockets have nothing to push off of.

b. ... gravity is absent in space.

c. ... space is void of air and so there is no air resistance in space.

d. ... nonsense! Rockets do accelerate in space and have been able to do so for a
long time.

It is a common misconception that rockets are unable to accelerate in space. The fact
is that rockets do accelerate. There is indeed nothing for rockets to push off of in
space - at least nothing which is external to the rocket. But that's no problem for
rockets. Rockets are able to accelerate due to the fact that they burn fuel and push
the exhaust gases in a direction opposite the direction which they wish to accelerate.

3. Many people are familiar with the fact that a rifle recoils when fired. This recoil is
the result of action-reaction force pairs. A gunpowder explosion creates hot gases
that expand outward allowing the rifle to push forward on the bullet. Consistent with
Newton's third law of motion, the bullet pushes backwards upon the rifle. The
acceleration of the recoiling rifle is ...

a. greater than the acceleration of the bullet.

b. smaller than the acceleration of the bullet.

c. the same size as the acceleration of the bullet.

The force on the rifle equals the force on the bullet. Yet, acceleration depends on
both force and mass. The bullet has a greater acceleration due to the fact that it has
a smaller mass. Remember: acceleration and mass are inversely proportional.

4.

In the top picture (below), Kent Budgett is pulling upon a rope that is attached to a
wall. In the bottom picture, Kent is pulling upon a rope that is attached to an
elephant. In each case, the force scale reads 500 Newton. Kent is pulling ...

a. with more force when the rope is attached to the wall.

b. with more force when the rope is attached to the elephant.

c. the same force in each case.

Kent is pulling with 500 N of force in each case. The rope transmits the force from Kent to
the wall (or to the elephant) and vice versa. Since the force of Kent pulling on the wall and
the wall pulling on Kent are action-reaction force pairs, they must have equal magnitudes.
Inanimate objects such as walls can push and pull.

Momentum

Express your understanding of the concept and mathematics of momentum by

answering the following questions.

1. Determine the momentum of a ...

a. 60-kg halfback moving eastward at 9 m/s.

b. 1000-kg car moving northward at 20 m/s.

c. 40-kg freshman moving southward at 2 m/s.

A. p = m*v = 60 kg*9 m/s

p = 540 kg•m/s, east

B. p = m*v = 1000 kg*20 m/s

p = 20 000 kg•m/s, north

C. p = m*v = 40 kg*2 m/s

p = 80 kg•m/s, south

2. A car possesses 20 000 units of momentum. What would be the car's new
momentum if ...

a. its velocity was doubled.

b. its velocity was tripled.

c. its mass was doubled (by adding more passengers and a greater load)
d. both its velocity was doubled and its mass was doubled.

A. p = 40 000 units (doubling the velocity will double the momentum)

B. p = 60 000 units (tripling the velocity will triple the momentum)

C. p = 40 000 units (doubling the mass will double the momentum)

D. p = 80 000 units (doubling the velocity will double the momentum and doubling
the mass will also double the momentum; the combined result is that the
momentum is doubled twice -quadrupled)

3.A halfback (m = 60 kg), a tight end (m = 90 kg), and a lineman (m = 120 kg) are
running down the football field. Consider their ticker tape patterns below.

Compare the velocities of these three players. How many times greater are the
velocity of the halfback and the velocity of the tight end than the velocity of the
lineman?

Which player has the greatest momentum? Explain.

A. The tight end travels twice the distance of the lineman in the same amount of
time. Thus, the tight end is twice as fast (vtight end = 6 m/s). The halfback travels three
times the distance of the lineman in the same amount of time. Thus, the halfback is
three times as fast (vhalfback = 9 m/s).

B. Both the halfback and the tight end have the greatest momentum. The each
have the same amount of momentum - 540 kg*m/s. The lineman only has 360
kg*m/s.

4.

When fighting fires, a firefighter must use great caution to hold a hose that emits
large amounts of water at high speeds. Why would such a task be difficult?

The hose is pushing lots of water (large mass) forward at a high speed. This means
the water has a large forward momentum. In turn, the hose must have an equally
large backwards momentum, making it difficult for the firefighters to manage.
5.

A large truck and a Volkswagen have a head-on collision.

a. Which vehicle experiences the greatest force of impact?

b. Which vehicle experiences the greatest impulse?

c. Which vehicle experiences the greatest momentum change?

d. Which vehicle experiences the greatest acceleration?

a, b, c: the same for each.

Both the Volkswagon and the large truck encounter the same force, the same
impulse, and the same momentum change (for reasons discussed in this lesson).

d: Acceleration is greatest for the Volkswagon. While the two vehicles experience

the same force, the acceleration is greatest for the Volkswagon due to its smaller
mass. If you find this hard to believe, then be sure to read the next question and its
accompanying explanation.

6.

Miles Tugo and Ben Travlun are riding in a bus at highway speed on a nice summer
day when an unlucky bug splatters onto the windshield. Miles and Ben begin
discussing the physics of the situation. Miles suggests that the momentum change of
the bug is much greater than that of the bus. After all, argues Miles, there was no
noticeable change in the speed of the bus compared to the obvious change in the
speed of the bug. Ben disagrees entirely, arguing that that both bug and bus
encounter the same force, momentum change, and impulse. Who do you agree
with? Support your answer.

Ben Travlun is correct.

The bug and bus experience the same force, the same impulse, and the same
momentum change (as discussed in this lesson). This is contrary to the popular
(though false) belief which resembles Miles' statement. The bug has less mass and
therefore more acceleration; occupants of the very massive bus do not feel the
extremely small acceleration. Furthermore, the bug is composed of a less hardy
material and thus splatters all over the windshield. Yet the greater "splatterability" of
the bug and the greater acceleration do not mean the bug has a greater force,
impulse, or momentum change.
7.

If a ball is projected upward from the ground with ten units of momentum, what is
the momentum of recoil of the Earth? ____________ Do we feel this? Explain.

The earth recoils with 10 units of momentum. This is not felt by Earth's occupants.
Since the mass of the Earth is extremely large, the recoil velocity of the Earth is
extremely small and therefore not felt.

8.

If a 5-kg bowling ball is projected upward with a velocity of 2.0 m/s, then what is
the recoil velocity of the Earth (mass = 6.0 x 1024 kg).

Since the ball has an upward momentum of 10 kg*m/s, the Earth must have a
downward momentum of 10 kg*m/s. To find the velocity of the Earth, use the
momentum equation, p = m*v. This equation rearranges to v=p/m. By substituting
into this equation,

v = (10 kg*m/s)/(6*1024 kg)

v = 1.67*10-24 m/s (downward)

Another way to write the velocity of the earth is to write it as

0.00000000000000000000000167 m/s

9.

A 120 kg lineman moving west at 2 m/s tackles an 80 kg football fullback moving

east at 8 m/s. After the collision, both players move east at 2 m/s. Draw a vector
diagram in which the before- and after-collision momenta of each player is
represented by a momentum vector. Label the magnitude of each momentum
vector.
10.

In an effort to exact the most severe capital punishment upon a rather unpopular
prisoner, the execution team at the Dark Ages Penitentiary search for a bullet that is
ten times as massive as the rifle itself. What type of individual would want to fire a
rifle that holds a bullet that is ten times more massive than the rifle? Explain.

Someone who doesn't know much physics. In such a situation as this, the target
would be a safer place to stand than the rifle. The rifle would have a recoil velocity
that is ten times larger than the bullet's velocity. This would produce the effect of
"the rifle actually being the bullet."

11.

A baseball player holds a bat loosely and bunts a ball. Express your understanding of
momentum conservation by filling in the tables below.

a: +40 (add the momentum of the bat and the ball)

c: +40 (the total momentum is the same after as it is before the collision)

b: 30 (the bat must have 30 units of momentum in order for the total to be +40)
12.

A Tomahawk cruise missile is launched from the barrel of a mobile missile launcher.
Neglect friction. Express your understanding of momentum conservation by filling in
the tables below.

a: 0 (add the momentum of the missile and the launcher)

c: 0 (the total momentum is the same after as it is before the collision)

b: -5000 (the launcher must have -5000 units of momentum in order for the total to
be +0)

1. What does it mean to say that momentum is conserved?

total momentum of any group of objects remain the same(or is conserved) unless
outside forces act on the objects

2. How does the diagram at the right illustrate Newton's third law of
motion? In your answer, compare the force of the foot kicking the
soccer ball with the force of the soccer ball on the foot.

The force of the foot kicking the soccer ball is equal to the force of the soccer ball on
the foot. The second object exerts a force of equal strength in the opposite direction.

3. Could an elephant have the same momentum as a gold ball? Explain.

No, because they have different masses.

4. What is the momentum of a 20-kg dog running at a speed of 8m/s?

20(8)=160 kg•m/s

5. Suppose you have two toy cars. Each has a mass of 0.04 kg. The cars
have tape on their bumpers that will cause them to couple together.
 One car is stopped on the track. The other car, traveling at a velocity of
4m/s, hits the first car. What is the momentum of the coupled cars?

(0.04kg•4m/s) + (0.04kg•0m/s) = 0.16kg•m/s

(0.04kg•2m/s) + (0.04kg•2m/s) =0.16kg•m/s

6. What is momentum?
the product of an object mass and velocity

7. Describe the law of conservation of momentum.

rule that in the absence of outside forces, the total momentum of objects that interact
does not change

Orbiting Satellites
1. How does a rocket lift off the ground?
a rocket lifts off by exerting gases it expels with a downward action ; that force exerts
an equal but opposite reaction force on the rocket, causing it to lift.

2. Which law of motion is used to explain how a rocket takes off?

Newton's third law of motion, because of the gas, it expels down.

3. Satellite
any object that orbits around another object in space; lots of things can be satellites.

4. Centripetal force
a force that causes an object to move in a circular path.

5. Centripetal means
"center seeking"

6. What keeps a satellite in orbit?

they constantly fall toward Earth, but Earth is curved, so they travel around it.

7. Why is Satellite Location Important?

Satellites have different uses: mapping and observations, for example.
Depending on the the location, a satellite will orbit the earth, depending on distance.
Lower satellites orbit earth in 2 hours and higher ones orbit slower.

8. What is Newton's Third Law of Motion?

An object that exerts a force upon a second object and the second object will do the
same and exert a force a force of equal strength in the opposite direction on the first
object.

9. How does a satellite rotate?

Satellites travel in orbit in a circular rotation. They continuously fall to earth. Because
the earth is curved, the satellites travel around it.