Unit 1

Newtonian Mechanics
Problems
1. If 𝑎 = 4𝑖 − 3𝑗, 𝑏 = 8𝑖 − 6𝑗, find the magnitude and direction of (i) 𝑎 + 𝑏 and (ii) 𝑎 − 𝑏.
Sol: Given that 𝑎 = 4𝑖 − 3𝑗, 𝑏 = 8𝑖 − 6𝑗

Compare with 𝑎 = 𝑎 𝑖 + 𝑎 𝑗 + 𝑎 𝑘 and 𝑏 = 𝑏 𝑖 + 𝑏 𝑗 + 𝐵 𝑘

𝑎 = 4, 𝑎 = −3, 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑏 = 8, 𝑏 = −6, 𝑏 = 0
Consider, 𝑐̅ = 𝑎 + 𝑏
⸫𝑎 + 𝑏 = (4𝑖 − 3𝑗) + (8𝑖 − 6𝑗) = 12𝑖 − 9𝑗
Hence, 𝑐 = 12, 𝑐 = −9
Magnitude: |𝑐̅| = 𝑎 + 𝑏 = (12) + (−9) = √225 = 15
Direction: tanθ = = =
⸫𝜃 = tan ( )
Similarly, 𝑐̅ = 𝑎 − 𝑏 = (4𝑖 − 3𝑗) − (8𝑖 − 6𝑗) = −4𝑖 + 3𝑗
Hence, 𝑐 = −4, 𝑐 = 3
Magnitude: |𝑐̅| = 𝑎 − 𝑏 = (−4) + (3) = √25 = 5
Direction: tanθ = =
⸫𝜃 = tan ( )

2. Find the work done if the applied force is 𝐹 = 2𝑖 − 𝑗 − 𝑘 and the displacement is given
by 𝑟̅ = 3𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 5𝑘.
Sol: Given that𝐹 = 2𝑖 − 𝑗 − 𝑘 and 𝑟̅ = 3𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 5𝑘
𝑊 = 𝐹 . 𝑟̅ = (2𝑖 − 𝑗 − 𝑘). (3𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 5𝑘) = 6 − 2 + 5 = 9
3. If 𝑎 = −2𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 4𝑘 and 𝑏 = 3𝑖 − 4𝑗 + 5𝑘 then find the cross product of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
Sol: Given that 𝑎 = −2𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 4𝑘 and 𝑏 = 3𝑖 − 4𝑗 + 5𝑘
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑎 × 𝑏 = −2 3 −4 = 𝑖 (15 − 16) − 𝑗(−10 + 12) + 𝑘(8 − 9)
3 −4 5
𝑎 × 𝑏 = −𝑖 − 2𝑗 − 𝑘
4. A bullet of mass 25 g moving with a velocity of 200 cm/s is stopped within 5 cm of the
target. Find the average resistance offered by the target.
Sol: Given that u = 200 cm/s = 2 m/s

S = 5 cm = m

W.K.T., 𝑣 − 𝑢 = 2𝑎𝑆
 5
0 − 2 = 2𝑎 𝑚/𝑠
100
𝑎 = −40 𝑚/𝑠

⸫ 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 = × 40 = 1𝑁

5. A force acts for 10 seconds on a body of mass 100 kg after which the force ceases to act
and the body describes 160 m in the next 8 sec. Find the magnitude of the force.
Sol: After the force ceases to act, the body travels with uniform velocity.

⸫𝑣 = = = 20 𝑚/𝑠

The acceleration of the body before the force ceases is 𝑎 = = = 2 𝑚/𝑠

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 = 100 × 2 = 200 𝑁
6. A body of mass 2 kg is acted upon by two forces each of magnitude 1 N, making an
angle of 60° with each other. Then find the net acceleration of the body.
Sol: Let 𝐹 be the resultant force, by the law of parallelogram of force,
1
𝐹 = 1 + 1 + 2 × 1 × 1 × cos(60°) = 1 + 1 + 2 ×
2
𝐹 =3

𝐹 = √3
We know that, 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
√
⸫𝑎 = = 𝑚/𝑠

7. Find the work done by a person in carrying a box weighing 30 kg over his head when he
travels 20 m in (i) on a plane ground (ii) vertically up.
Sol: Given that, m = 30 kg, S = 20 m, and g = 9.8 m/s2
(i) On a plane ground,
𝑊 = 𝐹 . 𝑆̅ = 𝐹 𝑆̅𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0 (⸪ θ = 90°)
Hence, work done is zero.
(ii) Vertically up
𝑊 = 𝐹 . 𝑆̅ = 𝐹 𝑆̅𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = −𝑚𝑔𝑆 (⸪ θ = 180°)
𝑊 = −30 × 9.8 × 20 = 5880 𝐽

8. A body of mass 100 g is allowed to fall freely under the action of gravity, what is its
kinetic energy (K.E) after 10 sec? (g = 1000 cm/s2)

Sol: 𝐾. 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑣 for the freely falling body 𝑣 = 𝑔𝑡 [⸪u = 0]

𝑣 = 1000 × 10 = 10 𝑐𝑚/𝑠
 1
𝐾. 𝐸 = × 100 × (10 ) = 5 × 10 𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑠 = 500 𝐽
2
9. A 0.1 kg body is suspended from a 0.15 m long weightless spring of force constant 100
N/m. After stretching it through 0.02 m the spring is released. Then, find the kinetic
energy of the body when the compression is 0.01 m.
Sol: the maximum potential energy of the spring is,
1 1
𝑃. 𝐸 = 𝑘𝑥 = × 100 × (0.02) = 0.02 𝐽.
2 2
When the compression is 0.01 m, it has both P.E and K.E.

Hence, 𝑃. 𝐸 = 𝑘𝑥 = × 100 × (0.01) = 0.005 𝐽.

If kinetic energy follows from the law of conservation of energy,

⸫ 0.02 = 0.005 + K.E
K.E = 0.02 – 0.005 = 0.015 J.
10. If the distance between the two spheres each of mass 2 kg is 30 cm, find the gravitational
force between them. G = 6.67 x 10–11Nm2/kg2.
Sol: Given that, m1 = 2 kg, m2 = 2 kg, d = 30 cm = 0.3 m, and G = G = 6.67 x 10–11Nm2/kg2
. × × ×
𝐹= = ( . )
= 2.964 × 10 𝑁

11. Under the action of a force, a 2kg body moves such that its position x (in meters) as a
function of time (in sec) is given by 𝑥 = . Find the work done by the force in the first
two seconds.
Sol: The work done is equal to the kinetic energy acquired, i.e.,

𝑊 = 𝑚𝑣

Given that 𝑥 =

⸫𝑣 = =3 =𝑡

The velocity after 2 sec is v= 2 x 2 = 4 m/s

1 1
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑣 = × 2 × 4 = 16 𝐽
2 2
12. The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is 1.67m/s2. Radius of the
moon is 1.74 × 10 𝑚. Find the mass of the moon. (𝐺 = 6.67 × 10 )

Sol: 𝑔 = ,
 𝐺𝑀
𝑔 =
𝑅
𝑔 𝑅 1.67 × (1.74 × 10 )
𝑀 = =
𝐺 6.67 × 10
𝑀 = 7.58 × 10 𝑘𝑔

13. Find the gravitational force between 2 electrons each of mass 9 × 10 𝑘𝑔 kept at 0.5
cm. (𝐺 = 6.67 × 10 )

Sol: Given that 𝑚 = 9 × 10 𝑘𝑔, and 𝑚 = 9 × 10 𝑘𝑔

𝑑 = 0.5 𝑐𝑚 = 0.5 × 10 𝑚, and 𝐺 = 6.67 × 10

𝐺𝑚 𝑚 6.67 × 10 × 9 × 10 × 9 × 10
𝐹= = ≅ 216.108 × 10 𝑁
𝑑 (0.5 × 10 )