Unit IV Newton’s Laws of Motion

Unit IV: Newton’s Laws of Motion

4.3 Newton’s Second Law

Discussion

When a body accelerates, slows down or stops, it means that the vector sum of
the forces acting on it is not equal to zero. It is not in equilibrium and Newton’s
2nd law applies.

The vector sum of the forces acting on the body is equal to the
product of its mass and acceleration.

∑ 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎

Using the components, the net force along the 𝑥 axis is equal to the
product of mass and acceleration along the 𝑥 axis is

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥

In the same manner

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦

Example 4.3.1: Newton’s 2nd Law

A 10 kg block of ice rests on a horizontal surface. What constant force 𝑇

is required to give it a velocity of 4 m/s in 2 seconds? The coefficient of
kinetic friction is 0.05.

Solution:

Given: 𝑚 = 10 kg ; 𝑣 = 4 m/s ; 𝑡 = 2 sec ; 𝜇𝑘 = 0.05

𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡
4 = 0 + 𝑎𝑥 (2)
𝑎𝑥 = 2 m/s2

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 𝐹𝑓 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑁 − 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 𝜇𝑘 𝑁 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑁 − 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑁 − 10(9.8) = 10(0)
𝑁 = 10(9.8)

𝑇 − (0.05)(10)(9.8) = 10(2)
𝑇 = 24.9 N

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Example 4.3.2: Newton’s 2nd Law

A 800 kg elevator is moving downward at a velocity of 10 m/s. It is

brought to rest with constant acceleration in a distance of 25 m. What is
the tension in the cable?

Solution:

Given: 𝑚 = 800 kg ; 𝑣 = 10 m/s ; 𝑦 = 25 m

𝑣 2 = 𝑣0 2 + 2𝑎𝑦 𝑦
02 = (−10)2 + 2(−𝑎𝑦 )(−25)
𝑎𝑦 = −2 m/s2

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 800(9.8) = 800(−2)
𝑇 = 6240 N

Inclined Plane

Example 4.3.3: Newton’s 2nd Law

A 10 kg child slides down a frictionless surface playground slide

inclined at 60° with the horizontal. What is the child’s acceleration?

Solution:

Given: 𝑚 = 10 kg ; 𝜃 = 60°

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑊𝑥 − 𝐹𝑓 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑊 sin 𝜃 − 𝐹𝑓 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 − 𝐹𝑓 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
10(9.8) sin 60° − 0 = 10𝑎𝑥
𝑎𝑥 = 8.49 m/s2

Block Systems

Example 4.3.4: Newton’s 2nd Law

In the figure below, the block of 𝑚1 = 100 kg moves on level,

frictionless surface. It is connected by a light, flexible cord passing over
a small frictionless pulley to a second hanging block with a mass 𝑚2 =
200 kg. What is the acceleration of the system?

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Figure 4-7.

Solution:

At 𝑚1 At 𝑚2

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥 ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 𝐹𝑓 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥 𝑇 − 𝑊 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 0 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥 𝑇 − 𝑚2 𝑔 = 𝑚2 𝑎𝑦
𝑇 = 𝑚1 𝑎𝑥

If the cord does not stretch, 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑎.

𝑇 = 𝑚1 𝑎 𝑇 − 𝑚2 𝑔 = −𝑚2 𝑎
𝑇 − 𝑚1 𝑎 = 0 𝑇 + 𝑚2 𝑎 = 𝑚2 𝑔
𝑇 − 100𝑎 = 0 (1) 𝑇 + 200𝑎 = 200(9.8) (2)

Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously

𝑎 = 6.53 m/s2 𝑇 = 653 N

Atwood Machines

Figure 4-8.

In an Atwood machine, one mass should be greater than the other. If the cord
does not stretch

𝑦𝐴 + 𝑦𝑏 = 𝐶 (constant)

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Getting the first derivative

𝑑 𝑑
(𝑦𝐴 ) + (𝑦𝐵 ) = 0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝐴 + 𝑣𝐵 = 0
𝑣𝐴 = −𝑣𝐵

It follows on the acceleration that

𝑎𝐴 = −𝑎𝐵

Example 4.3.5: Newton’s 2nd Law

If 𝑚𝐴 = 20 kg and 𝑚𝐵 = 30 kg, what is the acceleration of the system.

Solution:

At block 𝐴 At block 𝐵
∑ 𝐹𝐴 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑎𝐴 ∑ 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝐵 𝑎𝐵
𝑇 − 𝑊𝐴 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑎𝐴 𝑇 − 𝑊𝐵 = 𝑚𝐵 𝑎𝐵
𝑇 − 𝑚𝐴 𝑔 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑎𝐴 𝑇 − 𝑚𝐵 𝑔 = 𝑚𝐵 𝑎𝐵
𝑇 − 𝑚𝐴 𝑎𝐴 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑔 𝑇 − 𝑚𝐵 𝑎𝐵 = 𝑚𝐵 𝑔

Since 𝑎𝐴 = −𝑎𝐵
𝑇 + 𝑚𝐵 𝑎𝐴 = 𝑚𝐵 𝑔

𝑇 − 20𝑎𝐴 = 20(9.8) (1) 𝑇 + 30𝑎𝐴 = 30(9.8) (2)

Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously.

𝑇 = 235.2 N 𝑎𝐴 = 1.96 m/s2

Apparent Weight

Consider an elevator that is accelerating downward. An object of mass 𝑚 is

suspended from a spring balance attached to the roof of the elevator. The man
standing on the elevator is the object at rest. Taking the FBD of the object, the
forces are 𝑤′ exerted on it by the tension 𝑇 (as read as the scale on the balance).
The body is not accelerating relative to the elevator. Then

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0
𝑇 − 𝑤′ = 0

𝑤′ is the weight observed by the man inside the elevator. (non-inertial frame of
reference). This is called apparent weight.

But for a person observing it on the ground (earth being the inertial point of
reference), the object of mass 𝑚 is accelerating. On this point of view

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚𝑎𝑦
𝑇 − 𝑤 = 𝑚(−𝑎𝑦 )

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𝑤 is the weight (gravitational force exerted by the earth on it).

𝑤 ′ = 𝑤 − 𝑚𝑎

If 𝑎 = 𝑔, then 𝑤 ′ = 0. The reading on the spring scale would be zero. This is

apparent weightlessness.

However, if the elevator accelerates upward, acceleration 𝑎 becomes positive so

𝑤 ′ = 𝑤 + 𝑚𝑎

At 𝑎 = 𝑔; 𝑤 ′ = 2𝑤.

Example 4.3.6: Apparent Weight

A 70 kg man on a scale placed on the floor of an elevator. He notices the

scale reading to be 68 kg. In what direction is the elevator accelerating
and what is its acceleration?

Solution:

Since his apparent weight as seen in the scale is lesser than his true
weight, he is accelerating downward.

𝑤 ′ = 𝑤 + 𝑚𝑎
68(9.8) = 70(9.8) − 70𝑎
𝑎 = 0.28 m/s2

Try These

1. A 35 kg dolphin decelerates from 12 to 7.5 m/s in 2.3 seconds to join another

dolphin in play. What average force was exerted to slow the first dolphin if it
was moving horizontally?
2. When starting a foot race, a 70 kg sprinter exerts an average force of 650 N
backwards on the ground for 0.8 s. a) What is the final speed? B) How far does
he travel?
3. A service elevator takes a load of garbage, mass 10 kg from a floor of a
skyscraper under construction, down to ground level, accelerating downward at
a rate of 1.2 m/s2. Find the magnitude of the force the garbage exerts on the
floor of the service elevator.
4. Find the both the acceleration and tension on an Atwood machine when block 1
has mass 2 kg and block 2 has mass 4 kg.
5. In Figure 4- , mass of the block on the table is 4 kg and the hanging mass is 1 kg.
The table and the pulley are frictionless. a) Find the acceleration of the system.
b) Find the tension in the rope. c) Find the speed with which the hanging mass
hits the floor if it starts from rest and is located 1 m from the floor.
6. A machine at a post office sends packages out a chute and down a ramp to be
loaded into delivery vehicles. a) Calculate the acceleration of a box heading
down at 10° slope assuming the coefficient of friction for a parcel on waxed
wood is 0.1. b) Find the angle of the slope down which this box could move

References

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 Unit IV Newton’s Laws of Motion

ARESTA M., (2012). Lecture Module in Physics 11. 2011-2012 version.

HIBBELER R.C. (1981) Statics. 13th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall

HIBBELER, R.C. (2010). Dynamics. (12th edition). Pearson Prentice Hall

LING, S. et.al. (2018). University Physics Volume 1. Openstax

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