Newton’s Laws of Motion

Newton’s first law is stated as:

- In the absence of external forces, an
object at rest remains at rest and an
object in motion continues in motion
with a constant velocity.
Newton’s second law states:
The acceleration of an object is directly
proportional to the net force acting on it
and inversely proportional to its mass.

∑F=ma
Newton’s third law states:
If two objects interact, the force F12
exerted by object 1 on object 2 is equal
in magnitude to and opposite in
direction to the force F21 exerted by
object 2 on object 1:
F12 = -F21
Free Body Diagram
A mass of 5 kg is suspended
by a rope of length 2 m from
the ceiling. A force of 45 N in
the horizontal direction is
applied at the midpoint R of
the rope, as shown. What is
the angle the rope makes
with the vertical in
equilibrium? (Take g = 10 ms-
2). Neglect the mass of the

rope.
A small block B is placed is
placed on another block A of
mass 7 kg and length 15 cm.
Initially the block B is near the
right end of block A. A constant
horizontal force of 10 N is
applied to the block A. All the
surfaces are assumed
frictionless. Find the time
elapsed before the block B
separates from A.
Two blocks of masses 5 kg and 7 kg are placed in
contact with each other on a frictionless horizontal
surface. A constant horizontal force 20 N is applied
to the block of mass 7 kg. (a) Determine the
magnitude of the acceleration of the two-block
system.
A block of mass 5 kg starts to slide down a frictionless plane
having an inclination of 25.0° from rest at the top. The
length of the incline is 2.00 m, find (a) the acceleration of
the block and (b) its speed when it reaches the bottom of
the incline. Take g = 10 ms-2.
Activity:
A 75.0 kg man stands on a platform scale in an elevator. Starting
from rest, the elevator ascends, attaining its maximum speed of
1.20 m/s in 1.00 s. It travels with this constant speed for the next
10.00 s. The elevator then undergoes a uniform acceleration in the
negative y direction for 1.70 s and comes to rest. What does the
scale register
(a) before the elevator starts to move?
(b) during the first 1.00 s?
(c) while the elevator is traveling at constant speed?
(d) during the time it is slowing down? Take g = 10 ms-2.