Chapter 7.

NEWTON’S SECOND LAW

A PowerPoint Presentation by
Paul E. Tippens, Professor of Physics
Southern Polytechnic State University

© 2007
 The space shuttle
Endeavor lifts off for
an 11-day mission in
space. All of Newton’s
laws of motion - the
law of inertia, action-
reaction, and the
acceleration produced
by a resultant force
-are exhibited during
this lift-off. Credit:
NASA Marshall Space
Flight Center (NASA-
MSFC).
NASA
Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
• Write Newton’s second law using appropriate
units for mass, force, and acceleration.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the
distinction between mass and weight.
• Draw free-body diagrams for objects at rest
and in motion.
• Apply Newton’s second law to problems
involving one or more bodies in constant
acceleration.
 Newton’s First Law Reviewed
Newton’s
Newton’s First
First Law:
Law: AnAn object
object atat rest
rest oror an
an
object
object inin motion
motion at
at constant
constant speed
speed will
will remain
remain
at
at rest
rest or
or at
at constant
constant speed
speed in
in the
the absence
absence of of aa
resultant
resultant force.
force.

AA glass
glass isis placed
placed on on aa board
board and
and the
the board
board isis
jerked
jerked quickly
quickly to to the
the right.
right. The
The glass
glass tends
tends to
to
remain
remain atat rest
rest while
while the
the board
board isis removed.
removed.
 Newton’s First Law (Cont.)
Newton’s
Newton’s First
First Law:
Law: AnAn object
object atat rest
rest oror an
an
object
object inin motion
motion at
at constant
constant speed
speed will
will remain
remain
at
at rest
rest or
or at
at constant
constant speed
speed in
in the
the absence
absence of of aa
resultant
resultant force.
force.

Assume
Assume glass
glass and
and board
board move
move together
together at
at
constant
constant speed.
speed. IfIf the
the board
board stops
stops suddenly,
suddenly,
the
the glass
glass tends
tends to
to maintain
maintain its
its constant
constant speed.
speed.
 Understanding the First Law:
Discuss what the driver
experiences when a car
accelerates from rest and
then applies the brakes.

(a) The driver is forced to move forward. An

object at rest tends to remain at rest.

(b) Driver must resist the forward motion as

brakes are applied. A moving object tends
to remain in motion.
 Newton’s Second Law:
•• Second
Second Law:
Law: Whenever
Whenever aa resultant
resultant force
force
acts
acts on
on an
an object,
object, itit produces
produces an an
acceleration:
acceleration: an
an acceleration
acceleration that that isis
directly
directly proportional
proportional to to the
the force
force and
and
inversely
inversely proportional
proportional to to the
the mass.
mass.

FF
aa 

mm
 Acceleration and Force With
Zero Friction Forces

Pushing the cart with twice the force

produces twice the acceleration. Three
times the force triples the acceleration.
 Acceleration and Mass
Again With Zero Friction

F F

a/2
a

Pushing two carts with same force F produces

one-half the acceleration. The acceleration
varies inversely with the amount of material
(the mass).
 Measuring Mass and Force
The SI unit of force is the newton (N) and
the unit for mass is the kilogram (kg).

Before presenting formal definitions of these

units, however, we will conduct an experiment
by slowly increasing the force on a given object.

Although the force in newtons will become

our standard, we begin by using the more
familiar unit of force--the pound (lb).
 Force and Acceleration
F
4 lb a = 2 ft/s2
F
8 lb a = 4 ft/s2

F
12 lb a = 6 ft/s2

Acceleration a is directly proportional to force F

and is in the direction of the force. Friction
forces are ignored in this experiment.
 Force and Acceleration
F F
= Constant
F a

8 lb lb
a =2
4 ft/s2 ft/s2
a
Inertia or mass of 1 slug = 1 lb/(ft/s2)

Mass m = 2 slugs
 MASS: A Measure of Inertia
1 slug
6 lb
a = 6 ft/s2

2 slugs 6 lb
a = 3 ft/s2

3 slugs 6 lb
a = 2 ft/s2

One slug is that mass on which a constant force

of 1 lb will produce an acceleration of 1 ft/s2.
Friction forces are ignored in this experiment.
 Two Systems of Units
USCU system: Accept lb as unit of force, ft
as unit of length, and s as unit of time.
Derive new unit of mass, the slug.
slug
FF (lb) m
(lb) = m (slugs) a (ft/s ))
= (slugs) a (ft/s 22

SI system: Accept kg as unit of mass, m as

unit of length, and s as unit of time. Derive
new unit of force, the newton (N).
FF (N) =m
(N) = m (kg)
(kg) aa (m/s
(m/s22))
 Newton: The Unit of Force
One newton is that resultant force which imparts
an acceleration of 1 m/s2 to a mass of 1 kg.

FF (N) =m
(N) = m (kg)
(kg) aa (m/s
(m/s22))

What resultant force will give a 3 kg mass an

acceleration of 4 m/s2? Remember F = m a
3 kg F=? F  (3 kg)(4 m/s )
2

a = 4 m/s2 FF =
= 12
12 NN
 Comparing the
Newton to the Pound

1 N = 0.225 lb

1 lb = 4.45 N 1 lb 4.45 N

A 160-lb person weighs about 712 N

A 10-N hammer weighs about 2.25 lb

Example 1: What resultant force F is required
to give a 6 kg block an acceleration of 2 m/s2?
a = 2 m/s2

6 kg F=?

F = ma = (6 kg)(2 m/s2)

FF =
= 12
12 NN

Remember consistent units for force, mass,

and acceleration in all problems.
 Example 2: A 40-lb resultant force causes a
block to accelerate at 5 ft/s2. What is the mass?

a = 5 ft/s2

m=? F = 40 lb

F
F  ma or m
a
F 40 lb
m  2 m
m== 88 slugs
slugs
a 5 ft/s
You must recall that the slug is the appropriate
mass unit when F is in lb and a is in ft/s2.
 Example 3. A net force of 4.2 x 104 N acts on
a 3.2 x 104 kg airplane during takeoff. What
is the force on the plane’s 75-kg pilot?
First we find the +
F = 4.2 x 104 N
acceleration a of F = ma
plane.
m = 3.2 x 104 kg

F 4.2 x 104 N
a  4 a = 1.31 m/s2
m 3.2 x 10 kg
To find F on 78-kg pilot, assume same acceleration:

F = ma = (75 kg)(1.31 m/s2); F = 98.4 N

A Word About Consistent Units
Now that we have derived units of newtons
and slugs, we can no longer use units that
are inconsistent with those definitions.

Acceptable measures of LENGTH are:

SI units: meter (m)
USCU units: foot (ft)
Unacceptable units are: centimeters (cm);
millimeters (mm); kilometers (km);
yards (yd); inches (in.); miles (mi)
Consistent Units (Continued . . .)
Acceptable measures of MASS are:
SI units: kilogram (kg)
USCU units: slug (slug)

Unacceptable units are: grams (gm);

milligrams (mg); newtons (N);
pounds (lb); ounces (oz)

The last three unacceptable units are

actually units of force instead of mass.
Consistent Units (Continued . . .)
Acceptable measures of FORCE are:
SI units: newton (N)
USCU units: pound (lb)

Unacceptable units are: kilonewtons

(kN); tons (tons); ounces (oz);
kilograms (kg); slugs (slug)

The last two unacceptable units are not

force units—they are units for mass.
 Consistent Units (Cont.)

When we say that the acceptable units for

force and mass are the newton and the
kilogram, we are referring to their use in
physical formulas. ( Such as F = m a)

The centimeter, the millimeter, the

milligram, the mile, and the inch may be
useful occasionally in describing quantities.
But they should not be used in formulas.
 Problem Solving Strategy
(For the Simpler Problems.)
•• Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
•• List
List all
all given
given quantities
quantities and
and state
state what
what isis to
to
be
be found.
found.
•• Make
Make sure
sure all
all given
given units
units are
are consistent
consistent with
with
Newton’s
Newton’s second
second law
law of motion ((FF =
of motion =mm aa).).
•• Determine
Determine two
two of
of the
the three
three parameters
parameters in
in
Newton’s
Newton’s law,
law, then
then solve
solve for
for the
the unknown.
unknown.
Example 4. A 54-gm tennis ball is in contact
with the racket for a distance of 40 cm as it
leaves with a velocity of 48 m/s. What is the
average force on the ball?
First, draw sketch and list
given quantities:
Given: vo = 0; vf = 48 m/s
x = 40 cm; m = 54 gm
a=?
Consistent units require converting grams
to kilograms and centimeters to meters:
Given: vo = 0; vf = 48 m/s x = 0.40 m;
m = 0.0540 km; a = ? Cont. . .
 Example 4 (Cont). A 54-gm tennis ball is in
contact with the racket for a distance of 40
cm as it leaves with a velocity of 48 m/s.
What is the average force on the ball?
Knowing that F = m a, we need
first to find acceleration a:
0 v 2

2ax  v  v ; a 
2
f
2
0
f

2x
(48 m/s) 2
a ; a  2880 m/s 2 F = ma
2(0.40 m)

F= (0.054 kg)(2880 m/s2); F = 156 N

 Measuring Mass and Force
The SI unit of force is the newton (N) and
the unit for mass is the kilogram (kg).

Before presenting formal definitions of these

units, however, we will conduct an experiment
by slowly increasing the force on a given object.

Although the force in newtons will become

our standard, we begin by using the more
familiar unit of force--the pound (lb).
 Newton: The Unit of Force
One newton is that resultant force which imparts
an acceleration of 1 m/s2 to a mass of 1 kg.

FF (N) =m
(N) = m (kg)
(kg) aa (m/s
(m/s22))

What resultant force will give a 3 kg mass an

acceleration of 4 m/s2? Remember F = m a
3 kg F=? F  (3 kg)(4 m/s )
2

a = 4 m/s2 FF =
= 12
12 NN
 Comparing the
Newton to the Pound

1 N = 0.225 lb

1 lb = 4.45 N 1 lb 4.45 N

A 160-lb person weighs about 712 N

A 10-N hammer weighs about 2.25 lb

 Weight and Mass
• Weight is the force due to gravity. It is
directed downward and it varies from
location to location.
• Mass is a universal constant which is a
measure of the inertia of a body.

W
F = m a so that: W = mg and m =
g
 Weight and Mass: Examples
• What is the weight of a 10-kg block?

10 kg m W = mg = (10 kg)(9.8 m/s2)

9.8 m/s2 W W
W== 98
98 NN

• What is the mass of a 64-lb block?

64 lb
W = mg m 2
 2 slugs
32 ft/s
32 ft/s2 64 lb
Mass is Constant; W Varies.
49 N 4.9 m/s 2 32 lb 16 ft/s2

98 N 9.8 m/s2 64 lb 32 ft/s2

Earth Earth

W W
m= = 10 kg m= = 2 slugs
g g
 Description of Objects
• Objects described by mass or weight:
W (N) = m (kg) x 9.8 m/s2
W (lb) = m (slugs) x 32 ft/s2

• Conversions made by Newton’s 2nd Law:

W
W = mg m=
g
 Inconsistent Common Usage
In the United States, objects are often
referred to by their weight at a point where
gravity is equal to 32 ft/s2.
You might hear: “An
800-lb force pulls a 800 lb
3200-lb car.”
This car should be
called a 100-slug car. W = 3200 lb

Thus, when an object is described as a _?_-lb

object, we remember to divide by g to get mass.
 Inconsistent Usage (Cont.)
Even metric units are used inconsistently. Mass
in kg is often treated as if it were weight ( N).
This is sometimes called the kilogram-force.
A chemist might be asked
F to weigh out 200 g of a
certain element. Also, you
hear about a 10-kg load as
10 kg
if it were weight.

The kilogram is a mass - never a force - and it

doesn’t have direction or vary with gravity.
 Always Remember!!
In Physics, the use of Newton’s second law
and many other applications makes it
absolutely necessary to distinguish between
mass and weight. Use the correct units!

Metric SI units: Mass is in kg; weight is in N.

USCU units: Mass is in slugs; weight is in lb.

Always give preference to the SI units.

 Newton’s Third Law (Reviewed):
•• Third
Third Law:
Law: For
For every
every action
action force,
force, there
there
must
must be
be an
an equal
equal and
and opposite
opposite reaction
reaction
force.
force. Forces
Forces occur
occur in
in pairs.
pairs.
Action

Reaction Reaction Action

Acting and Reacting Forces
•• Use
Use the
the words
words byby and
and on
on to
to study
study
action/reaction
action/reaction forces
forces below
below as as they
they
relate
relate to
to the
the hand
hand and
and the
the bar
bar::

Action

The action force is exerted by

the _____ bar
hands on the _____.

The reaction force is exerted

bar on the _____.
by the _____ hands

Reaction
 Example 6: A 60-kg athlete exerts a force on
a 10-kg skateboard. If she receives an
acceleration of 4 m/s2, what is the
acceleration of the skateboard?

Force on runner = -(Force on board)

mr ar = -mb ab

Force on (60 kg)(4 m/s2) = -(10 kg) ab

Board (60 kg)(4 m/s)
a  24 m/s 2

-(10 kg)
Force on
Runner aa == -- 24 m/s 22
24 m/s
 Review of Free-body Diagrams:
•• Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
•• Construct
Construct force
force diagram
diagram for
for each
each object,
object,
vectors
vectors at
at origin
origin of
of x,y
x,y axes.
axes.
•• Dot
Dot in
in rectangles
rectangles and
and label
label xx and
and yy compo-
compo-
nents
nents opposite
opposite and
and adjacent
adjacent to to angles.
angles.
•• Label
Label all
all components;
components; choose
choose positive
positive
direction.
direction.
Example of Free-body Diagram

300 600 B
A By
A B Ay 600
30 0

Ax Bx
4 kg
W = mg
1. Draw and label sketch.
2. Draw and label vector force diagram.
3. Dot in rectangles and label x and y compo-
nents opposite and adjacent to angles.
Applying Newton’s Second Law
•• Read,
Read, draw,
draw, and
and label
label problem.
problem.
•• Draw
Draw free-body
free-body diagram
diagram for
for each
each body.
body.
•• Choose
Choose xx or
or y-axis
y-axis along
along motion
motion and
and choose
choose
direction
direction of
of motion
motion as
as positive.
positive.
•• Write
Write Newton’s
Newton’s law
law for
for both
both axes:
axes:

m aaxx
FFxx == m m aayy
FFyy == m
•• Solve
Solve for
for unknown
unknown quantities.
quantities.
Example 7: A cart and driver have a mass of
120 kg. What force F is required to give an
acceleration of 6 m/s2 with no friction?
1. Read problem and draw a sketch.

Diagram for Cart:

n F
x
W +
2. Draw a vector force diagram and label forces.
3. Choose x-axis along motion and indicate the
right direction as positive (+).
Example 7 (Cont.) What force F is required
to give an acceleration of 6 m/s2?
4. Write Newton's Law equation for both axes.
Diagram for cart:
m = 120 kg
n F
x
W +
ay = 0 Fx = max; F = ma
Fy = 0;n-W=0 F = (120 kg)(6 m/s2)
The normal force n
is equal to weight W F = 720 N
Example 8: What is the tension T in the
rope below if the block accelerates upward
at 4 m/s2? (Draw sketch and free-body.)

T Fx = m ax = 0 (No info)

a
Fy = m ay = m a
10 kg
T - mg = m a
a = +4 m/s2
mg = (10 kg)(9.8 m/s) = 98 N
T +
m a= (10 kg)(4 m/s) = 40 N

mg T - 98 N = 40 N TT =
= 138
138 NN
Example 9: In the absence of friction, what
is the acceleration down the 300 incline?
n + n
mg sin 600 mg cos 0
60
600
W 300
mg
Fx = m ax
a = (9.8 m/s2) cos 600
mg cos 600 = m a
a = g cos 600 aa == 4.9 m/s
4.9 m/s
22
Example 10. Two-Body Problem: Find tension in the
connecting rope if there is no friction on the surfaces.
12 N Find acceleration of
2 kg 4 kg system and tension
in connecting cord.
First apply F = ma to entire system (both masses).
n Fx = (m2 + m4) a
12 N
12 N = (6 kg) a

( m 2 + m 4 )g 12 N
a= aa == 22 m/s
m/s 22
6 kg
 Example 10 (Cont.) The two-body problem.

12 N
Now find tension T
2 kg 4 kg
in connecting cord.

Apply F = m a to the 2 kg mass where a = 2 m/s2.

n Fx = m2 a
T
T = (2 kg)(2 m/s2)

m2 g TT =
= 44 NN
 Example 10 (Cont.) The two-body problem.

12 N Same answer for T

2 kg 4 kg results from focusing
on 4-kg by itself.
Apply F = m a to the 4 kg mass where a = 2 m/s2.

n Fx = m4 a
T 12 N
12 N - T = (4 kg)(2 m/s2)

m2 g TT =
= 44 NN
Example 11 Find acceleration of system and
tension in cord for the arrangement shown.
First apply F = m a to entire
2 kg system along the line of motion.
Fx = (m2 + m4) a

4 kg
Note m2g is balanced by n.
n m 4g = ( m 2 + m 4) a
T +a
m4g (4 kg)(9.8 m/s2)
T a= =
m2 g m2 + m 4 2 kg + 4 kg

m4 g aa == 6.53 m/s
6.53 m/s
22
Example 11 (Cont.) Now find the tension T given
that the acceleration is a = 6.53 m/s2.

To find T, apply F = m a to just

2 kg
the 2 kg mass, ignoring 4 kg.
F x  m2 a or T  m2 a
4 kg
n T = (2 kg)(6.53 m/s2)
T +a
TT =
= 13.1
13.1 NN
T
Same answer if using 4 kg.
m2 g
m4g - T = m4 a
m4 g T = m4(g - a) = 13.1 N
Example 11. Find the acceleration of the system
shown below. (The Atwood machine.)

First apply F = ma to entire system

along the line of motion.
Fx = (m2 + m5) a
2 kg 5 kg
m5 g  m2 g  (m2  m5 )a
+a
m5 g  m2 g (5 kg  2 kg)(9.8 m/s 2 )
a 
m2  m5 2 kg + 5 kg T
T
aa == 4.20 m/s
4.20 m/s
22
m2 g m5 g
 Summary
Newton’s
Newton’s First
First Law:
Law: An
An object
object at
at rest
rest or
or an
an object
object
in
in motion
motion at
at constant
constant speed
speed will
will remain
remain atat rest
rest or
or
at
at constant
constant speed
speed inin the
the absence
absence of of aa resultant
resultant
force.
force.
Newton’s
Newton’s Second
Second Law:
Law: AA resultant
resultant force
force produces
produces
an
an acceleration
acceleration inin the
the direction
direction ofof the
the force
force that
that
isis directly
directly proportional
proportional to to the
the force
force and
and inversely
inversely
proportional
proportional to to the
the mass.
mass.

Newton’s
Newton’s Third
Third Law:
Law: ForFor every
every action
action force,
force,
there
there must
must be
be an
an equal
equal and
and opposite
opposite reaction
reaction
force.
force. Forces
Forces occur
occur in
in pairs.
pairs.
 Summary: Procedure
FFRR
FFRR  ma
ma;; aa  NN =
= (kg)(m/s ))
(kg)(m/s 22
m
m
•• Read,
Read, draw
draw and
and label
label problem.
problem.
•• Draw
Draw free-body
free-body diagram
diagram for
for each
each body.
body.
•• Choose
Choose xx or
or y-axis
y-axis along
along motion
motion and
and choose
choose
direction
direction of
of motion
motion as
as positive.
positive.
•• Write
Write Newton’s
Newton’s law
law for
for both
both axes:
axes:

m aaxx
FFxx == m m aayy
FFyy == m
•• Solve
Solve for
for unknown
unknown quantities.
quantities.
 CONCLUSION: Chapter 7
Newton’s Second Law of Motion