First Law mass: resists changes in motion

Fnet = 0 State of rest

Uniform motion in
a straight line

NEWTON’S
LAWS
4.1.2 Linear Momentum Pg 5

inear Momentum, p, of a particle is defined as the

product of its mass, m, and its velocity, v of a moving
body.
p = mv
Vector quantity: direction same as direction of v.
SI unit: kg m s-1 or N s.

Physically, it is the measure of an object’s motion

-its tendency to continue moving in a particular dirn
( How hard it is to stop a moving object?)
4.1.2 Newton’s 2nd Law
Pg 5 n 6

Quantitative definition:
“The rate of change of momentum of a body is proportional
to the resultant force acting on it and the change takes
place in the direction of the force”

dp
Therefore, F
dt
dp
F k
dt
In SI units, k = 1 1 kg m s-1 1 Newton :
dp Force required to effect a
Fk change in momentum at
dt the rate of 1 kg m s-2.
1N
1s 1 N = 1 kg m s-2
4.1.2 Newton’s 2nd Law Pg 6

d (mv)
Consider 2 Cases: F
dt
(i) If m is a constant and
dv/dt  0, dv dm
 m v
dt dt
0
=0 dm
 ma  v
dt
Then, F = ma

Acceleration is in the direction of the Force!

4.1.2 Newton’s 2nd Law
Pg 6

Consider 2 Cases:
(ii) If m is not a constant and a=0,

0

0
dv dm
F m v
dt dt
dm
becomes F v
dt
4.1.2 Newton’s 2nd Law
Pg 6

Note:

1. The equation F = ma is valid only when m = constant.

Do not quote this as Newton's second law !

2. Net force produces the acceleration, not vice versa,

dirn of acceleration = dirn of resultant force.

Eg 4: Apply Newton’s 2nd law to a
body with varying mass Pg 7
A
space research rocket stands vertically on its launching pad. Prior to ignition,
the mass of the rocket and its fuel is 1.9  103 kg. On ignition, gas is ejected from
the rocket at a speed of 2.5  103 ms-1 relative to the rocket, and fuel is
consumed at a constant rate of
7.4 kg
s-1. Find the thrust of the rocket. TH

Thrust of the rocket , TH

dm
= v
dt
= ….
mg
= 1.85  104 N
Eg 5: Apply Newton’s 2nd law to a
body with varying mass Pg 7
A toy
rocket is partially filled with water. The space above the water contains
compressed air. At one instant during the flight, water of density ρ, is forced
through the nozzle of radius r at speed v relative to the nozzle. Determine, in terms
of ρ, r and v,

he mass of water ejected per unit time from the nozzle

dm
Question is asking for
dt
dm d ( Vol ) d ( Ah ) d( h )
   A  Av
dt dt dt dt
 r 2v
Eg 5: Apply Newton’s 2nd law to a
body with varying mass Pg 7
A toy
rocket is partially filled with water. The space above the water contains compressed
air. At one instant during the flight, water of density ρ, is forced through the nozzle
of radius r at speed v relative to the nozzle. Determine, in terms of ρ, r and v,

he rate of change of momentum T of the water.

Rate of change of momentum T is same as the force of

the water, and since the mass is not constant, we use

dm
T v  r 2v 2
dt
Eg 6: Apply N2L to 2 accelerating
connected bodies Pg 8

Two objects of masses 10kg and 5kg are connected by a

light inextensible string that passes over a light frictionless
pulley. The 5 kg mass, m1, lies over a smooth incline of
angle 300.
Find the acceleration of the two objects and the tension in
the string.
In eg 3, The two masses
were moving at constant
speed, but eg 6, the two
m1 masses are accelerating.
m2
30o
In eg 3, the direction of motion was given, but in
eg 6, it is not given. Also no resistive force of 2
N
Eg 6: Apply N2L to 2 accelerating
connected bodies Pg 8

Find the acceleration of the two objects and the tension in

the string.
Since the string is inextensible, the
Copy magnitude of the velocity and
acceleration of the objects must be equal
at all times.

To solve for two unknowns,

we will need two independent m1
equations. m2
30o
We need to assume the direction of acceleration of the two
masses
Eg 6: Apply N2L to 2 accelerating
connected bodies Pg 8

•Assume m2 moves down and m1 moves up along

the slope,
•let acceleration of two objects be a, and,
•tension in the string be T

Taking downwards to b positive,

Tension,
ΣFvertically = m2 a T

m2
m2gm-1 T = m2 a .... (1)
m2
30o m2 g copy
Eg 6: Apply N2L to 2 accelerating
connected bodies Pg 8

Consider m1: m1 moves up the plane with acceleration a

y Taking upwards along e

x
slope as positive,
T
ΣFalong the slope = m1 a

m1 T - m1g sin 300= m1 a......(2)

30o

30o m1g
copy
Eg 6: Apply N2L to 2 accelerating
connected bodies Pg 8

m2g - T = m2 a ............... (1)

T - m1g sin 300= m1 a......(2)

To solve for a, take eqn (2) – eqn (1):
a = 4.9 m s-2
To solve for T , sub the value of a into eqn (1)
or (2) :
T = 49 N

IMPT Note:
On general, choose x and y axis such that one axis is pointing in
the direction of the assumed direction of acceleration of the body.
Problem Solving: Free Body Diagram
Pg 9
1. Draw FBD with the forces acting on the bod(ies).

2. If the body changes its momentum, then there is a net force

acting on the body:
d (mv) dm
F  net force =  ma  v
dt dt
3. For each body, apply Newton’s law to the x and y
components.
separately
F x  ma x F y  ma y

4. Solve the equation(s) for the unknown(s).

 1st Law mass: resists changes in motion

Fnet = 0 State of rest

Uniform motion in
a straight line

NEWTON’S
LAWS
2nd momentum: tendency to continue
Law moving in a particular direction

Fnet = d(mv)/dt  0
N3l.mov
Newton’s 3rd Law Pg 10


A single isolated force cannot
exist.

Forces in nature always exist in
pairs. It is so natural right?
Newton’s 3rd Law Pg 10

If body A exerts a force (action) on body B, then body B exerts an

equal but opposite force on body A (reaction)

A FBA A

B B
FAB

FAB: Force on A by B,
|FBA| = |FAB|
FBA: Force on B by A
 Quiz Time: Action Reaction Pair ?

Fon
Fon apple_by_table
apple_by_table

Weight of apple Fon table_by_apple

The two forces must be of the same type.

The two forces act on different bodies.

 Pg 10

 It does not matter which force is called action and which is

called reaction.

 The two forces must be of the same type.

 The two forces act on different bodies.

 Pg 10

Question:
A car pulls on a load with a horizontal force
causing it to accelerate. Newton’s third law
says that the load exerts on the car a force of
equal magnitude and opposite direction to
the force the car exerts on the load. In view of
this, how can the load accelerate – don’t these
forces cancel?
 Pg 10

Answer:
•Since e two forces act on two different
bodies, i.e. the car n e load respectively. They
don’t cancel out.
•If we wish 2 find e resultant force on an object,
we must add all the forces acting ONLY on tat
object