Newtons Laws

What are they and what do they

do?
A Force is a pull (an attraction)

What are they and what do they

do?
Or, a push (a repulsion)

Forces can also cancel each other out!

Chapter 4

The Meaning of Force

To a layman:
A force is a push or pull upon an object

To a physics student:
A force is that which causes the velocity of an
object to change

Chapter 4

Force
It is a vector quantity (with both magnitude and
direction)
The combined effect of all forces on an object
determines its acceleration.
To combine forces means to add vectors, i.e.
Superposition of Forces

Chapter 4

Principle of Superposition

F2

F2x

y
F1y

F F F
F F F
F F F
F F F
1

F1

F2y

F1x

1x

2x

1y

2y

The sum of the x-components of forces Fx affects only ax

The sum of the y-components of forces Fy affects only ay
The sum of the z-components of forces Fz affects only az
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Chapter 4

SI Unit of Force
Newton (N)
1 N is the required force to accelerate a 1kg object by 1
m/s2, i.e.
m

1N 1kg 1

Typical Force Magnitudes

Suns gravitational force on the Earth
Weight of a large blue whale
Weight of a medium-sized apple
Electric attraction between the proton
and the electron in a hydrogen atom

3.5 x 1022N
1.9 x 106N
1N
8.2 x 10-8N

Newtons First Law

Chapter 4

Consider a body on which NO net force acts. If the body

is at rest, it will remain at rest. If the body is moving, it will
continue to move with constant velocity.

This is also called the Law of Inertia

A constant velocity implies that its acceleration is zero.
Hence, the body is in equilibrium.

F 0 ma
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Newtons First Law

The motion of an object does not change unless it is acted upon by a net
force.
If v=0, it remains 0
If v is some value, it stays at that value

Another way to say the same thing:

No net force
velocity is constant
acceleration is zero
no change of direction of motion

Newtons First Law

An airplane is flying from Buffalo airport to O'Hare. Many forces act
on the plane, including weight (gravity), drag (air resistance), the
trust of the engine, and the lift of the wings. At some point during its
trip the velocity of the plane is measured to be constant (which
means its altitude is also constant). At this time, the total (or net)
force on the plane:
1. is pointing upward
2. is pointing downward
3. is pointing forward
4. is pointing backward
correct
5. is zero

lift

drag

thrust

weight

Newtons First Law

Newton's first law states that if no net force acts on an
object, then the velocity of the object remains
unchanged. Since at some point during the trip, the
velocity is constant, then the total force on the plane
must be zero, according to Newton's first law.
lift

F= ma = m0 = 0

drag

thrust
weight

Newtons Second Law

Chapter 4

If a NET external force acts on an object, it will

cause that object to accelerate in the same direction
as the net force.
The amount of acceleration is given by the force
divided by the objects mass.

F
a
m

F ma
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Newtons Second Law

F
a
m

Chapter 4

F ma
16

the bigger the mass, the

greater the inertia, lower
acceleration

Newtons 2nd Law in Multiple Dimensions

Forces (or its components) in perpendicular
dimensions are independent and separable.

Fx = max

along the x-axis

Fy = may

along the y-axis

Fz = maz

along the z-axis

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Chapter 4

Example #1
What acceleration will result when a 12-N net force
applied to a 3-kg object? A 6-kg object?
a = 4 m/s2 ; 2 m/s2

A net force of 16 N causes a mass to accelerate at a

rate of 4 m/s2. Determine the mass.
m = 4 kg

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Chapter 4

Defining the Mass

Mass is a quantitative measure of inertia
The greater the mass, the more a body resists at
being accelerated

SI Unit
kilogram
Gravitational Mass : based on the gravitational interaction of
the earth to an object
1 kg is the mass of a platinum-iridium alloy kept in a vault in
Paris

Inertial mass: based on the 1N amount of force that gives an

acceleration of 1 m/s2

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Chapter 4

Mass vs. Weight

Mass is an inertial property of a body
Does not change with location
Measured in kilograms (SI)
Weight is a force due to local gravitational attraction
exerted by the Earth or some other massive
astronomical object (such as the moon) on the body
Measured in newton
May vary with location

W mg

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Newtons Third Law

Chapter 4

If one object is exerting a force on a second object,

then the second object is also exerting a force back
on the first object. The two forces have exactly the
same magnitude but act in opposite directions.

FAB FB A

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Chapter 4

Types of Forces
Contact Forces
Normal force
Tension
Frictional force
Air resistance
Spring force
Applied force

Long-range/Non-contact
Weight
Electrical/Coulomb Force
Magnetic Force

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Interaction of Forces

NORMAL
FORCE
APPLIED FORCE

FRICTION

WEIGHT

What is the Normal Force?

Comes from the Latin word norma which means
perpendicular
When an object exerts a force with a component that
is perpendicular to the surface of another object, that
object deforms and pushes back on the first object
with an opposing force that is perpendicular to the
surfaces in contact.

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Frictional force
When an object exerts a force to a surface of
another object, that object deforms and
pushes back on the first object with opposing
force that is parallel to the surfaces in contact.
Static friction
Kinetic friction

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Chapter 4

Action-Reaction Pairs in Nature

The propulsion of a fish through the water.

The flying motion of birds.
The motion of vehicles.
The propulsion of rockets.

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Chapter 4

Free-body Diagram
1.

These are diagrams used to show the relative

magnitude and direction of all forces acting upon
an object, free of its surrounding.

2.

The size of the arrow in a free-body diagram is

reflective of the magnitude of the force. Its
direction reveals the direction which the force is
acting.

3.

Each force arrow in the diagram is labeled to

indicate the exact type of force.

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29

Chapter 4

Example

A loaded elevator has a total mass of 2500 kg, and

that it can accelerate upwards or downwards at
2.5m/s2.
Find the Tension of the elevator
(a) if it is at rest

(b) if it is accelerating upwards at a = 2.5 m/s2.

(c) if it is accelerating downwards at a = -2.5 m/s2.

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Chapter 4

Example

A loaded elevator with very worn cables has a total

mass of 1800 kg, and the cables can withstand a
maximum tension of 28,000 N.

(a) What is the maximum upward acceleration for the

elevator if the cables are not to break?
(b) How would the answer differ if the elevator is to be
taken to the moon where g = 1.62 m/s2.

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Chapter 4

Example
Two blocks are connected by a heavy rope with a mass
of 4.00 kg. The upper box has a mass of 6.00 kg and the
lower box of mass 5.00 kg. An upward force of 200 N is
applied.
(a) Draw a free-body/force diagram for the upper box,
rope, and the lower box.
(b) What is the acceleration of the system?
(c) What is the acceleration of the boxes and rope?
(d) What is the tension at the top of the heavy rope?

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