27 Pseudo Force

discussediabout external and

In previoussections we've
forceis always internal
treated as an external force
forces. Pseudo understanding the concept of a pseudo
system. Before
we haveto make our concepts clearabout
general refe
force,
referenceframes a
dependent quantity. In
Dseudoforceis aframe obroad
broad categories - Inertial
frames are classifiedin two and Non
inertial reference frames.

Reference Frames
2.7.1 Inertial and Non-inertial

Inertial frames are those which do not have any acceleration

that is either the frame at rest or it is moving with a uniform
speed. In such frames we can directly apply Newton's laws and
generate dynamic equations of the objects present in the frame.
The cases and examples we have taken are all in the inertial
reference frame.

Non-inertial frames are accelerated reference frames and

Newton's laws are not directly applicable in such frames, before
application of Newton's laws, some modifications are required
to solve aproblem, if
such frames are present.
 Newon's Laws of Motion
Forces and
Requirement offPseudo Force
272

Considerthe situation shown in figure-2.51. Ablock of mass F

placedlon asmooth table resting on ground. Achild is M

10kgisonthe table and there is sufficient friction present
standing
betweentable and the shoes of child so that child will not slip.
Figure 2.52

10kg Sm/s? Solution

The force acting on the bodies mand Mare shown in figure-2.53
Figure 2.51 along with free body diagrams of mass m and M As the two
push thetable with some acceleration, say 5 m/s. The bodies move together, we can find the acceleration of system
If wewillnotslip on the table but there is no friction between
child towards right directly as
the so blockremains at rest and table will slide
blockand table, F
undertheblock. m+ M

Ifchild observesthe block, it appears to him that block is going N

backward with the same acceleration 5 m/s² in backward N
F
direction, because table is at rest with respect to the child. (As
earth is moving but it appears to be at rest with respect to us). N NM
N
tce child observes that a 10 kg mass is moving with an
FBD of M
neleration 5 m/s with respect to table and hence a force
10x5=50Nis acting on the 10 kg block in backwarddirection.
This force is known as Pseudo Force. Actually there is no force
fing on the block, it only appears to be acting on it, if it is N
abserved from the table, the non-inertial frame. Due to this ma
rce, whatever acceleration is produced in the block is also
th respect to thetable only, But be careful in applying the mg
nseudo force on an object, take care of these points FBD ofm

#Apply a pseudo force on an object if and only ifit is placed Figure 2.53
om another object (non-inertial frame) accelerating with respect
to some inertial reference frame (i.e. earth), Here the condition is, the small block of mass mshould remain
at rest on the incline surface of the wedge block. Look at the
#The direction of pseudo force must be opposite to the FBD of min figure-2.53, the force acting on it towards left ma is
direction ofacceleration ofthe non-inertial frame. the pseudo force on it as its reference frame is the wedge block.
As wedge block is moving with an acceleration, we consider m
# The magnitude of pseudo force is the product of mass of the relative to it, Now with respect to wedge block mis at rest or in
body and acceleration ofthè non-inertial frame. equilibrium, we can balance all the forces along the tendency of
motion of body (i.e. inclined plane) and perpendicular to it
Applying pseudo force is convenient to solve the problem as shown in FBD ofit.
after application ofa pseudo force on abody, all equations and
results associated with it become relative to the respective non For mto be at rest, from FBD of m, along the plane
inertial frame. For better understanding, we take some examples
for it. mg sin0=ma cos

#Illustrative Example 2.16 a=gtan

F
Figure-2.52 shows a box of mass m is placed on a wedge of g tan)
mass Mon a smooth surface. How much force Fis required to m+ M
be applied on Mso that during motion mremains at rest on its
surface. F-(m+M)gtan
 Forces and Newton's
98 Laws
# lustrative Example 2. 17 From equations-(2.32) and (2.35) we have
Ma =
mg cose - ma, sin0
Figure-2.54 shows a block of mass m is placed on an inclined sin
wedge of mass M. If the svstem is released from rest find the mg cos mg sin cos
acceleration of n and M. Or M + msin M+msin
sin

M Substitutingthe value of a, in equation-(2.34), we get

Ocog² e
Figure 2.54
g sin + "g Sin
a, M+msin
Solution . .Q3
Figure-2.55 shows the forces acting on the bodies and the free Equation-(2.36)gives the acceleration ofMbut
body diagrams of M and m. Due to the normal reaction N,
acting on M, it moves towards left and m slides downward. As
gives the acceleration
of m with respect to M.

left along with M.

equation-(2.3h
acceleration of m, is the vector addition of a, and a, The
as
ne
Mslides in left direction, with an acceleration a,, it becomes a also moving with a, toward
non-inertial reference frame for m and due to this in the free
body diagram of m, we have applied a pseudo force on it ma, Net acceleration ofm can be obtained by:the vector :sum
toward right. Let we consider that m slides down with an in figure-2.56. shown
acceleration a, relative to the wedge block. Now we write down
the dynamic equations for both the bodies.
N 41 N,

N
Ni M Figure 2.56
FBD of M
a,= [af +t a-2a,a, cos®]

ma, # Illustrative Example 2. 18

mg
Figure-2.57 shows a large block of mass M, supporting two
FBD of m small mass m, and m,, connected by a light, frictionless thread
Figure 2.55 Aforce Fis acting on M, such that the block m, is sliding down.
with an acceleration a,. Find the force Fapplied on Mand also
Motion equation for Mwith respect to earth
the acceleration ofM. Assuming all surfaces are frictionles.

m
Along the plane
N, sine = Ma, ...(2.32)
M

Perpendicular to the plane

N,= Mg+ N, cos ...(2.33)
Motion equation for m with respect to M Figure 2.57

Along the plane

Solution
mg sin + ma, cose = ma, ...(2.34)
Perpendicular to the plane Figure-2.58 shows the forces acting on bodies and free body
diagrams of M, m, and m,. Now we take the acceleration of tne
N, = mg cos -ma, sin ...(2.35)
mass Mis a on floor and as a, is given for m, downward, m, "
 Newton'ss Laws of Motlon
and 66:99
elso1OVetorwardsuitha,, relative to M. For solving, we write Now adding equation-(2.38),(2.42) and (2.43), we get
dynamice
equationsfor masses.
he N2 F-m,a-m,a= Matm,a,
m,
F=m,a+(Mt m,)at m,a1
N, Substituting the value of a in above expression we get
F
M Ne m
F=(m, + M+ m) g Matm,a
=mgt (M+m)m -lg-a)-(M+ 2m,)a,
N

N N
N, ma T 2.7.3 Concept of aWeighing Machine

When any bodyis placed on the platform of aweighing machine,

FBDofM FBD ofm, FBD of m, a normal reaction exist between the body and the weighing
Figure 2.58 machine. Aweighing machine is calibrated to measure the normal
reaction acting on the platform of the machine by the body
for mass M placed over it in units ofkilogram force (kgf). 1kgfis the weight
Motionequations
of lkg body on earth surface which is equal to 9.8N. Ifthe body
Alongthemotion 1S at rest the forces acting on it are balanced so the upward
normal reaction on body is balancing its weight so machine will
F-N,-T= Ma ...(2.38) measure the weight of the body in kgf.
motion
Normaltothe Ifa weighing machine is placed in an elevator which is
N=N, +T+ Mg ...2.39) accelerating upward then in FBD of the body placed over it
there will be two forces -its weight in down warddirection and
Motion equations for mass m, normal reaction in upward direction. As the body is also
accelerating upward we can say that normal reaction is more
Alongthemotion than itsweight so weighing machine will measure a reading
which is more than the actual weight of body. Similarly we can
m,g-T=m,a ...(2.40) show that if elevator is accelerating down then the reading of
weighing machine will be less than the weight of the body.
Normal to the motion
2.7.4 Concept of a Spring Balance
N=ma ..241)
Motion equation for mass m, Aspring balance is used to measure the tension in the string in
which the spring balance is connected. It is generally calibrated
Along the motion to measure tension in units ofkgf. When a body is hung from a
spring balance and in static equilibrium, the tension in string
T-m,a=m,a, ...2.42) connected to body is equal to the weight of body which
elongates the spring balance to some extent and the pointer on
Nornal to the motion
spring balance reads the value of tension on the calibrated
N,=m,g ...(243) scale attached to it. Similar to the case ofa weighing machine if
a body hanging from a spring balance is kept in an elevator
Ading equation-(2.40) and (2.42), we get which is accelerating upward then the reading ofspring balance
will be more than the actual weight of the body as for upward
Mm8-m,a= (m, tm,)a, acceleration tension in string attached to body will be more
than the weight for upward acceleration and if elevator is
a=g- 141 accelerating downward its reading will be less than the actual
m weight of the body.