PHYS 101 Lecture 5 Dynamics: Forces

& Newton’s Laws

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion
(1 and 2 now; 3 later)

 NEWTON’S FIRST LAW:

 If there is zero net force on an object (body), then its
speed and direction will not change. Fred the Bear demo
 Inertia (Air track demo, dishes demo, ball on string)
 NEWTON’S SECOND LAW:
If a nonzero net force acts on an object, its
motion will change according to this equation:
𝐹𝑁𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎 Acceleration

Net Force Mass

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Newton’s Laws of Motion
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW (abbreviate: N#2)
If a nonzero net force is acting on an object
its motion will change:
FNet= ma (F and a are vectors)
 The net force is the vector sum of all the
individual forces acting on an object.
 To apply N#2, you must:
Identify the object that you are analyzing.
identify all forces acting on the object.
You then add (as vectors) all forces to get
the net force.
Please follow the regimen I’m teaching you
PHYS 101: Lecture 5
 Two types of forces in PHYS101
 Type 1: Contact forces (must touch object to exert force)

Normal: Perpendicular to surface

Friction: Parallel to surface (two types: static and kinetic)
Tension: ropes & strings
Springs: 𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥
Other forces that touch object (e.g., a hand pushing)
These forces act at the point of contact only

This is a complete list of contact forces.

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 There are two types of forces we
will study in PHYS 101
 Type 2: Non-contact forces: Action at a distance forces. Only one in
Phys 101—gravitational force

In PHYS 101 we study gravitational force = weight

Near the earth’s surface, W = mobject g
Note: Any two masses will exert an attractive gravitational force
on each other—more on that at a later lecture

In Phys 102: electromagnetic force.

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Applying Newton’s Second Law:
The Free-Body Diagram (FBD)
 A free-body diagram (great tool for identifying forces):
 isolates the object being analyzed
 has labeled arrows (vectors) for each individual force
acting on the object.
 The vector length is the magnitude of the force
 The vector direction is the direction in which the force acts
 The net force is the vector sum of all the forces acting on an
object.
 A FBD should NEVER show a net force.
 The net force is the sum of the forces in the FBD.
 Draw the forces with tail starting on object

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Applying Newton’s Second Law

 Identify/isolate body or object of interest.

 Draw a FBD (to identify all forces acting on body)
 Apply Newton’s Law #2 (find Fnet & do: Fnet=ma)
 To apply Newton’s Law #2:
draw a coordinate system
apply Newton’s Law #2 in the x and y directions.
 FNet= ma is a vector equation.
 It must be satisfied independently
in the x and y directions.
 Use algebra to solve for the unknown quantity.

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Overview
Moving back and forth across the ideas
in the course thus far
Draw a FBD to Apply Newton’s 2nd Use Kinematics to
determine FNet Law to determine determine/describe
acceleration motion of the object
+y
Dx
Normal Slope of Area under
𝐹റ𝑁𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎റ
friction Dx vs. t v vs. t
v
-x Hand +x Slope of Area under
W v vs. t a vs. t
-y a
x = x0 + v0t + 1/2 at2
v = v0 + at
v2 = v02 + 2a(x-x0)
 Example
A block of mass 𝑚 = 0.4 kg is being pushed by two different people with the
forces shown. The floor is frictionless.
What is the acceleration of the block?
30𝑜
𝐹1 = 4 N 𝐹2 = 3 N
N means Newtons for units of force
1 N = 1 kg m/s2
Isolate body: The block

Clicker Q: Which FBD is appropriate for this situation?

𝐹1 Normal
𝐹1 𝐹2
𝐹2 𝐹1
𝐹2
Weight
Weight

A B C

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Example
A block of mass m=0.4 kg is being pushed by two different people with the forces
shown. The floor is frictionless. What is the acceleration of the block?
y Normal
30𝑜
𝐹1 = 4 N 𝐹2 = 3 N
x 𝐹1

Isolate body: The block 𝐹2

Weight
Using the standard coordinate system shown, let’s decompose the
forces in the x and y directions and apply Newton’s Second Law.

x-direction y-direction
F1 – F2,x = max -F2,y – W + N = may
4N – 3N(cos30o) = max -3N(sin30o) – mg + N = may
4N – 2.6N = (0.4kg) ax
Solve for ax
ax = (4N – 2.6N )/0.4kg = 3.5 m/s2 Note: N>mg=3.92N
Clicker Q: What can you say about ay? A) ay < 0 B) ay > 0 C) ay = 0

So normal force must be: N = W + F2,y = (0.4kg)(9.8m/s2) + 1.5N = 5.42N

PHYS 101: Lecture 5
 Another Example of a Force: Tension

T
 Tension in an Ideal String, T:
Direction is parallel to string (only pulls) T
Magnitude of tension is equal everywhere. m

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Newton’s 2nd Law and Equilibrium Systems
We suspend a mass m = 5 kg from the ceiling
using a string. What is the tension in the string?
 Every single one of these problems is done the same way!
Step 1: Identify the object or body to be analyzed,
and draw a Free Body Diagram, +y

(label your axes!) T

W
m
-y
Step 2: Identify and draw all force vectors Weight, W Tension, T
Step 3: Use your drawing to determine FNet in Newton’s 2nd law
FNet = ma What is the acceleration in this case? a = 0
T-W =0 T = W = mg = (5 kg)x(9.8 m/s2) = 49 N
PHYS 101: Lecture 5
 cable
Clicker QScale the w
the ba
What does scale read? sion i
112. The f
A) 2 lbs B) 4 lbs C) 8 lbs and t
to the
What’s the tension550 N
here? 550 N tensio
1.30 k
tion o
Scale the fe

T
4 lbsN
550
550 N
W

✦ 106. A 50.0-kg
The magnitude crate isinsuspended
of tension between
a ideal string isthe flooreverywhere.
equal and the
ceiling using two spring scales, one attached to the
PHYS 101: Lecture ceiling
5
Demo
and one to the floor. If the lower scale reads
 Related Clicker Q
What will the scale read if instead of being tied to
the wall, the string has another equal mass
hanging on the other side?
a) Half as much as before
b) The same as before
c) Twice as much as before

Demo

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Tension Clicker Example:
 Determine the force, F, exerted by the hand to
suspend the 45 kg mass as shown in the picture.
A) 220 N B) 440 N C) 660 N
D) 880 N E) 1100 N y
Plan step 1: Isolate mass & lower pulley x
and draw FBD F~
Plan step 2: Apply Newton’s #2:

45

Remember: the magnitude of the tension is the same everywhere

along the rope!
PHYS 101: Lecture 5
 Tension Clicker II
 Determine the force exerted by the ceiling to
suspend the top pulley as shown in the
picture.
y
A) 220 N B) 440 N C) 660 N
D) 880 N E) 1100 N x
F~
Isolate body (the top pulley) and draw FBD
Apply N#2 to top pulley
45

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Clicker Q
Two blocks with masses shown are next to each other on
a slippery surface (no friction). Two forces are applied
in opposite directions as shown. What is the acceleration
of the two blocks?
25 N 5N
3kg 2kg

a) 5 m/s2 b) 5.4 m/s2 c) 5.8 m/s2 d) 2.9 m/s2 e) 4 m/s2

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Clicker Q #2
What is the magnitude of the force that the 3 kg block
exerts on the 2 kg block at the interface?
Recall: a=4 m/s2

25 N 5N
3kg 2kg

a) 25 N b) 20 N c) 5 N d) 13 N e) 15 N

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Checkpoint 3
You pull a box with a rope along a frictionless table as shown
in the figure below. How does the magnitude of the normal
force compare to the weight of the box?
A) the magnitude of the normal force is the same as the weight
B) the magnitude of the normal force is greater than the weight
C) the magnitude of the normal force is smaller than the weight

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Another great example
Incline is frictionless, pulley massless.
Find as many things as you can m1=10 kg

Direction of motion m2=4 kg

N= q=30o h=0.5 m

T=
a=

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 m1=10 kg
Key points:
|a| is same for both masses m2=4 kg
Align coordinates for mass 1 w/ incline
q=30o h=0.5 m
To finish problem:
T – m1 g sinθ = m1 a (this is the x component of F = ma for mass 1)
T – m2 g = -m2 a (this is the y component of F = ma for mass 2)
Two equations, two unknowns. Solve! I did this by subtracting the second
equation from the first, to get
T – T – m1 g sinθ + m2 g = m1 a + m2 a
Or
g (m2 – m1 sinθ) = (m1 + m2) a Solve for a to get: a = (m2 – m1 sinθ)/(m1 + m2).
Putting in numbers, a = -0.7 m/s2. Now I can go back and solve for T:
T = m 2 g - m2 a
What’s minus mean?
Putting in numbers, T = 42N.
To get N (normal force on m1) use y-component of F = ma for mass 1

PHYS 101: Lecture 5

 Summary of Concepts
 Newton’s Law #1 and #2
 Contact forces (e.g., friction, tension)
 Action at a distance forces (gravity)
 Problem Solving Tips for Applying N#2
 Isolate body to be analyzed
 Draw FBD, pick a coordinate system
 Apply physics laws: Fnet=ma
 Use algebra to solve for quantities in x & y
directions
 Avoid making up your own rules!
PHYS 101: Lecture 5