0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.

72
Dynamics : Newtons Laws of Motion



Newtons laws of motion act as basis for studying dynamics. These laws, which are
basically observations, relate dynamical and kinematical quantities. These three laws had
been presented by Sir Isaac Newton in 1686, in his book "Principia Mathematica
Philosophiae Naturalis."

First Law :
Every object persists in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless it is
compelled to change that state by unbalanced forces impressed on it.

This is normally taken as the definition of inertia. The key point here is that if there is no
net force acting on an object (if all the external forces cancel each other out) then the
object will maintain a constant velocity. If that velocity is zero, then the object remains
at rest. If an external force is applied, the velocity will change because of the force.

Second Law :
Force is equal to the change in momentum (mv) per unit change in time. (For a constant
mass, force equals mass times acceleration). i.e. rate of change of momentum is force.

The second law explains how the velocity of an object changes when it is subjected to an
external force. The law defines a force to be equal to change in momentum (mass times
velocity) per unit change in time. Newton also developed the calculus of mathematics,
and the changes expressed in the second law are most accurately defined in differential
forms. (Calculus can also be used to determine the velocity and location variations
experienced by an object subjected to an external force.) For an object with a constant
mass m, the second law states that the force F is the product of the object's mass m and
its acceleration a:
= = = =
net
dp dv
F F m ma
dt dt

=
net
F ma
=
net
F
a
m

Where Linear momentum = mass velocity
i.e., = p mv
Third Law :
For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action.
The third law states that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite
reaction. In other words, if object A exerts a force on object B, then object B also exerts
an equal and opposite force on object A.

Notice that the forces are exerted on different objects as described in the figure.

Notes on Newton's Law of Motion (73)
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.73
i.e., =
12 21
F F





Types of Forces :
(a) Field Forces
In such type of forces contact between two objects is not necessary. For e.g.,
gravitational force between two bodies and electrostatic force between two charges.

(b) Contact Forces
The contact force between two objects is made up of two forces.
i) Normal reaction (N) acts perpendicular to the common surface.
ii) Force of friction (f).
We will discuss these forces later in Friction.
(c) When two bodies are attached
In this category, there comes tension (T) in the string and spring force.
Some Important Points regarding the tension
- Acceleration of any number of masses connected through string is always same.
(assuming the string to be inextensible).





- For a massless string, the tension is same everywhere. However, if a string has a
mass, tension at different points will be different.

- In case of frictionless pulley, tension will be same on both sides of the pulley.
However, if there is friction between string and pulley, tension is different on two
sides of the pulley.


















m
1
m
1
m
1

a a a
F
21
F
(reaction
force)
12
F
(action
force)
B
A
(i) massless string
(ii) no friction between
pulley & string
(i) massless string
(ii) there is friction
between string &
pulley
(i) string is not massless
(ii) there is friction between
pulley & string.
m
2

m
1

T
T
T T
m
2

m
1

T
1
T
1
T
2
T
2
m
2

m
1

T
1
T
2
T
3
T
4
(74) Vidyalankar : JEE Physics
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.74

Identification of the system and forces:
Free body diagram (FBD)
It is the diagrammatic representation of all the forces acting on a single body or a
subsystem of bodies isolated from its surrounding.

Illustration of FBD concept
For the system shown in figure. Taking block A and writing all forces which acts on it.

For block A,











For block B,

By force balance,
N
2
= N
1
+ W
B

= m
A
g + m
B
g
= (m
A
+ m
B
) g



where
1
N : Normal reaction of block A on block B

2
N : Normal reaction of block C on block B.
For Block C,
By force balance,
N
3
= N
2
+ W
C

= (m
A
+ m
B
+ m
C
) g


Balancing forces
N
1
= W
A
= M
A
g
A
B
C
C
N
3
W
C

N
2

A
N
1
M
A
g

B
N
2
W
B

N
1

N
1
N
2
W
B

Notes on Newton's Law of Motion (75)
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.75
Equilibrium
A body is said to be in equilibrium if net force (
net
F ) acting on it, is zero and net moments
of all the forces (
net
) acting on it about any axis is zero.

Where moment of force (known as torque) is calculated as :
r F t =
where r is the perpendicular vector from axis of rotation to the point where force is
acting.
Here condition of
net
= 0 ; gives equilibrium with respect to rotational motion and
net
F = 0
gives translational equilibrium.

So at
net
F = 0, according to Newtons law, it will remain in rest if it is at rest and will move
with same velocity if it is in motion already. This is the state of translational equilibrium.
This section mainly concerns with this. Rotational equilibrium will be discussed in detail in
rotational mechanics.

Some Examples of Newtons Laws
1. Three blocks of masses 5kg, 3kg and 2kg are placed side by side on a smooth
surface as shown in figure. A horizontal force of 15N is applied on 5kg block. Find the
net force on 2kg block.



Solution :
As all the blocks will move with same acceleration in the horizontal direction, so let us
take all the blocks as a system.

Net external force on the system is
=
net
F 15N
using
net
F = ma
i.e., E =
x x
F ma , we get
15 = (5 + 3 + 2) a a = =
2
15
1.5m/ s
10
.
If F is the net force on 2 kg block in xdirection, then for 2 kg block only, we get
F = (2) (2) = 4N. [Ans.]
2. If the blocks in the above problem are connected with light and in extensible strings
and force is applied as shown in figure. Then
(a) Find the acceleration of each block
(b) Find the tension in each string.



5Kg 3Kg 2Kg
F = 15N
5kg 2kg 3kg 15 F N =
(76) Vidyalankar : JEE Physics
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.76
Solution :
(a) Let T
1
and T
2
be the tensions in the two strings and a be the acceleration of
each block.



As the strings are light and inextensible, all the blocks will have same
acceleration. Taking the three blocks and the two strings as the system, we have
EF
x
= ma
x

15 = (5 + 3 + 2)a
a = 1.5 m/s
2
. [Ans.]

(b) To find the tension in each string, we will make the free body diagrams of 5kg block
and 2kg block as shown in figure.






We have not shown the vertical forces as there is no movement in the vertical
direction.

Also, all the blocks have same acceleration. for 5 kg block
T
2
= 5a
T
2
= (5 kg) (1.5m/s
2
)
T
2
= 7.5N. [Ans.]
For 2kg block,
F T
1
= 2a
T
1
= F 2a
= 15N (2 Kg) (1.5 m/s
2
)
= 15N 3N.
T
1
= 12N. [Ans.]

Illustrations related to pulleys
Constraint relations
Two blocks of masses m
1
and m
2
(m
1
> m
2
) are
attached at the ends of an inextensible string, which
passes over a smooth massless pulley. If a
1
be the
downward acceleration of m
1
and a
2
be the upward
acceleration of m
2
, then by judgment alone we can say

a
1
= a
2
= a.

5Kg 3Kg 2Kg
F = 15N T
2
T
2
T
1
T
1

5 Kg
a = 1.5m/s
2

T
2

2 Kg
a = 1.5m/s
2

F = 15N
T
1

a
2

m
2

m
1

a
1

5Kg 3Kg 2Kg
F = 15N
Notes on Newton's Law of Motion (77)
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.77
1. In the arrangement of three blocks as shown in figure, the string is inextensible. If
the directions of accelerations are as shown in the figure, then determine the
constraint relation.











Pseudo Force
Let us first discuss briefly about frame of reference. Frames of references are of two
types.

(a) Inertial frame of reference
An inertial frame is a nonaccelerating frame of reference or a frame which is either
at rest or moving with uniform velocity. It is the frame in which Newtons first law of
motion is obeyed.

(b) Noninertial frame of reference
An accelerated frame of reference is called a noninertial frame.
Newtons first two laws are valid in inertial frame of reference, but we cant use them
in noninertial frame of reference, without modification.
In noninertial frame of reference, we use pseudo force which is given by =
p
F ma ,
where a is the acceleration of the noninertial frame of reference.

Friction
The force of friction comes into play only when there is a relative motion or there is a
possibility of relative motion between the two contact surfaces.

The force of friction on each body is in a direction opposite to its motion relative to the
other body. When two bodies slip over each other the force of friction is called kinetic
friction, but when they do not slip and have a tendency to do so the force of friction is
called static friction.
m
1

a
1

m
2

m
3

a
3

a
2

(78) Vidyalankar : JEE Physics
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.78
Important points regarding friction
1. If a body is at rest and no tendency of motion, then force of friction acting on it is
zero.

2. Static Friction :If a body does not move even on application of a force, the friction
which acts is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the applied force and is
known as static friction. For this reason friction is known as selfadjusting force.

3. Limiting Friction : The maximum force of friction when a body just begins to slide
over the surface of another body is called the limiting friction.

This limiting force of friction ( f ) is proportional to normal reaction (N). Hence,
f N or f =
s
N
where
s
is a dimensionless constant and known as coefficient of static friction.
Note : Static frictional force is given by s
s s
f N.

4. Once the body starts sliding on application of the force, the friction opposing the
motion is called kinetic or sliding friction. It is given by
f
k
=
k
N

where
K
is coefficient of kinetic friction and
k
<
s
.
Note : i) Kinetic friction is less than limiting friction.
ii) It is independent of the surface area of contact.
The graph shown in the adjacent figure shows the variation of friction with the applied
force.














Angle of Friction (|)
Angle of friction (|) is defined as the angle between the
normal reaction N and the resultant of the friction force
f and the normal reaction.

Thus, tan | =

=
f N
N N

tan | = .
| = tan
1
().

|
N F
f = N
f
k

f
Rest
Relative motion
45
F
s max
f (f ) =
Notes on Newton's Law of Motion (79)
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.79
Angle of Response (o) :
Angle of response of an inclined plane, w.r.t. the surface of a body in contact with it, is
the angle of inclination of the plane with the horizontal, when the body just starts sliding
down the plane under its own weight.

At this point, N = Mg cos o
and Mg sin o =
s
N
where
s
N is the limiting friction.
i.e., Mg sin o = Mg cos o
tan o =

o = tan
1
().

Angle of response (o) is same as the angle of friction (|).
Dynamics of Circular Motion
If an object moves on a circular path with a constant speed, then its motion is known as
uniform circular motion in a plane. In uniform circular motion even if speed of the particle
is constant, it has nonzero acceleration and a resultant nonzero force acts on it. This
acceleration is due to the change in direction of the velocity vector and is towards the
centre. Its magnitude is given by
2
v
r
where v is the speed of the particle and r the
radius of the circle. The resultant force F is given by,

F = ma or F = m
2
v
r

or F = e
2
mr , where e is the angular speed of the particle and given by e = v/r.
The direction of the resultant force F is towards centre and is known as centripetal force.
Effect of Centripetal force on circular turning of Roads
When vehicles go through turnings, they almost take the circular path. So, there has to
be some force which will provide the required centripetal acceleration. This necessary
centripetal force is being provided to the vehicles by following ways.
(1) By friction only (2) By banking of roads only
1. By friction only
If a truck of mass m is moving at a speed v in a horizontal circular arc of radius r,
then the necessary centripetal force to the truck will be provided by the force of
friction f which will act towards the centre.
Thus, f =
2
mv
r

As we know, limiting value of frictional force is
= f N = mg
Therefore, for a safe turn
<
2
mv
f
r
<
2
mv
mg
r

or v s rg or >
2
v
rg

x
(80) Vidyalankar : JEE Physics
0413/IIT.15/CR/P.2/Ch.3/Pg.80
2. By banking of roads only
Frictional forces are not sufficient at circular turns if high speeds and sharp turns are
involved. To avoid dependence on friction, the roads are banked at the turn so that
the outer part of the road is somewhat lifted compared to the inner part.

Applying Newtons 2
nd
law.
In vertical direction N cos u = mg (1)
In horizontal direction = u
2
mv
Nsin
r
(2)



From (1) and (2), we will get
tan u =
2
v
rg
or v = u r gtan
Centrifugal Force
As we have discussed before, the Newtons laws are valid only in inertial frames. In
noninertial frames a pseudo force, m.a , has to be applied on a particle of mass m
where a is the acceleration with which the frame translates w.r.t. an inertial frame. After
applying the pseudo force one can apply Newtons laws in their usual form. Now suppose
a body of mass m is placed on a frame of reference which is rotating with a uniform
velocity e in a circle of radius r. For an observer on the earth watching the body would
find that the body is in uniform circular motion, accelerated radially inward with centripetal
acceleration a = v
2
/r = e
2
r. For another observer standing on the tables, there should be
no force acting on the body as he will feel that the body is at rest, because its position is
not changing w.r.t. him.
But actually the body is acted upon by an inward force
2
mv
r
. Hence according to
observer standing on the rotating frame, a force of magnitude
2
mv
r
is also acting
outward so that net force on the body is zero. This apparent outward force is called
centrifugal force. After applying this pseudo force we can now apply Newtons laws in
their usual form in rotating frame also.

mg
N

u
2
mv
r

u