DYNAMICS OF MOTION

Dynamics is the study of motion with reference to the force causing it i.e. what causes motion and its
changes. Force (produces a change in the velocity of the object on which it acts) causes motion.
Central to the concept of dynamics are linear momentum and Newton’s laws of motion.

Linear Momentum, Impulse

The linear momentum of a body is the product of its mass and its velocity. Thus, if the mass of a body is
m and its velocity is v, then its linear momentum is . Linear momentum is a vector since the
product of a scalar and a vector is a vector.
The change in the linear momentum of a body is the impulse it develops. Thus, if the velocity of a body
changes from V0 to v, then the impulse is m = (v – V0 ), where m is the mass of the body.

The impulse developed by a body is also a vector quantity.

Newton’s Laws of Motion

First Law

Newton’s first law of motion states that a body at rest or in a state of uniform motion (or motion in a
straight line) continues in that state until (unless) a resultant force acts on it. This law expresses the
concept of inertia.

Explanation

This law states that a body not acted upon by an external force would remain at rest or if it was
already in motion, would maintain the velocity. This law indeed recommends some special frames
of reference (coordinate systems in simple terms) in which a body at rest or in a state of uniform
motion will have no acceleration. Not all frames of reference fit into this. The ones that fit into it are
called inertial frames.
We see that F is not equal to ma, unless the mass is constant. Examples abound, in which the mass
of a body is not constant. Examples are a conveyor belt and a rocket in flight. However, unless
otherwise stated, we shall assume that the mass of a body is constant.

𝐏0 = m1 𝐯01 + m2 𝐯02 4
 OR
m1 𝐯1 + m2 𝐯2 = m1 𝐯01 + m2 𝐯02 7

m1 (𝐯1 − 𝐯01 ) = m2 (𝐯02 − 𝐯2 ) 8

A gun-bullet system has zero total momentum before the gun is fired, but as soon as it is fired, the
momentum gained by the bullet in moving forward is lost by the gun which moves backwards, as
the total momentum must again be zero.
m2 𝑔 + m2 𝑎 = m1 𝑎 v
Or,

m2
𝑎= ( )g vi
m1 −m2

From equation (ii),

m1 m2 vii
T = m1 𝑎 = ( )g
m1 −m2
Example 1
The object in the Fig. A weighs 50 N and is supported by a rope. Find the tension in the rope.

Solution
The two forces are shown in the free-body diagram below

Fig A
There are two forces acting on Fig. A, they are the upward force and the downward force due to gravity.
Let the pull of the rope be FT , the tension then the pull of gravity i.e. the weight of the object Fw = 50 N.

Hence, FT = 50 N
Example 2

An object of mass 5 kg moves upward with an acceleration of 0.30 m/s 2 by a cord pulling it straight
upward. Calculate the tension in the cord.
Solution
The weight of the object is given as
FRICTIONAL FORCES

Friction is a force that opposes relative motion between systems in contact.

Frictionless motion is an idealised situation. In real life, there is a force opposing any kind of motion,
except in the case of a vacuum. Frictional forces always oppose motion. However, frictional forces
can also exist in cases where the body is static.

Static and Kinetic Friction

If two systems are in contact and stationary relative to one another, then the friction between them is called static
friction. If two systems are in contact and moving relative to one another, then the friction between them is called
kinetic friction.

Consider the case where a block rests on a rough surface as shown above. If we try to pull it to the right with a
force, F, we notice that there is a kind of reluctance, that is, the block “refusing” to move. This is because the force
we are exerting is not enough to pull the block free of the frictional force between it and the surface. However, we
can increase the force to a point where the block is just about to slip. The force is maximum at this point. Thus, at
this point, we define the coefficient of static friction. As soon as the block starts moving, the force necessary to keep
it moving with uniform velocity is less than that needed to set it in motion. Then, we talk of dynamic friction.
Also, we can define the coefficient of kinetic friction as the ratio of the maximum kinetic frictional
force between the two bodies and the magnitude of the normal reaction.
 Example 3
A 20 kg crate is at rest on a floor as shown in the Fig. below. The coefficient of static friction between
the crate and floor is 0.700 and the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.600. A horizontal force P is applied
to the crate. Find the force of friction if (a) P = 20 N, (b) P = 30 N, (c) P = 120 N, and (d) P = 180 N

Solution
From the Newton’s second law,

The maximum force of static friction is therefore

As long as P is less than 137 N, the force of static friction keeps the crate stationary and fs = P. Thus, (a) fs = 20
N, (b) fs = 30 N, and (c) fs = 120 N.
(d) If P = 180.0 N, the applied force is greater than the maximum force of static friction (137 N), so the
crate can no longer remain at rest. Once the crate is in motion, kinetic friction acts.
Hence,

And the acceleration is

Example 4
Consider an athlete on the slope in the Fig. below. Given its mass including equipment to be 60 kg. Find:
(a) acceleration if friction is negligible?
(b) acceleration if friction is 45.0 N?
Solution

Then, the magnitude of the component of the weight perpendicular to the

slope is

a Neglect friction

From Newton’s second law,

b Include friction

From Newton’s second law,

Therefore
Self Assessment
1. A man pushes a 4.5 kg laundry cart in such a way that the net external force on it is 60.0 N.
Calculate the magnitude of his cart’s acceleration.

2. A power bike can produce an acceleration of 3.5 m/s2 while traveling at 90.0 km/h. At that speed,
the forces resisting motion, including friction and air resistance, total 400 N. What is the magnitude
of the force that motorcycle exerts backward on the ground to produce its acceleration if the mass
of the motorcycle with rider is 245 kg?

3.

In the fig. above, the horizontal surface on which this block slides is frictionless. If the two forces
acting on it each have magnitude F = 30 N and the mass of the block is 10 kg, what is the magnitude
of the resulting acceleration of the block?
CONSERVATION OF LINEAR MOMENTUM AND COLLISIONS

When the net force acting on a body is constant, then the time rate of change of linear
momentum is zero, that is,
Example 5
Find the value of e if m1 travels towards the right at 6 m/s and m2 is at rest, and after
collision, m1 travels to the right at 2 m/s and m2 travels to the right at 4 m/s.

Solution
u1 = u2 =

v1 = v2 =
Using the restitution equation,

We have,
Self Assessment
Find the value of e if m1 travels towards the right at 4 m/s and m2 is at 2 m/s towards the left, and after
collision, m1 travels to the left at 1 m/s and m2 travels to the right at 3 m/s. (Ans = 2/3)

Example 6

Two particles A and B of mass 0.2 kg and 0.5 kg respectively are moving towards each other along the same
straight line on a smooth horizontal table. Particle A has speed 12 m/s and particle B has speed 2 m/s. Given
that the coefficient of restitution between the particles is 0.5. Calculate:
(a) The speed of A and B after the impact.
(b) The total mechanical energy of the system before and after impact

Solution

Before impact

After collision

From the law of conservation of momentum,

The coefficient of restitution is

Self Assessment
A small smooth sphere A of mass 2 kg is travelling along a straight line on a smooth horizontal plane with speed 6 m/s when it
collides with a small smooth sphere B of mass 3 kg moving along the same straight line in the same direction with speed 2 m/s.
After the collision, A continues to move in the same direction with speed 3 m/s.
(a) Find the speed of B after the collision. (Ans = 4 m/s)
(b) Find the coefficient of restitution between A and B. (Ans = ¼)
(c) The loss in mechanical energy of the system. (Ans = 10 J)