Newton's Laws of Motion

NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION

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1. FORCE
A pull or push which changes or tends to change the state of rest or of uniform motion or direction
of motion of any object is called force. It is a vector quantity.
Effect of resultant force :
(1) may change only speed
(2) may change only direction of motion.
(3) may change both the speed and direction of motion.
(4) may change size and shape of a body

1.1 Fundamental Forces

All the forces can be explained in terms of only following four basic interactions:

(A) Gravitational Force :

(i) It is the weakest force and is always attractive.
(ii) It is a long range force as it acts between any two particles situated at any distance in the
universe.
(iii) It is independent of the nature of medium between the particles.

(B) Electromagnetic Force : Force exerted by one particle on the other because of the electric charge
on the particles is called electromagnetic force.

(a) These can be attractive or repulsive.

(b) These are long range forces
(c) These depend on the nature of medium between the charged particles.
(d) Tension ,friction, normal reaction, muscular force, and spring force are electromagnetic
forces.
(C) Nuclear Force : It is the strongest and very short range force. It keeps nucleons (neutrons and
protons) together inside the nucleus inspite of large electric repulsion between protons.
Radioactivity, fission, and fusion, etc. result because of unbalancing of nuclear forces.
(D) Weak Force : It acts between any two elementary particles. Under its action a neutron can
change into a proton emitting an electron and a particle called antineutrino. The range of weak
force is very small, in fact much smaller than the size of a proton or a neutron.
It has been found that for two protons at a distance of 1 Fermi :
FN : FEM : FW : FG : : 1 : 10–2 : 10–7 : 10–38

1.2 Classification of forces on the basis of contact :

(A) Field Force : Force which acts on an object at a distance by the interaction of the object with the
field produced by other object is called field force. Examples
(a) Gravitation force (b) Electromagnetic force
(B) Contact Force : Forces which are transmitted between bodies by short range atomic molecular
interactions are called contact forces. When two objects come in contact they exert contact forces
on each other.
Examples :
(a) Normal force (N) :
It is the component of contact force perpendicular to the surface. It
measures how strongly the surfaces in contact are pressed against
each other. It is the electromagnetic force. A table is placed on
Earth as shown in figure
Here table presses the earth so normal force exerted by four legs of table on earth are as
shown in figure.
 Problem 1. Draw normal forces on the massive rod at point 1 and 2 as shown in figure.

Solution : Normal force acts perpendicular to extended surface at point of contact..

Example 1. Two blocks are kept in contact on a smooth surface as shown in figure. Draw normal force
exerted by A on B.

Solution : In above problem, block A does not push block B, so there is no molecular interaction between
A and B. Hence normal force exerted by A on B is zero.
Note : Normal is a dependent force, it comes in role when one surface presses the other.
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(b) Tension :
Tension in a string is a electromagnetic force. It arises
when a string is pulled. If a massless string is not
pulled, tension in it is zero.

F.B.D. of marked portion

T

F
 T=F
 For calculating tension at any segment, we consider two or more than two parts as a system.

Here interaction between segments are considered as internal forces, so they are not shown in
F.B.D.
(C) Frictional force : It is the component of contact force tangential to the surface. It opposes the
relative motion (or attempted relative motion) of the two surfaces in contact.

2. THIRD LAW OF MOTION :

To every action there is always opposed an equal and opposite reaction.

(a) Forces always occur in pairs. Force on a body A by B is equal and opposite to the force on the
body B by A.
(b) The terms ‘action’ and ‘reaction’ act at the same instant. Any one of them may be called action
and the other reaction.
(c) Action and reaction forces act on different bodies, not on the same body.

3. SYSTEM :
Two or more than two objects which interact with each other form a system.
3.1 Classification of forces on the basis of boundary of system :
(A) Internal Forces : Forces acting each with in a system among its constituents.
(B) External Forces : Forces exerted on the constituents of a system by the outside surroundings are
called as external forces.
(C) Real Force : Force which acts on an object due to other object is called as real force. An isolated
object (far away from all objects) does not experience any real force.

4. FREE BODY DIAGRAM

Step 1 : Identify the object or system and isolate it from other objects clearly specifying its boundary.
Step 2 : First draw external force in the diagram i.e Mg.
Step 3 : Draw contact forces like Normal, Friction, Tension and Applied force.

In F.B.D, internal forces are not drawn, only external are drawn.
Example 2. A block of mass ‘m’ is kept on the ground as shown in figure.
(i) Draw F.B.D. of block.
(ii) Are forces acting on block action–reaction pair.
(iii) If answer is no, draw action reaction pair.
Solution : (i) F.B.D. of block

(ii) ‘N’ and mg are not action-reaction pair. Since pair act on different bodies, and they are of
same nature.
(iii) Pair of ‘mg’ of block acts on earth in opposite direction.

and pair of ‘N’ acts on surface as shown in figure.

Example 3. Two sphere A and B are placed between two vertical walls as shown in figure. Draw the free
body diagrams of both the spheres.

Solution : F.B.D. of sphere ‘A’ :

F.B.D. of sphere ‘B’ : (exerted by A)

Note : Here NAB and NBA are the action–reaction pair (Newton’s third law).
———————————————————————————————————
5. NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION :
5.1 First Law of Motion
Each body continues to be in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled
by some external force to act otherwise.
Newton’s first law is sometimes called the law of inertia and the reference frames that it defines
are called inertial reference frames.
Example
(a) A passenger sitting in a bus gets a jerk when the bus starts or stops suddenly.

NEWTON'S SECOND LAW OF MOTION

The rate of change of momentum of any system is directly proportional to the applied external force and
this change in momentum takes place in the direction of the applied force.
 dp d   
dv  dm
F  (mv) or Fm v (general form)
dt dt dt dt


dm  dv
If m = constant then 0 If v = constant then 0
dt dt
    dm
dv 
 Fm  ma  Fv (e.g. conveyor belt, rocket propulsion)
dt dt

(c) The force F in the law stand for the net external force on the particle.
(d) Any internal forces in the system are not to be included in F.

5.4 Applications of Newton’s Laws

(a) When objects are in equilibrium

Step 1 : Identify the system.

Step 2 : Draw the free-body diagram for the object. Label all external forces acting on it.
Step 3 : Resolve all forces into components along x and y direction.
Step 4 : Apply the equations  Fx  0 and  Fy  0 .
Step 5 : Jitne Variable/Unknowns Utni equations Bnao.
Example 4. A ‘block’ of mass 10 kg is suspended with string as shown in figure. Find tension in the string.
(g = 10 m/s2)

Solution : F.B.D. of block

 Fy = 0
T – 10 g = 0
  T = 100 N

Example 5. The system shown in figure is in equilibrium. Find the magnitude of tension in each string ;
T1, T2, T3 and T4. (g = 10 m/s–2)

Solution : F.B.D. of block 10 kg

T 0 = 10 g
T0 = 100 N

F.B.D. of point ‘A’

Fy  O
200
T2 cos 30º = T0 = 100 N T2 = N
3
Fx  O
200 1 100
T1 = T2 sin 30º = . = N.
3 2 3
F.B.D. of point ‘B’
Fy  O  T4 cos600 = T2cos300
and Fx  O  T3 + T2 sin300 = T4sin600
200
T3 = N, T4 = 200 N
3
Example 6. Two blocks are kept in contact as shown in figure. Find
50N
0
30

///////////////
100 N 10kg 20kg

(a) forces exerted by surfaces (floor and wall) on blocks.

(b) contact force between two blocks.
Solution : F.B.D. of 10 kg block

N1 = 10 g = 100 N .....(1)
N2 = 100 N .....(2)
F.B.D. of 20 kg block N4
50 N
0
N2 = 50 sin 30º + N3 30

  N3 = 100 – 25 = 75 N .....(3) N2 N3
and N4 = 50 cos 30° + 20 g
N4 = 243.30 N 20 g

Example 7. Find magnitude of force exerted by string on pulley.

Solution : F.B.D. of 10 kg block : T = 10 g = 100 N

F.B.D. of pulley : Since string is massless, so tension
in both sides of string is same. Force exerted by string
= (100)2  (100)2 = 2 100 N
Note : Since pulley is in equilibrium position, so net
forces on it is zero.
Hence force exerted by hinge on it is 100 2 N.

(b) Accelerating Objects

To solve problems involving objects that are in accelerated motion :
Step 1 : Identify the system.
Step 2 : Draw the free-body diagram for the object. Label all external forces acting on it.
Step 3 : Resolve all forces into components along x and y direction.
Step 4 : Apply the equations Fx = max and Fy = may

NOTE-
Always first write the Forces in direction of acceleration otherwise galat ho jayega.

Sabse pahle system ki acceleration nikalo F external kka uuse kkarke.

Fir individual objects ka FBD bana kewo acceleration individual objects ko do
Example 8. A force F is applied horizontally on mass m1 as shown in figure. Find the contact force between
m1 and m2.

Solution : Considering both blocks as a system to find the

common acceleration. Common acceleration
F
a= .....(1)
(m1  m2 )
To find the contact force between ‘A’ and ‘B’ we draw
F.B.D. of mass m 2.
F.B.D. of mass m2
Fx = max
N = m2 .a
m2F
N=
(m1  m2 )

Example 9. The velocity of a particle of mass 2 kg is given by v  atiˆ  bt 2 ˆj . Find the force acting on the
particle.
Solution : From second law of motion :
dP d d
F = (mv) = 2. ( atiˆ  bt 2 ˆj )  F  2aiˆ  4btjˆ
dt dt dt
Example 10. A 5 kg block has a rope of mass 2 kg attached to its underside and a 3 kg
block is suspended from the other end of the rope. The whole system is
accelerated upward at 2 m/s2 by an external force F0.
(a) What is F0 ?
(b) What is the net force on rope ?
(c) What is the tension at middle point of the rope ? (g = 10 m/s2)
Solution : For calculating the value of F0, consider two blocks with the rope as a system.
F.B.D. of whole system

(a)

F0 – 100 = 10 × 2
F = 120 N .....(1)
(b) According to Newton’s second law, net force on rope.
F = ma = (2) (2) = 4 N .....(2)
(c) For calculating tension at the middle point we draw F.B.D. of 3 kg block with half of the
rope (mass 1 kg) as shown.

T – 4g = 4.(2) ; T = 48 N
Example 11. A block of mass 50 kg is kept on another block of mass 1 kg as
shown in figure. A horizontal force of 10 N is applied on the 1kg
block. (All surface are smooth). Find (g = 10 m/s2)
(a) Acceleration of block A and B.
(b) Force exerted by B on A.
Solution : (a) F.B.D. of 50 kg
N2 = 50 g = 500 N
along horizontal direction, there is no force aB = 0
(b) F.B.D. of 1 kg block : along horizontal direction
10 = 1 aA.
aA = 10 m/s2 N1 N2
along vertical direction
  N1 = N2 + 1g 10N
//////////////////////////////////////////
= 500 + 10 = 510 N
1g
Example 12. A horizontal force is applied on a uniform rod of length L kept on a frictionless surface. Find the
tension in rod at a distance ‘x’ from the end where force is applied.

F
Solution : Considering rod as a system, we find acceleration of rod a =
M
now draw F.B.D. of rod having length ‘x’ as shown in figure.
Using Newton’s second law
M M F x
F – T =   x.a  T = F x. T = F(1  ) .
L L M L
Problem 4. The breaking strength of the string connecting wall and block B is 175 N, find the magnitude of
weight of block A for which the system will be stationary. The block B weighs 700 N. (g = 10 m/s2)

Solution : FBD of block B 

N

175N 175N
B

Mg
FBD of point in figure  Tsin30°
Equating forces in horizontal direction 
175N Tcos30°
Tcos30° = 175
175  2
T= N
3
In vertical direction  T'

Tsin30° = T’ T'
175  2 1 175
So, T’ =   N A
3 2 3
FBD of block A 
W
175
So, T’ = W = N
3

Problem 5. In the arrangement shown in figure, what should be the mass of block A so that the system
remains at rest. Also find force exerted by string on the pulley Q. (g = 10 m/s2)

Answer : m = 3 kg, 30 3 N.
Solution : From figure
FBD of 2 kg block hanging vertically 
T

2kg

2g
Example 13. One end of string which passes through pulley and connected to 10 kg mass at other end is
pulled by 100 N force. Find out the acceleration of 10 kg mass. (g = 9.8 m/s2)

Solution : Since string is pulled by 100 N force. So tension in the string is 100 N.
F.B.D. of 10 kg block

100 – 10 g = 10 a
100 – 10 × 9.8 = 10 a
a = 0.2 m/s2.

Example 14. Two blocks m1 and m2 are placed on a smooth inclined plane as shown in figure. If they are
released from rest. Find :

(i) Acceleration of mass m1 and m2

(ii) Tension in the string
(iii) Net force on pulley exerted by string
Solution : F.B.D. of m1 : m1gsin – T = m1a

3
g–T = 3a .....(1)
2
F.B.D. of m2 : T – m2gsin = m2a

3
T – 1. g = 1.a .....(2)
2
Adding eq.(1) and (2) we get a = 0
Putting this value in eq.(i) we get

3g
T= ,
2
F.B.D. of pulley

FR = 2T

3
FR = g
2
 Effective or Apparent weight of a man in lift
N
Case-I : If the lift is at rest or moving uniformly (a = 0), then
Lift
Wapp  N
N = mg
Wactual  mg
Man
So, Wapp = Wactual

Case-II : If the lift is accelerating upwards, then - mg

Net upward force on man = ma N
N – mg = ma
N = mg + ma
N = m (g +a) a
Wapp or N = m (g +a)

So, Wapp > Wactual

mg

Case-3: If the lift is accelerated downwards, then -

mg – N = ma
 N
N = mg – ma 

Wapp or N = m (g - a)
a

So, Wapp < Wactual

- mg
13. PULLEY SYSTEMS

Net force along the string

Acceleration =
Total mass to be pulled
Case II
m1 > m2

(m1  m2 ) a
a g a
T
(m1  m2 ) T
m2
m1

Case III :
a
m1 T
m2 g m1m2
acceleration a  and T  g
(m1  m2 ) (m1  m2 ) R  2T
a
Reaction at suspension point of pulley R = 2T
m2
Case IV : (m1 > m2)
a

T1 M T2

T1 T2
(m1  m2 )
a g m1 m2
(m1  m2  M)
Case V : Mass suspended over a pulley along with m1g m2g
another on an inclined plane.

(m1  m2 sin )
acceleration a  g
(m1  m2 ) T
m1 a

 m2 g m1 g

Case VI

m1sin > m2sin

(m1 sin   m2 sin )

Acceleration a  g
(m1  m2 )  m1 g m2 g 
 Case VII :
T1
T a
a m1 A
m2
m1 g m2 g
(m2  m3  m1 )
 a g T
(m1  m2  m3 )
m3

m3 g

6. WEIGHING MACHINE :
Calculate the value of NORMAL by weighing machine on man. That will be its reading.

Example 16. A man of mass 60 Kg is standing on a weighing machine placed on ground. Calculate the
reading of machine (g = 10 m/s2).

Solution : For calculating the reading of weighing machine, we draw F.B.D. of man and machine
separately.
F.B.D. of man F.B.D. of weighing machine

N = Mg

Here force exerted by object on upper surface is N

Reading of weighing machine
N = Mg = 60 × 10
N = 600 N.
7. SPRING FORCE :
Every spring resists any attempt to change its length; when it is compressed or extended, it exerts force
at its ends. The force exerted by a spring is given by F = –kx, where x is the change in length and k is
the stiffness constant or spring constant (unit Nm -1).
When spring is in its natural length, spring force is zero.

F=0 F = – kx

Example 17. Two blocks are connected by a spring of natural length 2 m.

The force constant of spring is 200 N/m. Find spring force in
following situations :
(a) If block ‘A’ and ‘B’ both are displaced by 0.5 m in same direction.
(b) If block ‘A’ and ‘B’ both are displaced by 0.5 m in opposite direction.
Solution : (a) Since both blocks are displaced by 0.5 m in same direction, so change in length of spring is
zero. Hence, spring force is zero.
(b) In this case, change in length of spring is 1 m. In case of extension or compression of
spring, spring force is F = Kx = (200).(1)
F = 200 N

Example 18. Force constant of a spring is 100 N/m. If a 10 kg block attached with the spring is at rest, then
find extension in the spring. (g = 10 m/s2)

Solution : In this situation, spring is in extended state so spring force acts in upward
direction. Let x be the extension in the spring.
F.B.D. of 10 kg block :
Fs = 10g
 Kx = 100
  (100)x = (100)
  x = 1m
Example 19. Two blocks ‘A’ and ‘B’ of same mass ‘m’ attached with a light spring are suspended by a string
as shown in figure. Find the acceleration of block ‘A’ and ‘B’ just after the string is cut.

Solution : When block A and B are in equilibrium position

F.B.D of ‘B’ .....(1)

F.B.D of ‘A’ .....(2)

When string is cut, tension T becomes zero. But spring does not change its shape just after
cutting. So spring force acts on mass B, again draw F.B.D. of blocks A and B as shown in figure

F.B.D. of ‘B’

F.B.D. of ‘A’