Chapter 4

Forces and Newtons

Laws of Motion
The Concepts of Force and Mass

A force is a push or a pull.

Contact forces arise from physical

contact .

Action-at-a-distance forces do not

require contact and include gravity
and electrical forces.
The Concepts of Force and Mass

Arrows are used to represent forces. The length of the arrow

is proportional to the magnitude of the force.

15 N

5N
The Concepts of Force and Mass

Mass is a measure of the amount

of stuff contained in an object.
 Newtons First Law of Motion

Newtons First Law

An object continues in a state of rest
or in a state of motion at a constant
speed along a straight line, unless
compelled to change that state by a
net force.

The net force is the vector sum of all

of the forces acting on an object.
Newtons First Law of Motion

The net force on an object is the vector sum of

all forces acting on that object.

The SI unit of force is the Newton (N).

Individual Forces Net Force

4N 10 N
6N
Newtons First Law of Motion

Individual Forces Net Force

5N
64
3N

4N
 Newtons First Law of Motion

Inertia is the natural tendency of an

object to remain at rest or in motion at
a constant speed along a straight line.

The mass of an object is a quantitative

measure of inertia.

SI Unit of Mass: kilogram (kg)

 Newtons First Law of Motion

An inertial reference frame is one in

which Newtons law of inertia is valid.

All accelerating reference frames are

noninertial.
Newtons Second Law of Motion

Mathematically, the net force is

written as
F
where the Greek letter sigma
denotes the vector sum.
Newtons Second Law of Motion

Newtons Second Law

When a net external force acts on an object
of mass m, the acceleration that results is
directly proportional to the net force and has
a magnitude that is inversely proportional to
the mass. The direction of the acceleration is
the same as the direction of the net force.


a
F


F ma
m
Newtons Second Law of Motion

SI Unit for Force

m kg m
kg 2 2
s s

This combination of units is called a newton (N).

Newtons Second Law of Motion
 Newtons Second Law of Motion

A free-body-diagram is a diagram that represents

the object and the forces that act on it.
Figure (a) Two people push a stalled car. A force created by friction and the
pavement opposes their efforts. (b) A free-body diagram that shows the horizontal
forces acting on the car.
Newtons Second Law of Motion

The net force in this case is:

275 N + 395 N 560 N = +110 N

and is directed along the + x axis of the coordinate system.

Newtons Second Law of Motion

If the mass of the car is 1850 kg then, by

Newtons second law, the acceleration is

a
F 110 N
0.059 m s 2

m 1850 kg
The Vector Nature of Newtons Second Law

The direction of force and acceleration vectors

can be taken into account by using x and y
components.

F ma
is equivalent to

F y ma y F x max
 The Vector Nature of Newtons Second Law
A man is stranded on a raft (mass of man and raft m = 1300 kg), as shown in Figure 4.6a. By paddling, he causes an average
force P of 17 N to be applied to the raft in a direction due east the +X direction). (The wind also exerts a force A on the raft.
This force has a magnitude of 15 N and points 67north of east. Ignoring any resistance from the water, find the x and y com-
ponents of the rafts acceleration.
The Vector Nature of Newtons Second Law

The net force on the raft can be calculated

in the following way:

Force x component y component

+17 N 0N
P
+(15 N) cos67 +(15 N) sin67
A
+23 N +14 N
The Vector Nature of Newtons Second Law

ax
F x

23 N
0.018 m s 2

m 1300 kg

ay
F y

14 N
0.011 m s 2

m 1300 kg
Newtons Third Law of Motion

Newtons Third Law of Motion

Whenever one body exerts a force on a

second body, the second body exerts an
oppositely directed force of equal
magnitude on the first body.
Newtons Third Law of Motion

Figure The astronaut pushes on the spacecraft with a force +P . According to

Newtons third law, the spacecraft simultaneously pushes back on the
astronaut with a force -P

Suppose that the magnitude of the force is 36 N. If the mass

of the spacecraft is 11,000 kg and the mass of the astronaut
is 92 kg, what are the accelerations?
Newtons Third Law of Motion

On the spacecraft
F P.

On the astronaut F P.

P 36 N
as 0.0033 m s 2

ms 11,000 kg

P 36 N
aA 0.39 m s 2

mA 92 kg
Types of Forces: An Overview

In nature there are two general types of forces,

fundamental and nonfundamental.

Fundamental Forces

1. Gravitational force

2. Strong Nuclear force

3. Electroweak force
Types of Forces: An Overview

Examples of nonfundamental forces:

friction

tension in a rope

normal or support forces

 The Gravitational Force

Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation

Every particle in the universe exerts an attractive force on every

other particle.

A particle is a piece of matter, small enough in size to be

regarded as a mathematical point.

The force that each exerts on the other is directed along the line
joining the particles.
The Gravitational Force

For two particles that have masses m1 and m2 and are

separated by a distance r, the force has a magnitude
given by
m1m2
F G 2
r
G 6.673 1011 N m 2 kg 2
 The Gravitational Force

What is the magnitude of the gravitational force that acts on each particle in Figure
4.9, assum- ing m1 = 12 kg (approximately the mass of a bicycle), m2 = 25 kg, and
r = 1.2 m?

m1m2
F G
r2

6.67 10 11
Nm 2
kg 2
12 kg 25 kg
1.2 m 2

1.4 10 8 N
 The Gravitational Force

Figure 4.10 The gravitational force that each uniform sphere of matter exerts on the
other is the same as if each sphere were a particle with its mass concentrated at its
center. The earth (mass ME) and the moon (mass MM) approximate such uniform
spheres.
 The Gravitational Force

Definition of Weight

The weight of an object on or above the earth is the

gravitational force that the earth exerts on the object.
The weight always acts downwards, toward the center
of the earth.

On or above another astronomical body, the weight is the

gravitational force exerted on the object by that body.

SI Unit of Weight: newton (N)

The Gravitational Force

Relation Between Mass and Weight

M Em
W G 2
r

W mg

ME
g G 2
r
The Gravitational Force

On the earths surface:

ME
g G 2
RE

6.67 10 11
N m kg
2 2 5.98 10 kg
24

6.38 10 m
6 2

9.80 m s 2
 The Normal Force

Definition of the Normal Force

The normal force is one component of the force that a surface
exerts on an object with which it is in contact namely, the
component that is perpendicular
to the surface.
 The Normal Force

Figure (a) The normal force FN is greater than the weight of the box, because the
box is being pressed downward with an 11-N force. (b) The normal force is smaller
than the weight, because the rope supplies an upward force of 11 N that partially
supports the box.

FN 11 N 15 N 0

FN 26 N

FN 11 N 15 N 0

FN 4 N
 The Normal Force
Figure (a) When the elevator is not accelerating, the scale registers the true
weight (W = 700 N) of the person. (b) When the elevator accelerates upward, the
apparent weight (1000 N) exceeds the true weight. (c) When the elevator
accelerates downward, the apparent weight (400 N) is less than the true weight.
(d) The apparent weight is zero if the elevator falls freelythat is, if it falls with the
acceleration due to gravity.

The apparent weight of an object is the reading of the scale.

It is equal to the normal force the man exerts on the scale.
The Normal Force

F y FN mg ma

FN mg ma

true
apparent weight
weight
Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

When an object is in contact with a surface there is a force

acting on that object. The component of this force that is
parallel to the surface is called the
frictional force.

Figure: Even when two

highly polished surfaces
are in contact, they
touch only at relatively
few points.
 Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

When the two surfaces are

not sliding across one another
the friction is called
static friction.

Figure : (a) and (b) Applying a

small force F to the block
produces no movement, because
the static frictional force fs exactly
balances the applied force. (c) The
block just begins to move when
the applied force is slightly greater
than the maximum static
frictionalforce f sMAX.
Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

The magnitude of the static frictional force can have any value
from zero up to a maximum value.

fs f s
MAX

f s
MAX
s FN

0 s 1 is called the coefficient of static friction.

Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

Note that the magnitude of the frictional force does

not depend on the contact area of the surfaces.

Figure: The maximum static frictional force fsMAX would be the same,
no matter which side of the block is in contact with the table.
Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

Static friction opposes the impending relative motion between

two objects.

Kinetic friction opposes the relative sliding motion motions that

actually does occur.

f k k FN

0 s 1 is called the coefficient of kinetic friction.

Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces
Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

A sled and its rider are moving at a speed of 4.0 m/s along a horizontal
stretch of snow, as Figure a illustrates. The snow exerts a kinetic
frictional force on the runners of the sled, so the sled slows down and
eventually comes to a stop. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.050.
What is the displacement x of the sled?

The sled comes to a halt because the kinetic frictional force

opposes its motion and causes the sled to slow down.
Static and Kinetic Frictional Forces

Suppose the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.05 and the total

mass is 40kg. What is the kinetic frictional force?

f k k FN k mg

0.0540kg 9.80 m s 20kg 2

The Tension Force

Cables and ropes transmit

forces through tension.

Figure: (a) A force T is

being applied to the right
end of a rope. (b) The force
is transmitted to the box. (c)
Forces are applied to both
ends of the rope. These
forces have equal
magnitudes and opposite
directions.
The Tension Force

A massless rope will transmit

tension undiminished from one
end to the other.

If the rope passes around a

massless, frictionless pulley, the
tension will be transmitted to
the other end of the rope
undiminished.
 Pulley

A pulley can be used to change

the direction of the force that is
exerted by the suspended
weight without altering the
magnitude: (T1= T2 = T3).

The tension in each rope is Mg.

Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

Definition of Equilibrium
An object is in equilibrium when it has zero acceleration.

Fx 0

Fy 0
Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

Reasoning Strategy
Select an object(s) to which the equations of equilibrium are
to be applied.

Draw a free-body diagram for each object chosen above.

Include only forces acting on the object, not forces the object
exerts on its environment.

Choose a set of x, y axes for each object and resolve all forces
in the free-body diagram into components that point along these
axes.

Apply the equations and solve for the unknown quantities.

Figure: a shows a traction device used with a foot injury. The weight of the 2.2-kg
object creates a tension in the rope that passes around the pulleys. Therefore,
tension forces T1 and T2 are applied to the pulley on the foot. The foot pulley is
kept in equilibrium because the foot also applies a force F to it. This force arises in
reaction (Newtons third law) to the pulling effect of the forces T1 and T2. Ignoring
the weight of the foot, find the magnitude of F.
Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

T1 sin 35 T2 sin 35 0

T1 cos 35 T2 cos 35 F 0

F = 2T cos 35o = 2mg cos 35 = 35 N

Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

An automobile engine has a weight W, whose magnitude is W = 3150 N. This

engine is being positioned above an engine compartment, as Figure a illustrates.
To position the engine, a worker is using a rope. Find the tension T1 in the
supporting cable and the tension T2 in the positioning rope.
Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

Force x component y component

T1 T1 sin 10.0 T1 cos10.0

T2 T2 sin 80.0 T2 cos 80.0

W 0 W

W 3150 N
Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

Fx T1 sin 10.0 T2 sin 80.0 0

F y T1 cos 10.0 T2 cos 80.0 W 0

sin 80.0
The first equation gives T1 T
2
sin 10.0
Substitution into the second gives

sin 80.0
T cos10.0 T2 cos 80.0 W 0
2

sin 10.0
Equilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

W
T2
sin 80.0
cos10.0 cos 80.0

sin 10.0

T2 582 N T1 3.30 10 N 3
 Treatment of the broken bones and
immobilisation
In order to treat certain broken
bones and other injuries, it is
sometimes necessary to
immobilize the affected regions
and to remove the usual forces
from the fracture while it heals.
Various systems of traction
using weights, ropes and
pulleys are found in current
practice.

In the design of all such systems, advantage is taken of the fact that the tension
in the taut rope is everywhere the same. Besides, we assume that the mass of
the rope is sufficiently small that its weght is small compared to all other forces in
the system
Two equivalent methods of exerting a force
on a patients leg

In each case, T1= T2

This is net result of the traction

system shown above.
Excersises 1
In this picture each tension makes an
angle of 20 with respect to the
horizontal, the wight has a nass M = 5
kg. Find the force exerted on the leg.
(Solution; Force has a magnitude of 92 N
and is directed horizontally).
Now suppose that the patients leg is
elevated until T1 is horisontal and T2 makes
an angle of 36 with respect to the
horizontal. What is the magnitude and
direction of the force on the leg?
(Solution: Force has magnitude of 93.2 N
and direction18 with respect to the
horizontal).
 Russell traction system for immobilizing
a fractured femur

The system is adjusted so that the angle of elevation of the thigh is

approksimately 20 degrees. The force F is the force exerted by femur. The
reaction force F = - F is exerted on the femur.
 Russell traction system for immobilizing
a fractured femur

If the thigh is to be maintained at an angle of approximately 20

degrees with respect to the horizontal, the pulley positions and the
rope angles are ajusted until the vector sum of the three tensions is
a force F that has the desired direction, as showed in the picture
above.
 Excersises 2

Find the magnitude and the direction of the force exerted on the
femur by the system ilustrated on the figure . Let M=4kg.
(Solution: F = 100.67 N)
Excersises 3

Find the magnitude and the

direction of the force exerted
on the patients head by the
cervical traction system
ilustrated, if M=1,5 kg.
Nonequilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

When an object is accelerating, it is not in equilibrium.

Fx max

Fy may
 Nonequilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

Figure: A supertanker of mass m = 1.50 x 108 kg is being towed by two tugboats,

as in Figure 4.30a. The tensions in the towing cables apply the forces T1 and T2
at equal angles of 300 with respect to the tankers axis. In addition, the tankers
engines produce a forward drive force D, whose magnitude is D = 75.0 x 103 N.
Moreover, the water applies an opposing force R, whose magnitude is R = 40x
103N. The tanker moves forward with an acceleration that points along the
tankers axis and has a magnitude of 2 x 103 m/s2. Find the magnitudes of the
tensions T1 and T2.

The acceleration is along the x axis so ay 0

Nonequilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

Force x component y component

T1 T1 cos 30.0
T1 sin 30.0

T2 T2 cos 30.0
T2 sin 30.0

D D 0
R 0
R
Nonequilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

F y T1 sin 30.0 T2 sin 30.0 0

T1 T2

F x T1 cos 30.0 T2 cos 30.0 D R

max
Nonequilibrium Application of Newtons Laws of Motion

T1 T2 T

max R D
T
1.53 10 N
5

2 cos 30.0