Newtons Second Law of Motion

Newtons Second Law: If the resultant force acting on a

particle is not zero, the particle will have an acceleration
proportional to the magnitude of resultant and in the
direction of the resultant.
Consider a particle subjected to constant forces,
F1 F2 F3

constant mass, m
a1 a2 a3

When a particle of mass m is acted upon by a force F ,

the acceleration
F m a of the particle must satisfy
Acceleration must be evaluated with respect to a
Newtonian frame of reference, i.e., one that is not
accelerating or rotating.
If force acting on particle is zero, particle will not
accelerate, i.e., it will remain stationary or continue on a
12 - 1
straight line at constant velocity.

Linear Momentum of a Particle

Replacing the acceleration by the derivative of the
velocity yields

dv
F m
dt

d
dL
mv
dt
dt

L linear momentum of the particle

Linear Momentum Conservation Principle:
If the resultant force on a particle is zero, the linear
momentum of the particle remains constant in both
magnitude and direction.

12 - 2

Systems of Units
Of the units for the four primary dimensions (force,
mass, length, and time), three may be chosen arbitrarily.
The fourth must be compatible with Newtons 2nd Law.
International System of Units (SI Units): base units are
the units of length (m), mass (kg), and time (second).
The unit of force is derived,
kg m
m
1 N 1 kg 1 2 1 2
s
s
U.S. Customary Units: base units are the units of force
(lb), length (m), and time (second). The unit of mass is
derived,
1 lb
1lb
lb s 2
1 lbm
1slug
1
2
2
ft
32.2 ft s
1 ft s
12 - 3

Equations of Motion
Newtons second law provides

m
a

Solution for particle motion is facilitated by resolving

vector equation into scalar component equations, e.g.,
for rectangular components,

Fx i Fy j Fz k m a x i a y j a z k

Fx ma x Fy ma y Fz ma z
Fx mx Fy my Fz mz
For tangential and normal components,

F t mat
dv
F

m
t
dt

F n man

v2
Fn m

12 - 4

Dynamic Equilibrium
Alternate expression of Newtons second law,

m
a
0

ma inertial vector
With the inclusion of the inertial vector, the system
of forces acting on the particle is equivalent to
zero. The particle is in dynamic equilibrium.
Methods developed for particles in static
equilibrium may be applied, e.g., coplanar forces
may be represented with a closed vector polygon.
Inertia vectors are often called inertial forces as
they measure the resistance that particles offer to
changes in motion, i.e., changes in speed or
direction.
Inertial forces may be conceptually useful but are
not like the contact and gravitational forces found
12 - 5
in statics.

SOLUTION:
Resolve the equation of motion for the
block into two rectangular component
equations.

A 200-lb block rests on a horizontal

plane. Find the magnitude of the force
P required to give the block an acceleration or 10 ft/s2 to the right. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the
block and plane is k0.25.

Unknowns consist of the applied force

P and the normal reaction N from the
plane. The two equations may be
solved for these unknowns.

12 - 6

SOLUTION:
Resolve the equation of motion for the block
into two rectangular component equations.
Fx ma :

y
O

P cos 30 0.25 N 6.21 lb s 2 ft 10 ft s 2

62.1lb
x

W
200 lb
m
g 32.2 ft s 2
lb s 2
6.21
ft
F k N
0.25 N

Fy 0 :
N P sin 30 200 lb 0
Unknowns consist of the applied force P and
the normal reaction N from the plane. The two
equations may be solved for these unknowns.
N P sin 30 200 lb
P cos 30 0.25 P sin 30 200 lb 62.1 lb
P 151
lb
12 - 7

SOLUTION:
Write the kinematic relationships for the
dependent motions and accelerations of
the blocks.
Write the equations of motion for the
blocks and pulley.
Combine the kinematic relationships
with the equations of motion to solve for
the accelerations and cord tension.
The two blocks shown start from rest.
The horizontal plane and the pulley
are frictionless, and the pulley is
assumed to be of negligible mass.
Determine the acceleration of each
block and the tension in the cord.
12 - 8

SOLUTION:
Write the kinematic relationships for the dependent
motions and accelerations of the blocks.
y B 12 x A
a B 12 a A
Write equations of motion for blocks and pulley.

Fx m A a A :
T1 100 kg a A
Fy m B a B :
m B g T2 m B a B

300 kg 9.81 m s 2 T2 300 kg a B

T2 2940 N - 300 kg a B
Fy mC aC 0 :
T2 2T1 0

12 - 9

 Combine kinematic relationships with equations of

motion to solve for accelerations and cord tension.
O

y B 12 x A

a B 12 a A

T1 100 kg a A
T2 2940 N - 300 kg a B

2940 N - 300 kg 12 a A

T2 2T1 0

2940 N 150 kg a A 2100 kg a A 0

a A 8.40 m s 2
a B 12 a A 4.20 m s 2

T1 100 kg a A 840 N
T2 2T1 1680 N
12 - 10

SOLUTION:
The block is constrained to slide down
the wedge. Therefore, their motions are
dependent. Express the acceleration of
block as the acceleration of wedge plus
the acceleration of the block relative to
the wedge.

The 12-lb block B starts from rest and

slides on the 30-lb wedge A, which is
supported by a horizontal surface.
Neglecting friction, determine (a) the
acceleration of the wedge, and (b) the
acceleration of the block relative to the
wedge.

Write the equations of motion for the

wedge and block.
Solve for the accelerations.

12 - 11

SOLUTION:
The block is constrained to slide down the
wedge. Therefore, their motions are dependent.

aB a A aB A
Write equations of motion for wedge and block.
Fx m A a A :
N1 sin 30 m A a A

0.5 N1 W A g a A

Fx mB a x mB a A cos 30 a B A :
WB sin 30 WB g a A cos 30 a B
aB

a A cos 30 g sin 30

Fy mB a y mB a A sin 30 :
N1 WB cos 30 WB g a A sin1230- 12

 Solve for the accelerations.

0.5 N1 W A g a A
N1 WB cos 30 WB g a A sin 30

2 W A g a A WB cos 30 WB g a A sin 30
aA

gWB cos 30
2W A WB sin 30

32.2 ft s 2 12 lb cos 30
aA
2 30 lb 12 lb sin 30

a A 5.07 ft s 2
aB

a A cos 30 g sin 30

aB

5.07 ft s 2 cos 30 32.2 ft s 2 sin 30

aB

20.5 ft s 2
12 - 13

SOLUTION:
Resolve the equation of motion for the
bob into tangential and normal
components.
Solve the component equations for the
normal and tangential accelerations.

The bob of a 2-m pendulum describes

an arc of a circle in a vertical plane. If
the tension in the cord is 2.5 times the
weight of the bob for the position
shown, find the velocity and acceleration of the bob in that position.

Solve for the velocity in terms of the

normal acceleration.

12 - 14

SOLUTION:
Resolve the equation of motion for the bob into
tangential and normal components.
Solve the component equations for the normal and
tangential accelerations.
mg sin 30 mat
Ft mat :
at g sin 30

Fn man :

at 4.9 m s 2

2.5mg mg cos 30 man

an g 2.5 cos 30

an 16.03 m s 2
Solve for velocity in terms of normal acceleration.
v2
an

v an

2 m 16.03 m s 2
12m
- 15s
v 5.66

SOLUTION:
The car travels in a horizontal circular
path with a normal component of
acceleration directed toward the center
of the path.The forces acting on the car
are its weight and a normal reaction
from the road surface.
Determine the rated speed of a
highway curve of radius = 400 ft
banked through an angle = 18o. The
rated speed of a banked highway curve
is the speed at which a car should
travel if no lateral friction force is to
be exerted at its wheels.

Resolve the equation of motion for

the car into vertical and normal
components.
Solve for the vehicle speed.

12 - 16

 Resolve the equation of motion for

the car into vertical and normal
components.
R cos W 0
Fy 0 :
W
R
cos
SOLUTION:
The car travels in a horizontal circular
path with a normal component of
acceleration directed toward the center
of the path.The forces acting on the
car are its weight and a normal
reaction from the road surface.

Fn man : R sin

W
an
g

W
W v2
sin
cos
g
Solve for the vehicle speed.
v 2 g tan

32.2 ft s 2 400 ft tan 18

v 64.7 ft s 4412.1-mi
17 h

Angular Momentum of a Particle

H O r mV moment of momentum or the angular

momentum of the particle about O.

H O is perpendicular to plane containing r and mV

H O rmV sin
i
j
k

rm v
HO x
y
z
mv x mv y mv z
mr 2
Derivative of angular momentum with respect to time,

H O r mV r mV V mV r ma

rF

MO
It follows from Newtons second law that the sum of
the moments about O of the forces acting on the
particle is equal to the rate of change of the angular
12 - 18
momentum of the particle about O.

Equations of Motion in Radial & Transverse

Components
Consider particle at r and , in polar coordinates,

Fr mar mr r 2
F ma m r 2r

This result may also be derived from conservation

of angular momentum,
H O mr 2

d
mr 2
dt
m r 2 2rr

r F

F m r 2r

12 - 19

Conservation of Angular Momentum

When only force acting on particle is directed
toward or away from a fixed point O, the particle
is said to be moving under a central force.
Since the line of action of the central force
passes through
MO,O H O 0 and

r mV H O constant
Position vector and motion
of particle are in a
plane perpendicular to H O .
Magnitude of angular momentum,
H O rm V sin constant
r0 m V0 sin 0
or

H O mr 2 constant
HO
angular momentum
r 2 h
m
unit mass 12 - 20

 Radius vector OP sweeps infinitesimal area

dA 12 r 2 d
Define

dA 1 2 d 1 2
2r
2 r areal velocity
dt
dt

Recall, for a body moving under a central force,

h r 2 constant
When a particle moves under a central force, its
areal velocity is constant.

12 - 21

Newtons Law of Gravitation

Gravitational force exerted by the sun on a planet or by
the earth on a satellite is an important example of
gravitational force.
Newtons law of universal gravitation - two particles of
mass M and m attract each other with equal and opposite
force directed along the line connecting the particles,
Mm
F G 2
r
G constant of gravitation
66.73 10 12

m3
kg s 2

34.4 10 9

ft 4
lb s 4

For particle of mass m on the earths surface,

MG
m
ft
W m 2 mg g 9.81 2 32.2 2
R
s
s

12 - 22

SOLUTION:
Write the radial and transverse
equations of motion for the block.
Integrate the radial equation to find an
expression for the radial velocity.
A block B of mass m can slide freely on
a frictionless arm OA which rotates in a
horizontal plane at a constant rate 0 .

Substitute known information into the

transverse equation to find an
expression for the force on the block.

Knowing that B is released at a distance

r0 from O, express as a function of r
a) the component vr of the velocity of B
along OA, and
b) the magnitude of the horizontal force
exerted on B by the arm OA.

12 - 23

SOLUTION:
Write the radial and transverse
equations of motion for the block.

Fr m ar :

0 m r r
F m a : F m r 2r

Integrate the radial equation to find an

expression for the radial velocity.
dv
dv dr
dv
r v r r r
vr r
dt
dr dt
dr
dv
dv dr
dv
vr r
r v r r r
dt
dr dt
dr
vr dvr r 2 dr r02 dr
vr

r
2
vr dvr 0 r dr
0
r0

vr2 02 r 2 r02

Substitute known information into the

transverse equation to find an expression
for the force on the block.
F

2m 02

2 12
r 12 - 24r0
2