01

NOTE
P H Y S I C S

NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION

COMBINATION OF SPRINGS

What you already know What you will learn

• Newton's laws of motion • Parallel combination of springs

• Constrained motion • Series combination of springs
• Introduction to springs • Pseudo force

Example

A 1 kg aA = ?

Find the acceleration of each block just after cutting the string.
B 2 kg aB = ?

C 1 kg aC = ?

Solution

A free body diagram for the system before and after cutting the string is shown in the next page.
Acceleration of block A
Before and after cutting the string, block A does not move as the string tied to the ceiling is not
going to change, i.e., just after cutting the string, the tension in the string remains the same (40 N).
So, the acceleration of block A is zero.

=aA
∑
=
Fy 40 − (10 + 30)
= 0 ms −2
mA 1
Acceleration of block B

=aB
∑
=
Fy 30 − 20
= 5 ms −2
mB 2

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 02

Before cutting the string After cutting the string

40 N 40 N
1 kg A A 1 kg
30 N
10 N
10 N 30 N
30 N
30 N

2 kg B B 2 kg

20 N 20 N
10 N

1 kg C C 1 kg
g
10 N 10 N

Acceleration of block C
As block C is falling freely under gravity, its acceleration will be equal to, g = 10 ms−2.

BOARDS
Spring Constant

For a spring, the product of the spring constant (k) and its length is always constant.
Let us consider a spring of natural length l0 and spring constant k.
Let the spring be divided into two parts of natural lengths l1 and l2.
Let the spring constants of these parts be k1 and k2, respectively.
k

l0

k1 k2

l1 l2

Then, it can be written as follows:

k1l1 = k2l2 = kl0 = Constant
Thus, if the spring is cut into two equal parts, then each part will have a spring constant equal
to double of the spring constant of the initial spring.

An elastic rubber and a spring behave similarly only when they are extended and not
when they are compressed.

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 03

Parallel Combination of Springs

Consider two springs of spring constants k1 and k2, which are attached with a block and a wall as
shown in the figure. The combination of two springs can be replaced with a single spring. Let the
spring constant of the equivalent spring be keq.
Let the two spring systems be compressed by distance x.

k1 k1x
keq
k2 M M
k2x

x x

For the same compression, we can write the following:

k1x + k2x = keqx
⇒ k1 + k2 = keq
If n number of springs are attached in a parallel combination, then the spring constant of the
­equivalent spring is as follows:
n
k eq = ∑ k i
i =1

Example
If a spring of spring constant k is divided into n equal parts, then each part will have the spring
­constant equal to nk. If all the parts are connected in parallel, then the spring constant of the
­equivalent spring will be, keq = n2k
Special case of parallel combination
In the arrangement shown in the figure, if the block is moved by distance x, then the change in
length of both the springs will be equal to x.
Thus, the arrangement may look like the k1 k2
springs connected in a series combination, M
but they are actually connected in a parallel
combination.
k2x
Thus,
M
k1 + k2 = keq k1x
keq
M

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 04

Series Combination of Springs

Consider two springs of spring constants k1 and k2, which are connected in a series as shown in the
figure. The combination of two springs can be replaced with a single spring. Let the spring constant
of the equivalent spring be keq.

k1 k2
M

x1 x2

keq
M

x
In this case, if the mass is moved by distance x, then the sum of elongations of springs will be equal
to x.
Thus,
x1 + x2 = x……….(i)
As the spring force generated by both the springs will be equal, we get the following:
k1x1 = k2x2 = keqx………(ii)
From equation (ii ), we can write as follows:
keq x
k1 x1 = keq x ⇒ x1 =
k1
keq x
And, k2 x2 = keq x ⇒ x2 =
k2
Substituting the values of x1 and x2 in equation (i ), we get the following :

keq x keq x
=x
+
k1k2
1 1 1
⇒ + =
k1 k2 keq

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 05

Example

k1 k2 k3
Find keq in the following situation: M

Solution

The springs with constants k1 and k2 are connected in series, and the spring with constant k3 is
connected in parallel to this combination.
Thus, the equivalent spring constant of springs connected in series is as follows:

1 1 1
+ =
k1 k2 k eq
kk
⇒ k eq (1−2) = 1 2
k1 + k2
And, the equivalent spring constant of all the three springs will be as follows:

k 1k 2
k eq = + k3
k1 + k2

Example

k1 k2

Find keq in the following situation:

k3

Solution

The springs with constants k1 and k2 are connected in parallel, and the spring with constant k3 is
connected in series to this combination.
The equivalent spring constant of springs connected in parallel is as follows:
keq (1 − 2) = k1 + k2
The spring constant of this equivalent spring and the spring with spring constant k3 is as follows:

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 06

1 1 1
+ =
k eq (1−2) k3 k eq
1 1 1
⇒ = +
k eq k3 k1 + k2

1 (k + k ) + k
1 2 3
⇒ =
k eq ( k + k )k 1 2 3

⇒ k eq =
(k + k )k
1 2 3

k1 + k2 + k3

MAIN
Frame of Reference

All the calculations need to be done in the same frame.

The frame attached to the observer is known as the reference frame.
Let two friends, Ayush and Devendra, move with speeds vA and vD with respect to the ground. Let
their accelerations be aA and aD at any instant.
The relative velocity of Ayush with respect to Devendra (vAD) will be as follows:
  
v AD = v A − v D
Similarly, the relative acceleration of Ayush (aAD) with respect to Devendra will be as follows:
  
aAD= aA − aD
Here, the velocity of individuals considered for calculating the relative velocity should always be
in the same frame.
Following are the properties that are dependent on the frame of reference:

Dependent Independent

• Distance travelled by the particle • Distance between two points

• Displacement of the particle • Time of event
• Velocity of the particle • Individual force
• Speed of the particle
• Acceleration of the particle
• Kinetic energy
• Momentum

FBD of a body in different frames of reference

Consider a block of mass m that is kept on a stand on the ground. Three friends observe this block
while they are in different motions. Let Saurabh be standing on the road, Vinay be moving in a car
with velocity v, and Digvijay be moving in a car with acceleration a at that instant.

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 07

M
v a, v

Vinay Digvijay Saurabh

The three friends observe the block in different motions and draw the FBD of the block while they
are in motion as shown in the figure.

Person Saurabh Vinay Digvijay

The block is at The block is moving in The block is moving in

rest. the left direction with the left direction with
velocity v. acceleration a.

N N
v a
Observation
a=0 a=0
M M M a≠0
v=0 v = constant

mg mg mg

For Saurabh and Vinay, the acceleration of the block is zero because there is no net force acting
on it. However, for Digvijay, the block has acceleration even if there is no net force acting on it.
Thus, Newton's second law of motion is not applicable for Digvijay. (F = ma is not valid)
The frames of reference of Saurabh and Vinay have zero acceleration and Newton's laws of motion
are valid in these frames of reference. Such frames are known as inertial frames of reference.
If the frame of reference has a non-zero acceleration, it is known as a non-inertial frame of
­reference. Newton's laws of motion are not valid directly in non-inertial frames of reference.
Assumption: Since the universe is not stationary or the absolute rest frame is not known, Earth is
assumed to be an inertial frame of reference.
A new force, the pseudo force, is defined so that Newton's laws of motion can be used in ­non-­inertial
frames of reference as well.

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 08

MAIN
Pseudo Force

Pseudo force is an imaginary force that is applied on objects in a non-inertial frame of reference to
satisfy Newton’s laws of motion.
• The direction of a pseudo force is opposite to the acceleration of the frame of reference.
• The magnitude of pseudo force is given as follows:
 
F=
pseudo
mobject × a frame

• Pseudo force always acts at the centre of mass of the body.

Example

Consider a car moving with a velocity of 5 ms−1 in the

rightward direction. Let the acceleration of the car be 2 ms−2 2 kg
in the leftward direction at any instant. If a block of 2 kg is
kept on a bench, then find the pseudo force on the block in 2 ms−2 5 ms−1
the car’s frame of reference.

Solution

We know that,
The magnitude of pseudo force is given as follows:
 
F=
pseudo
mobject × a frame

 = 2 × 2
 = 4 N
As the frame is accelerating leftwards, the pseudo force will be acting in the rightward direction.

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