Force and Motion

Definition of Terms:

Force - is a push or a pull

- action that results in accelerating or deforming an object.
Net Force - the vector sum or resultant of all forces acting on an object or system.
Balanced Forces – net force is zero, when forces of equal magnitude act in opposite directions.
Unbalance Force – it is a non zero net force.

Two Classes of Forces:

1. Contact Force – forces that arise because of physical contact between objects.
Ex. Pull a door
Throw a ball
Exert a contact force on the door or ball.

2. Action-at –a-Distance Forces

- forces that have an inverse relationship for the separation distance between
interacting particles, and an infinite range.
Ex.
Gravity
Magnetic force between two magnets
Electrical force between two charges

Newton’s Laws of Motion:

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Founder of the science of mechanics, formulated the three laws of Motion.

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.

Inertia
- is the natural tendency of an object to maintain a state of rest or to remain in
uniform motion in straight line (constant velocity).
Mass
- is a measure of inertia. It is a quantity of matter in a given body.

Second Law – the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it,
and inversely proportional to its mass. The direction of acceleration is in the direction of the
applied force.
F
a
m
F = net force
M= mass
a = acceleration

Weight (w)
- it is the gravitational force with which the earth attracts the body.
- It is a vector quantity different from mass
- Varies with its location near the earth or other astronomical body, whereas its mass
is the same everywhere in the universe.

Note: if a mass m is allowed to fall freely , the resultant force acting on it is its weight w, and its
acceleration is that due to gravity. Then any consistent system of units the equation
F = ma becomes w = mg
 Let us look upon the relationship of the three variables:

Note 1: If we increase the amount of net force applied to an object, its acceleration will
increase correspondingly in direct proportion to the amount of increase in the net force.

F m 2F m 3F m

a 2a 3a

Doubling the applied Tripling the applied force

force will double the will triple the acceleration
acceleration of the block of the block

Note 2: If we increase the mass of the object, the amount of applied net force to maintain
acceleration will increase correspondingly in direct proportion to the amount of increase in
mass.

m
m m

F m 2F m 3F m
a a a
Doubling the mass will Tripling the mass will require
require twice the amount of thrice the amount of force
force to maintain the to maintain the
acceleration of the block acceleration of the block

Note 3: On the other hand if we increase the mass of an object, and maintain the net force
being applied to the object, its acceleration will decrease correspondingly in inverse proportion
to the amount of the increase in mass.

m m
F m F m F m
a
a/2 a/3
Doubling the mass will Tripling the mass will reduce
reduce the acceleration by the acceleration by 1/3
½ applying the same applying the same amount
amount of force. of force.
Third Law – For every force (action) there is an equal and opposite force (reaction).

Based on two familiar facts:

1. there can never be a force acting unless two bodies are involved, one exerting the
force and the other on which it is exerted
2. forces do not exist singly but in pairs

Case 1 Case 2

F F F F

The ball exerts a force on the wall Both forces act on the ball
and the wall exerts an opposite and so the forces cancel
and equal force on the ball. The out to zero. Both forces are
forces do not cancel out to zero applied only to one object.
because the forces are applied to Thus the ball does not
different objects. Thus, the ball will move
bounce back.

Application of Newton’s Third Law

W=20kgx9.8m/s2= 196N

20kg

ƸFv = N= W= 196N

Finding the Normal Force FN

Let us look at three situations where FN may vary:

1. Find the normal force of a 100kg block of wood being pushed horizontally with a 150N force
from left.

Since the block is not moving along the y-axis we can equate ΣFy =0 W
The forces along the Y- axis are only the weight and the normal force
Since they have opposite direction we have:
150N 100k
N = W or N-W=0 g
N = mg= 100kgx9.8m/s2
N= 980 kg-m/s2 or N
N
2. Find the normal force of a 100 kg block of wood being pulled at a 300 angle from the
horizontal with a 150N force.
W 150N
Again we equate all the forces along the Y- axis to 0 ΣFy =0
The forces along the y-axis are: Fy
The Weight, the y component Fy of 150N force and the Normal force 300
100kg
Notice: Fy and N have the same direction hence they should have
The same signs Fx
N + Fy – W = 0
N = W – Fy N
Solving for Fy and FN we have
Fy = 150N sin300 = 75N
FN = 980N-75N = 905N

3. Find the normal force of a 100kg block of wood being pushed at a 30 0 angle from the
horizontal with a 150N force.

Again we can use ΣFy =0 W

Similar to no 2 the forces along the Y axis are the 150N
The Weight, the y component Fy of 150N force and the F y
Normal force. 300
100kg
Notice: the Fy and W have the same direction, hence they Fx
Should have the same directions.
N
N - Fy - W =0
N = W + Fy
N = 980N + 75N = 1055N

Friction
- refers to the resistance which opposes every effort to slide or roll one body over
another.
- It is caused by the adhesion of one surface to the other and the interlocking of
irregularities of the rubbing surfaces.
Frictional Force
- force opposing motion between objects and it is parallel to the surface in
contact.
Normal Force
- Force perpendicular to the surface in contact.

Types of Frictional Forces:

a) Static Friction – the frictional force exerted by one surface on another where there is
no relative motion of the two surfaces.
b) Kinetic Friction – the frictional force exerted by one surface on another when one
surface slides over the other.
c) Rolling Friction – the frictional force that opposes one body rolling over another owing
to the constant deformation of the surfaces in contact.
d) Fluid Friction – the property called viscosity of liquids and gases to offer resistance to
objects moving through them.

Effects of Friction:
Advantages:
- walking would be impossible without friction
- the usefulness of brakes, matches, nails, and screws depends on it.
- Prevents belts from slipping off their pulleys
 - Friction between tires and road prevents skidding
- Friction clutches enable gas engines to start under load.

Disadvantages:
- it causes wearing out of parts
- it results in loss of work thus reducing efficiency.
- It produces heat which may cause expansion of the machine.

Factors Affecting Friction:

1. Velocity – friction decreases somewhat with increasing speed, thus starting (static)
friction is greater than sliding (kinetic) friction but sliding is independent of velocity.
(approximately true)
2. Normal Force – friction increases with the increasing perpendicular force with which
either surface is pressed against another.
3. Nature and Condition of Rubbing Surfaces – friction is less when the surfaces are hard
and smooth.
4. Area of Contact – for dry surfaces, friction is practically independent of the area in
contact, but with wet or well-lubricated surfaces, friction is nearly proportional to the
area in contact.

Ways of Reducing Friction:

1. Lubrication
2. Using Anti-friction metals – an alloy called babbit metal to cover bearings is used to
diminish friction.
3. Smoothing and polishing the contact surfaces
4. using unlike metals for contact surfaces
5. using ball bearings or roller bearings.

Coefficient of Friction
- it is experimentally found that, for a given pair of surfaces, the magnitude of static
friction force fs (max) and kinetic friction fk are proportional to the normal force
pressing the surfaces together, and independent of the are in contact or the
surfaces relative velocity.
fs  sN
fk  kN if body is in motion.
with : fs (maX )  sN
Us and Uk are called the coefficients of static and Kinetic friction respectively. (
dimensionless)
Us>Uk it takes larger force to set a body in motion than to maintain it in motion at
constant speed.

Example 1: What horizontal force P must be exerted on a 50kg box on a horizontal surface in
order to move the box along the horizontal surface at constant velocity given
coefficient of kinetic friction between box and surface is 0.2?

Sol’n:

 F   F 
N  w  490n
f  k ( N )  0.2(490)  98n
 
f f
P  f  98newtons , ans
Example 2: What force P 300 above the horizontal must be exerted on a 50kg box in order that it
will slide along the horizontal surface at constant velocity given UK = 0.20?

Sol’n:
 F   F 
N  P sin 30 0  490n  eqn1
f  k ( N )  0.2( N )  eqn 2
 
f f
P cos 30 0  f  eqn3
Subst : eqn 2, in , eqn3
P cos 30 0  0.2 N
P cos 30 0
N subst : in , eqn1
0.2
P cos 30 0
 P sin 30 0  490
0.2
490
P 0
 101.45 N : ans
cos 30
 sin 30 0

0. 2

Newton’s Second Law:

Example 3: A horizontal force of 150n is exerted on a 60 kg block along a horizontal surface
where the coefficient of friction is
0.20. Find the ff:
a) net force on the block
b) acceleration of the block
sol’n
a) b)
 

F  150  117.6
F  32.4newtons

Example 4: A 1,600kg car initially at 16m/sec stops after negotiating 40m. Assuming a uniformly
accelerated motion, find the average force which acts on the car to make it stop.
Sol’n
2as  vf 2  vo2
m
0  16
a sec  3.2 m Note : this force acts opposite the motion of the car.
2(40) sec 2
m
F  ma : 1600kg(3.2  5120newtons
sec 2
Example 5: If bodies are released find the ff:
a) acceleration of the system
b) tension in the cord supporting the bodies

for 3kg
W 1  3(9.8)  29.4n
   
F1  W 1  T  3a
29.4  T  3a  eqn1
T  29.4  3(1.96)
T  23.52n

for 2kg
W 2  2(9.8)  19.6n
  
F 2  T  W 2  2a
T  19.6  2a  eqn 2
Solve  eqn1 & eqn 2
9 .8 m
a  1.96
5 sec 2
T  23.52newton / answer

Example-6: Two mountain climbers fall from a cliff, attached together with a single nylon rope,
the 50kg female hangs below the 60 kg male. What is tension of the rope between the female
and the male climbers? What is the tension of the rope above the male climber?

FBD 1 FBD 2
T1
T2 T1
60kg 50kg
60kg
T2
W = 60kgx9.8= 588N
50kg W = 50kgx9.8= 490N

T2

Solving for T2 in FBD 1 Solving for T1 in FBD 2

ΣFy= 0 since vertical no motion ΣFy= 0 since no vertical motion
W =T2= 490N T2 +W= 490N+588N=1078N
Example-7: Find the tension in the ropes if a 2kg block is above a 1.5 kg block of wood are to
be accelerated upward at 0.2m/s2.
FBD 1 FBD 2

T1
T1 T2

1.5kg 2kg
2kg

T2
T2
W= 1.5kgx9.8m/s2=14.7N
1.5kg W= 2kgx9.8m/s2=19.6N

Solving for T2 in FBD 1 Solving for T1 in FBD 2

ΣFy =ma ΣFy =ma
T2-14.7=1.5kgx9.8m/s2 T2+19.6-T1=2kgx0.2m/s2
T2 =14.7N+0.3N T1= T2+19.6N-0,4N
T2 = 15N T1=15N+19.6N-0.4N=34.2N
Drill Problems:
1. Find the acceleration of a 100N block being pushed horizontally to the right by a 200N
force.
2. Find the acceleration of a 100N block if it is pulled with a force of 200N at an angle of 20 0
along the horizontal.
3. Find the normal force and the net force that will accelerate a 10.2 kg object by 2m/s 2
4. Find the normal force of a 100kg block of wood being pushed horizontally with a 150N
force from the left.
5. Find the normal force of 100kg block of wood being pushed at a 30 0 angle from the
horizontal with a 150N force.

6. A 200kg object is supported by a vertical cable going {up, down} at 5m/sec. If object
travels 14m in 2sec. , find the force exerted by the cable?
7. A 200kg block starting from rest is pulled by a rope which makes 30 0 above the horizontal
surface. If 50 newtons opposes the blocks motion, what force must be exerted so that
block will travel 10m in 5sec?
8. What is the acceleration in m/s2 of a 60g body connected to a 40g body by a cord
which passes over a light frictionless pulley?
9. A 100kg motorcycle is traveling at 20m/sec. when the brakes are applied causing it to
slide along the horizontal surface until it stops. If coefficient of kinetic friction between its
wheels and the surface is 0.50, how far does the motorcycle travel?
10. What horizontal force P must be exerted on a 70kg box on a horizontal surface in order to
move the box along the horizontal surface at constant velocity given coefficient of
kinetic friction between box and surface is 0.5?
11. What force P 250 above the horizontal must be exerted on a 70kg box in order that it will
slide along the horizontal surface at constant velocity given UK = 0.15?
12. A horizontal force of 200N is exerted on a 50 kg block along a horizontal surface where
the coefficient of friction is 0.15. Find the ff: a) net force on the block b) acceleration
of the block
13. A 2 ton car initially at 20m/sec stops after negotiating 60m. Assuming a uniformly
accelerated motion, find the average force which acts on the brakes of the car to make
it stop.

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