Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS

A Parachutist is moving downwards at constant 1. Show proper free-body diagram.

velocity.
Derive an expression of drag force in terms of g. 2. Key Points: constant velocity hence
acceleration is zero, which means net force
on parachutist is zero.

3. F = ma
mg – Fdrag = m(0)
Fdrag = mg

B A car is moving at constant speed. Draw the 1. Free body diagrams to include:
free-body diagram of the car and include all the
possible forces acting on the car. - weight of car

- force of ground on car (acting on

tyres)

- Driving force acting on front wheels

(or both wheels)

- Frictional force acting on wheels

- Drag Force

1.2. Newton’s Second Law

1.2.1. Common problems involving Fnet = ma (15 mins)

A (acceleration of object along a slope) F – (mgsin + f) = ma

A box of mass m travels up a slope
with acceleration a. F = (mgsin + f) + ma
A constant external force F acting on
Additional Point: Can discuss power provided by
the box pushes it up the slope.
engine.
A constant frictional force f acts on
the box’s bottom surface. i.e. Power = Fv = (mgsin + f)v + mav
The slope is angled at o.
Derive an expression of the external
force F in terms of m, f , a and .

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Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS
B (two accelerating objects in contact) Body A and B:
Two boxes A and B of equal mass m F = (2m)a
resting on the floor are in contact. a = F/2m
External force F acts on A and as a
result A and B undergoes acceleration Body B only:
a. F A on B
Derive an expression for the = (m)a
magnitude of force F of B on A. = m(F/2m)
= F/2

By Newton’s 3rd law, Magnitude of F B on A = F/2

C (atwood pulley) Working:

A rope goes over a fixed pulley and
two masses A and B are secured to 1. Mass A:
the two free ends of the rope. T – mg = ma
Mass A has an acceleration a Mass B:
upwards. Mg – T = Ma
Mass A is m and Mass B is M. 2. Solve for T
Derive an expression for the tension
in the rope.

D
(numerical example)
A car of mass 1000 kg travelling along a straight horizontal road has an acceleration of
1.8 m s–2 when a driving force of 2.6 kN acts in the forward direction.
What is the resistive force acting backwards on the car?
A 0.8 kN B 1.8 kN C 2.6 kN D 4.4 kN
F = ma
2600 - Fr = (1000)(1.8)
Fr = 0.8 kN

E The diagram shows a parachutist of mass 82 kg falling towards the Earth. In each case,
determine the net force and the acceleration of the parachutist.

a b c

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Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS
For (a) Net force = 500 N downwards
F = ma
500 = 82a
a = 6.1 m s-2 (downwards)
parachutist is speeding up
For (b) Net force = 0
a = 0 m s-2
Constant velocity (unless parachutist changes his body shape)

For (c) Net force = 700 N upwards

700 = 82a
a = 8.5 m s-2 (upwards)
parachutist is slowing down

F The diagram shows an 80 kg person in a lift. (a) R – mg = m(0)

R = mg
(b) R - mg = m(2.3)
R = m(2.3) + mg = 968.8 N
Man feels heavier

The normal contact force acting on the person

from the base of the lift is R. Determine the
magnitude of R when the lift:
(a) is travelling upwards at a constant velocity
of 2.0 m s−1
(b) is accelerated upwards at 2.3 m s−2.

1.2.2. Common problems involving Fave = mv / t (10 mins)

A Tennis ball of mass m travelling horizontally at constant Fave = -2mv/t

speed v hits a rigid wall and rebounds horizontally with the Negative means that the
same speed. The duration of impact is t. direction of Fave is away
Derive an expression for the average force Fave of wall on from the wall
the ball.

B An object with mass m drops on the floor and rebounds with Fave - W = 2mv/t
the same speed. Fave = 2mv/t + W

Derive an expression for the average force Fave of floor on

the object in terms of the object’s weight and rate of change
of momentum of object.

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Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS

1.3. Newton’s Third Law (5 mins)

A Describe three examples/situations of Newton’s third law. Draw out the free-body
diagrams for each example/situation.

Emphasise that force is of Example: Force of rocket on Example: Force of water

same nature fuel/air mixture, force of on object (upthrust) and
fuel/air mixture (thrust) on force of object on water
Example: Gravitational rocket
Force of Earth on Man and
Man on Earth

1.4. Impulse (10 mins)

A A moving box initially travelling at constant velocity hits a wall and comes to a stop. Draw
the possible force-time graph for each of the scenarios

Hard Wall : Wall has a piece of thick sponge

attached:
F-t diagram is hill-shaped with large
maximum force over small duration of time F-t diagram is hill-shaped with smaller
maximum force over larger duration of
time

Discuss the features of the two graphs.

Similar feature: change of momentum of box is same hence area under F-t graphs are
the same

Derive an expression for the initial velocity of the box in terms of average force of wall on
box, Fave and duration of impact, t.

Fave = (0-mv)/t

v = -(Favet) / m
negative sign indicates that Fave is opposite direction to v

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Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS
2. Conservation of Momentum

2.1. Fill in the blanks (True or False) and any relevant comments. For the last column, state the equations that can be used for problem-solving.
(15 mins)

Total momentum of two Total momentum of two Total KE of two objects Total KE of two objects
objects before and objects before, during and before and after collision before, during and after Equations to be used
after collision are equal after collision are equal are equal collision are equal

Yes. Always. Yes. Always. Yes. Always. No. During collision, Total Initial Momentum =
Total KE before Total Final Momentum
collision is converted to
Elastic other forms of energy Total Initial KE =
Collision (eg. EPE) Total Final KE

Rel speed of approach =

Rel speed of separation

Yes. Always. Yes. Always. No. Part of Total KE No Total Initial Momentum =
Inelastic
before collision is lost Total Final Momentum
collision
during the collision

Yes. Always. Yes. Always. No. More or all of Total No Total Initial Momentum =
KE before collision is Total Final Momentum
Perfectly lost during the collision
inelastic And common velocities
collision after collision

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Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS
2.2. Graphical Problem (10 mins)

Scenario: Two masses m and 2m approaches each other with velocities 1 m s-1 and 2 m s-1
respectively. They collide elastically and the impact of duration is 1 second. Sketch the
velocity-time graphs for the two masses.

After drawing graph, check that at every time interval, total momentum is constant.

2.3. Practice Questions (10 mins)

1 A body moving with speed v collides elastically with another body travelling in the
v
opposite direction with speed . Which row in the table below correctly gives the relative
2
velocity of approach and the relative velocity of separation of the two bodies?
Relative velocity Relative velocity
of approach of separation
A v v
2 2
B v 3v
2 2
C 3v v
2 2
D 3v 3v
2 2

Ans: D

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Physics SSP 2012 - DYNAMICS
2 A body of mass m travels with a velocity 3v and collides with another particle of mass 2m
which is initially stationary. After the collision, the two particles move with the same
velocity.
Which row in the table gives the final velocity of the two particles and the loss in kinetic
energy during the collision?
Final velocity Loss in kinetic energy
A v mv2
B v 3mv2
C 1.5 v mv2
D 1.5 v 3mv2

Ans: B

3 In an inelastic collision, which quantities are conserved?

A total kinetic energy and total momentum but not total energy
B total kinetic energy and total energy but not total momentum
C total momentum and total energy but not total kinetic energy
D total kinetic energy, total momentum and total energy

Ans: C

4 What is a correct statement of the principle of conservation of momentum?

A in an inelastic collision the total kinetic energy and momentum are constant
B in any collision the total momentum of an isolated system is constant
C in any isolated system the force on a body equals the rate of change of
momentum
D momentum is constant when mass and velocity are constant

Ans: B