Chapter 4 Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion

notes from D.C. Giancoli, Physics: Principles with Applications , 6th ed.
461

1 Learning Outcomes 3. Newton’ First Law of Motion :

Students should be able to : An object continues in a state of rest or of

uniform velocity along a straight line as long
1. write Newton’s First Law of Motion. as no net force acts on it .
2. write Newton’s Second Law of Motion and 4. Newton’s Second Law of Motion
write its formula.
The acceleration of an object is directly pro-
3. write Newton’s Third Law of Motion and write portional to the net Force acting on it and in-
its formula. versely proportional to its mass. The direction
4. list examples of Newton’s Third Law. of acceleration is in the direction of the net
force acting on the object .
5. distinguish between mass and weight.
6. define friction.
ΣF = m a
7. calculate coefficient of friction.
8. draw free body diagram of (i) horizontal box
a ∝ ΣF
and (ii) a box sliding down an incline plane.
1
9. find the normal force for cases (i) and (ii) . a ∝
m
10. find friction force for cases (i) and (ii).
The SI unit of Force is Newton.
11. find the acceleration of the box for cases (i)
and (ii). 1 N ewton = 1 kg × 1 m/s2
5. Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Whenever one object exerts a force on a second
2 Key Concepts object, the second object exerts an equal force
in the opposite direction on the first.
1. acceleration
F12 = − F21
The rate of change of velocity.
6. List 3 examples of Newton’s Third Law
∆v
a= hammer striking a nail
∆t
a hand pushing a table
SI unit: meter/sec2 or m/s2
a skater pushing a wall
2. Force :
Any push or pull.

1
 7. Inertia 3 Student Activity: Class-
Inertia is an object’s tendency or ability to re- work Problems 2,7,36
sist any changes in motion.
Problem 2
8. Mass
A net force of 265 N accelerates a bike and rider at
Mass is a measure of inertia. Mass is the
2.3 m/s2 . What is the mass of the bike and rider
amount of matter in an object.
together?
9. Weight
Weight is gravitational force on an object . It
is a measure of the pull of gravity on an object. m =? kg , a = 2.3 m/s2 , ΣF = 265 N
2
weight = mass × g, where g = 9.8 m/s .
ΣF = m a
10. Distinguish between mass and weight.
mass weight 265 = m × (2.3)
Scalar Vector 265
SI unit is kg SI unit is Newton m= 2.3 = 115.2 kg
measures inertia measures pull
of gravity

Problem 7 What average force is needed to accel-

erate a 7.00-gram pellet from rest to 125 m/s over
a distance of 0.800 m along the barrel of a rifle?

Given:
1 kg
mass, m = 7.0 grams × = 0.007 kg
1000 grams
Figure 1: Coefficient of Friction
initial velocity, v0 = 0
11. Friction final velocity, v = 125 m/s
Friction is the force resisting the relative displacement, ∆x = 0.8 m
motion of solid surfaces sliding against each
other.
Find: the average force
Coefficient of static friction,
Ff r (max)
µs =
FN Step 1: calculate acceleration
Formula: v 2 = v02 + 2 a ∆x
Coefficient of kinetic friction,
Ff r Step 2: calculate average force
µk =
FN Formula: ΣF = m a

2
 1
m = 7.0 × 1000 = 0.007 kg normal force: FN
v0 = 0 , v = 125 m/s , weight : mg
∆x = 0.8 m
applied force : FA
v 2 = v02 + 2 a ∆x friction force : Ff r

(125)2 = 0 + 2 a (0.8)

(125)2
a= 2 (0.8) = 9765.6 m/s2 Normal force is defined as the net force com-
pressing two parallel surfaces together and its
ΣF = m a direction is perpendicular to the surfaces.

ΣF = (0.007) × (9765.6) newtons ˆ Normal force is equal to the weight (Equilib-

ΣF = 68.4 N rium of Forces) :

Problem 36
Normal Force:
If the coefficient of kinetic friction between a 35-kg
FN = mg = (35) (9.80) = 343 N
crate and the floor is 0.30 , what horizontal force is
required to move the crate at a steady speed across Friction Force:
the floor? What horizontal force is required if µk Ff r = µk FN = 0.30 × 343 = 103 N
is zero?
ˆ Given: ˆ Applied horizontal force at steady speed :

mass: m = 35 kg
v = constant , a=0
coefficient of kinetic friction:
Applied horizontal force is equal to
Ff r
µk = 0.30 = Friction force (Equilibrium of Forces):
FFN
FA = Ff r
ˆ Draw the Free-Body Diagram. FA = 103 N

Identify the 4 forces.

ˆ What horizontal force is required to move the
crate at constant speed if there is no kinetic
friction, Ff r = 0?

If there is no friction, no horizontal force is

required to keep the crate at constant speed .
FA = Ff r = 0

3
 Problem 36. Summary

(a) FN = mg = (35) (9.80)

Ff r = µk FN = µk mg

Ff r = 0.30 × (35) (9.80) = 103 N

FA = Ff r = 103 N

(b) if Ff r = 0
FA = Ff r = 0

FA = 0

4 Homework Problem 1,47

Problem 1
What force is needed to accelerate a child on a sled
(total mass = 60 kg) at 1.25 m/s2 ?
Problem 47 page 101

A box is given a push so that it slides across the

floor. How far will it go, given the coefficient of ki-
netic friction is 0.20 and the push imparts an initial
speed of 4.0 m/s .
Hint: The box is pushed and moves on its own,
that is, applied force is removed once the box is
moving . The box comes to a stop due to friction.