TREE HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL,

VADODARA (CBSE)
Physics Investigatory Project Session: 2024 -2025
Guided by - Ms. Komal Patel

LAWS OF
MOTION
ANVIKA TADAS
XI - B
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that ANVIKA PANKAJ
TADAS student of class XII (Science) has
successfully prepared the report on the project
entitled Laws of motion subject Physics (042)
laid down in the regulations of CBSE for the
purpose of practical examination in class XII to
be held in Tree House High School Vadodara
2024-25.

Teacher signature __________

Signature Principal __________

 ACKNOWLEDGEME
NT
Opportunities in the educational spectrum are a boon
for students. While theoretical knowledge is
important, it alone is not enough for the overall
development of subject knowledge. This requires
practical hands-on experiences, exploring and
research. Along with the educational aspect, it helps
in the development of personality, as students
interact with professionals and one another, sharing
their valuable experiences. All these aspects have
been covered by this project work.

I would like to thank CBSE for the thoughtful

creation of the project work of this magnitude. I
would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the
principal, Tree House High School, Dr. Bharat
Bhushan Vyas sir for providing us with this
opportunity. Next, my Physics teacher, Ms. Komal
Patel for her constant guidance and expert
mentorship. Lastly, I would like to thank my family
and friends for their unflinching support and
encouragement. It is the combination of these
efforts, that has led to the successful completion of
the project.
 INDEX
1. Introduction
2. Isaac Newton
3. Aristotle’s fallacy
4. Inertia
5. Newton’s first law of motion
6. Newton’s second law of motion
7. Newton’s third law of motion
8. Conservation of momentum
9. Equilibrium of a particle
10. Common forces in mechanics
 INTRODUCTION
Motion is a fundamental aspect of nature, and
understanding the forces that govern it has been a key
pursuit in physics. The Laws of Motion, formulated by
Sir Isaac Newton, provide a foundation for classical
mechanics, explaining how objects move and interact
with forces.
In everyday life, we observe that a stationary object
needs an external force to start moving, and a moving
object eventually comes to rest due to friction. However,
centuries of scientific inquiry have revealed deeper
insights into motion.
The first law of motion, also known as the law of
inertia, states that an object remains at rest or moves
with constant velocity unless acted upon by an external
force. The second law of motion establishes a
relationship between force, mass, and acceleration,
expressed as F = ma, showing that the greater the force
applied, the greater the acceleration produced.
The third law of motion states that for every action,
there is an equal and opposite reaction, explaining
interactions between objects.
These three laws form the basis of Newtonian mechanics
and are crucial for understanding various physical
phenomena, from the motion of everyday objects to the
orbits of planets.
 ISAAC NEWTON
The Pioneer of Classical Mechanics

Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) was an English

mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, widely
regarded as one of the most influential scientists in
history. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for
modern physics, particularly in mechanics, optics, and
mathematics.
Newton's most famous contribution to science is his
three laws of motion, which describe how objects move
under the influence of forces. These laws, along with his
law of universal gravitation, were published in his
landmark book, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia
Mathematica (1687), often referred to as Principia. His
work provided a unified framework for understanding
motion on Earth and in space, revolutionizing scientific
thought.
Apart from mechanics, Newton made significant
discoveries in optics, demonstrating that white light is
composed of different colors. He also played a crucial
role in the development of calculus,
Newton's contributions extended beyond science—he
served as the President of the Royal Society and was the
Master of the Royal Mint in England. His work remains
a cornerstone of physics, and his discoveries continue to
influence modern science and engineering.
 Aristotle’s
Fallacy

The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 B.C.)

believed that a force is always needed to keep an object
moving. He thought that an object would stop moving
once the force was removed. For example, he believed an
arrow keeps flying because the air pushes it forward.
This idea seems correct in everyday life because we see
objects slowing down and stopping. However, this
happens because of friction, not because motion naturally
stops. Galileo later proved that if there were no friction,
an object would keep moving forever without needing a
force. Newton’s First Law of Motion (the Law of
Inertia) corrected Aristotle’s mistake, showing that an
 object will stay in motion unless an external force (like
friction) slows it down.

INERTIA
Inertia is the property of a body to resist any change in
its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless
acted upon by an external force.

Inertia is directly related to mass - greater mass

means greater inertia. For example:
 A heavy truck requires more force to start or stop than
a bicycle.
 When a moving bus suddenly stops, passengers lurch
forward due to inertia.

Types of Inertia
There are three main types of inertia based on different
scenarios:
 Inertia of Rest
A body at rest stays at rest unless an external force acts
on it.
 Inertia of Motion
A body in motion continues moving with the same
speed and in the same direction unless an external force
acts on it.
 Inertia of Direction
A body moving in a certain direction will continue in
the same direction unless a force causes it to change.
 First Law of
Motion
Law of Inertia

It states "A body at rest remains at rest, and a body in

motion continues in uniform motion in a straight line
unless acted upon by an external force."
 This means that objects do not change their state of
motion unless an external force is applied. If no force is
acting on an object -
- A stationary object remains stationary.
- A moving object keeps moving in a straight line at
constant speed.
 This law is also known as the Law of Inertia, as it
describes an object's resistance to changes in motion.

Key Concepts
1.Inertia and Mass
The more massive an object, the greater its inertia,
meaning more force is needed to change its motion.
2.Force is Necessary to Change Motion
If an object is moving at a constant velocity, no force is
needed to keep it moving (ignoring friction).
3.Rest and Motion Are Equally Natural States
 In Aristotelian physics, rest was considered the "natural
state" of objects. Newton proved that motion is just as
natural as rest, provided no force is acting.

Mathematical Representation
While Newton’s First Law does not have a direct
equation, it can be written as -
Fnet = 0 →constant velocity

 If net force (F) on an object is zero, its velocity (v)

remains constant.
 If v = 0, the object stays at rest.
 If v ≠ 0, the object moves in a straight line with
constant speed.

Importance of Newton’s First Law

 It defines the concept of force as the cause of change
in motion.
 It helps explain the natural tendency of objects to
resist changes in motion (inertia).
 It serves as the foundation for the other two Newton's
laws of motion.
 Second Law of
Motion
It states that "The rate of change of momentum of a
body is directly proportional to the applied force and
takes place in the direction in which the force acts."
Mathematically, it is expressed as -
F= ma
Where -
 F = Net external force applied on an object, in newtons
 m = Mass of the object (in kilograms, kg)
 a = Acceleration produced in the object ( m/s²)
This law explains how the velocity of an object changes
when a force is applied.

Explanation of the Second Law

1.Force and Acceleration
 If a greater force is applied, the acceleration is greater.
 If the same force is applied to objects of different
masses, the lighter object accelerates more than the
heavier one.
2.Mass and Acceleration
Heavier objects require more force to achieve the same
acceleration as lighter objects.
3.Force is a Vector
 The force acts in the same direction as acceleration.
 If multiple forces act on an object, the net force
determines the acceleration.
Momentum and Newton’s Second Law
Momentum (p) is defined as -
P = mv
The second law can also be written as:
ⅆp
F= ⅆt
which means that force is equal to the rate of change of
momentum.
 If mass is constant, the equation simplifies to F= ma.
 In cases where mass changes (e.g., a rocket burning
fuel), the full equation is used.

Unit of Force

1 Newton =1 kg⋅ m/s2

In SI units, the unit of force is Newton (N).

This means a force of 1 Newton will accelerate a 1 kg

object at 1 m/s².
 Third Law of
Motion
It states that "For every action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction."
This means that forces always occur in pairs. If object A
exerts a force on object B, then object B exerts an equal
force on object A in the opposite direction.
FAB = −FBA
 FAB = Force on object A by object B
 FBA = Force on object B by object A (equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction)

Key Points About Newton’s Third Law

1.Forces Always Occur in Pairs

Every force has a reaction force of equal magnitude but
in the opposite direction.
2.Action and Reaction Forces Act on Different Objects
 If you punch a table, the table pushes back on your
hand, which causes pain.
 Even though the forces are equal, they act on
different objects, so they do not cancel out.
3.Motion Still Depends on Mass
If a person pushes a truck, the truck pushes back with
the same force. But the truck has a much larger mass,
 so its acceleration is negligible compared to the
person’s movement.
Law of Conservation of Momentum
"The total momentum of an isolated system remains
constant if no external force acts on it."
Initial Momentum = Final Momentum
m1u1+m2u2 = m1v1+ m2v2

1.Momentum is always conserved in an isolated system.

2.The law applies to collisions, explosions, and rocket
motion.
3.It is a direct result of Newton’s Third Law (action-
reaction forces).

Equilibrium of a Particle
"It refers to a state where the net external force acting on
the particle is zero."
According to Newton’s First Law, a particle in
equilibrium is either at rest or moving with uniform
velocity.

1.Conditions for Equilibrium

 If two forces F1 and F2 act on a particle, equilibrium
requires, F1 = − F2
 If three concurrent forces F1, F2, F3 act on a particle,
the vector sum must be zero F1+F2+F3=0
 For equilibrium under multiple forces, they must form
a closed polygon when represented as vectors.