Forces on an Accelerating

Single Particle
Dale Chapman
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@DrFrostMaths

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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite
Knowledge Future Links
• Newton’s First Law – understanding • Acceleration of connected bodies.
forces in equilibrium. • Acceleration of bodies on inclined
• Forces as vectors. planes
• Working with vectors: • Acceleration of bodies with
– Determine the magnitude of a consideration of frictional forces.
vector. • Variable acceleration.
– Determine the direction of a
vector.
• Constant Acceleration Formulae.

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Skills in this Lesson
Forces on a single accelerating particle, not on an inclined plane,
555
and without friction.
555a Calculate the acceleration of a particle.
555b Determine the magnitude of missing force when a particle is accelerating.
Calculate the acceleration of a particle in context, including normal
555c
reaction, tension, and gravitational forces.

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Skills in this Lesson
Forces on a single accelerating particle, not on an inclined plane,
555
and without friction.
Determine the magnitude of missing forces in context, including normal
555d
reaction, tension, and gravitational forces.
555e Determine an unknown force by using constant acceleration formulae.
Determine a time, distance, or velocity where the acceleration must first
555f
be calculated using forces.
Determine an acceleration vector of a body given force vectors acting on
555g
it.
Determine missing components of forces given the acceleration vector of
555h
the body.

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Contents
For lessons covering many concepts, please click the below to navigate
quickly to the relevant part of the lesson.

Prerequisite Skills Check.

Recap and Introduction.

Calculate the acceleration of a particle.

Determine the magnitude of missing force when a particle is accelerating.

Calculate the acceleration of a particle in context.

Determine the magnitude of missing forces in context.

Determine an acceleration vector of a body given force vectors acting on it.

Determine missing components of forces given the acceleration vector of the
body.

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charity in England and Wales (no
 Show

Prerequisite Skills Check all

solutio
ns

1 A bike is moving with constant acceleration

from to . The bike has an initial velocity of ms -1.
When it reaches , the bike has travelled metres
and has a final velocity of ms-1.
Find the acceleration of the bike.

2 Find the magnitude of the vector 3 Given that the forces N,

Give your answer correct to N and N are in equilibrium,
significant figures. find the values of and

Apply Pythagoras’
Theorem:
𝒊+ 4 𝒋
𝟒 ?
?

𝟏
Recap
You have previously learned about Newton’s 1st Law.

Newton’s 1st Law of Motion:

A body remains at rest, or in motion at a
constant speed in a?straight line, unless
there is a resultant force on the object.

This allowed us to solve problems such

as:
Given that this particle is in equilibrium, find
Isaac Newton
the values of and .

For a lesson on N Vertically:

forces in ?
equilibrium and N
forces as vectors, Horizontally:
see Skills and N N
here: ?
Particles in
Equilibrium N
Newton’s 2nd Law

Isaac Newton was famously inspired

to write his theory of gravitation after
watching an apple fall from a tree.
Why is it that the apple falls
downwards?
There is a resultant force acting on
the apple that causes it to
accelerate.
 Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion:
The resultant force on a body is
equal to it’s mass multiplied by its
acceleration.
Or, simply:
!
Where is the resultant force on the body.
Force Due To Gravity

Recall that objects with A superhero’s mass is kg,

mass have a force acting what is their weight in terms
downwards on them – their of ?
weight.
?N

Some bananas have a mass

kg of grams, what is their
weight in terms of ?

?N To calculate weight, mass

should be in kg – remember
to convert mass first if
If , how can we express necessary.
the Weight?
A cow has a weight of N, what
Given that is an acceleration kg?
is it’s mass?
due to gravity,

N
Typically, in maths.
Will it Accelerate?

Professor Cheng is in her parked car when she puts her

foot on the accelerator, which applies a driving force of
N.
Will the car accelerate?
At this point, the only
horizontal force is the
acceleration.

We might typically use the

letter for a driving force.

What is the resultant force?

At this point, there is just one N Taking right as

force on the car, so the resultant positive.
force is N.
The car will accelerate to the Aim to only use the letter
right, in the direction of the for a resultant force.
resultant force.
Will it Accelerate?

Professor Cheng is driving along a road with her foot still

on the accelerator, now subject to a frictional force of N.
Will the car accelerate?

There are now two forces acting on the car.

N N

Use for friction to avoid

using .

What is the resultant force?

Now, the resultant force is The resultant force is not

the difference between N zero, so the car will
the two forces in this accelerate.
direction.
Will it Accelerate?

As Professor Cheng continues to accelerate, the car is now

subject to a frictional force of N.
Will the car accelerate?

N N

What is the resultant force?

There is no resultant force
now. ? N
The car is in equilibrium.
?
The car does not accelerate.
Will it Accelerate?

Then, Professor Cheng takes her foot off the accelerator.

The car is still subject to the frictional force of N.
Will the car accelerate?

The driving force has been removed, but the frictional force
remains.

What is the resultant force?

N
There is a resultant force
acting to the left.
The car decelerates which is
still a form of acceleration.
Quickfire Questions
Will it accelerate?
Resultant Will It
Force Diagram Direction
Force Accelerate?

Yes No
N N N
? ?
Right
N

N
? Yes No ?
Up
N
N

N
N ?
N Yes No ?
N/A
N

N
Quickfire Questions
Resultant Will It
Force Diagram Direction
Force Accelerate?
N

N N N Yes No ?
Left
Left
N
?
N

?N N N Yes No ?
Right
Right
N

N
N N ?
?N Yes Left
Left
Which Way Will it Move?

A motorcycle, facing to the right, is subject

to a resultant force acting to the left as
shown.
Imani and Viktor are discussing this
I think the
situation.
motorcycle is
I don’t think we
about to
have enough reverse.
information to
Who do you
make that claim. agree with?

Imani is correct.

What information are we missing?

We don’t know if the vehicle is

Imani currently moving.
If the vehicle is currently stationary, Viktor
it will move to the left. But if it is
moving to the right, it will decelerate.
Calculate the Acceleration of a Particle
This particle is accelerating to the
right.
Find the acceleration of the particle.
Mark acceleration
with a double ms-2
arrow.

N kg N

Taking the right

First, find the resultant force: direction as positive,
as the particle is
accelerating to the
right.
Then, apply Newton’s 2nd Law:

𝐹 =𝑚𝑎
ms-2
Further Example
This particle is accelerating upwards.
Find the acceleration of the particle.

First, find the resultant force: Taking the

N
upwards direction
as positive, as the
particle is
accelerating
upwards.
kg ms-2
Then, apply Newton’s 2nd Law:

N ms-2

Recall that:
• The weight of an object is
• is acceleration due to gravity,
which is typically ms-2 in maths.
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 555a
s/

1 Find the acceleration of each particle.

a b N
ms -2

N kg N kg ms-2

? N ?
ms-2
ms-2
c A lorry of mass tonnes is driving along a straight road. It has a
driving force of N and is subject to resistive forces of N.
Find the acceleration of the lorry.
Recall that tonnes ms-2
is kg.
Diagram ?
N kg N ms-2
Determine a Missing Force for an Accelerating
Particle
This particle is accelerating as shown.
Find the value of and .

ms-2 If the particle is strictly accelerating to

the right, what is true about the vertical
forces?
N Vertically, the forces are in equilibrium.

N
N kg N
Then, find the resultant force required to
accelerate at ms-2.
Horizontally:
N
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 555b
s/

2Given the acceleration of each particle, find the missing forces.

a N b
ms-2

N
kg ms-2

N kg N
N
N

Vertically:
N
?
Horizontally: ?
N
N
Calculating Acceleration of a Particle in
Context
A kg anchor is falling towards the ocean bed.
It has a buoyancy force of N acting upwards on it.
Find the value of the acceleration of the anchor.

The buoyancy When given a problem in context, remember to model it

force. as a particle– as tempting as it can be to draw a
N
beautiful diagram.
A key part of problems in context is ensuring
all forces are labelled accurately on the
diagram.
What forces need to be
kg ms-2 included on this diagram?
Then, find the resultant force, and
calculate the acceleration:
As the value of
acceleration is positive,
N Let’s this means the
assume the downwards direction we
The weight of the anchor is assumed was correct.
anchor. accelerating
downwards. ms-2
 Show

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all
solutio
ns

3 A kg cart is being pulled from rest along a horizontal path with the
use of a light inextensible string that is pulled parallel to the
ground.
The tension in the string is N to the right.
The cart experiences a total resistance force of magnitude N.
Hint: the acceleration from part
Find:
a a is constant – which constant
•b The acceleration of the cart. Hintacceleration formula can you
•c The velocity of the cart after seconds. use?

• What assumption have you made in part b? Remember

ms-2 to state a
b
direction
when
Diagram ? asked for
N kg N velocity.
ms-1 to the right.

a c In order to use we have

N ?
assumed that acceleration
? is constant.

ms-1
Determine Missing Forces on a Particle in
Context
A kg bucket is lowered into a well with a constant acceleration of ms -2
by means of a light rope.
The bucket is filled with kg of water and then lifted out of the well with
a constant acceleration of ms-2.
Find the tension in the rope:
• a As the bucket is being lowered into the well.
• b As the bucket is being lifted out of the well.

a Begin with a diagram: b Even though it is the same context–

draw another diagram to avoid
N Find the resultant force
confusion.
required for an N Similarly to part a:
acceleration of ms-2:
kg ms-2 N
kg ms-2
Therefore:
N
N
Therefore find the resultant N
force:
The mass has N
changed, as has
the direction of
N
acceleration.
 Show

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s/
all
solutio
ns

4 A small stone of mass grams falls through a pond. The stone

accelerates downwards at a rate of ms-2. Find the total resistive forces
on the stone.
𝑅
N
ms
kgDiagram -2
?
N
0.08 𝑔
5 A ton hot air balloon accelerates upwards at a rate of ms -2. Given there
is a downwards drag force of N, find the value of the upthrust on the
balloon.
N

N
?
Diagramms
-2
kg
N

N 2400 𝑔
Calculate a Missing Force – Using a Constant
Acceleration Formula
A van with a mass of tonnes is travelling at a speed of ms-1
applies its brakes until it comes to a stop.
The vehicle takes seconds to come to rest, and experiences a
resistive force of N.
Find the braking force of the vehicle.

Start by Resistive forces in this context refer to

constructing the forces such as air resistance and
diagram: friction.
ms-1
ms -2

Have it clear in your mind

If the van is N which direction the van is
kg travelling – you might
braking, the N
acceleration acts include the initial speed on
in the opposite your diagram.
direction to the
The resistive and braking
direction of
forces on the van should be
travel.
in the same direction of the
acceleration.
Calculate a Missing Force – Using a Constant
Acceleration Formula
A van with a mass of tonnes is travelling at a speed of ms-1
applies its brakes until it comes to a stop.
The vehicle takes seconds to come to rest, and experiences a
resistive force of N.
Find the braking force of the vehicle.

ms-2 ms-1 Taking left as positive (as all forces act to the
left)
Use a constant acceleration
N equation to find acceleration.
kg
N
Considering Forces:

This is a two-part
problem, in which we
firstly need to find the
acceleration of the van,
before finding the force
that leads to that
acceleration.
 Show

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all
solutio
ns

6 A car of mass kg drives at a constant speed of ms-1 when it begins

accelerating up to a speed of ms-1. It travels m as it increases its
speed.
Assuming the resistance forces as constant, find the value of the
resultant force on the car as it accelerates.
ms-2
.

Diagram N
kg ? N

7 A shark cage with a mass of kg containing a kg shark, initially at rest,

is lifted m over seconds by means of a cable.
Find the force in the cable during this time.
N
N

Diagramms
kg -2
?
ms-2

1450 𝑔
Calculate an Acceleration Before Using a Constant
Acceleration Formula

A toy car of weight N accelerates uniformly along rough

horizontal ground, with a constant resistive force of N against it.
The car has a driving force of N acting on it in the direction of
travel.
Given that the car is initially at rest, find its displacement after
seconds.
Start by constructing a Notice here are given a weight for the
diagram: car, not the mass. Before we do
ms-2
anything, it is useful to establish the mass
of the car.
N kg N

Calculate the resultant force: kg

Apply a relevant suvat

Hence the acceleration: formula:

m
ms-2
 Show

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all
solutio
ns

8 An kg car is driving along a rough road with a driving force of N.

The total resistive forces on the car are N.
The car is initially driving at a speed of ms -1 and travels m.
What is the speed of the car after travelling this distance?

ms-2

Diagram
N kg N

Calculate the resultant force: Apply a relevant suvat

formula:

Hence the acceleration: ?

ms-1
ms-2
Recap: Forces as Vectors
Previously, we have worked on
forces as vectors in is not defined, so assign your own
equilibrium. variables to it.
For example:
The forces and
( act on a particle.
Find a third force, , such that
all three forces are in
equilibrium.
‘Collect’ any terms together:
1

𝑹 𝑥
𝑦( ) And to the same for terms:
2

∴ 𝑹=− 4 𝒊 − 3 𝒋
Newton’s 2nd Law in Vector Form
Previously, we stated Newton’s 2nd Law
as:
𝐹 =𝑚𝑎
We can extend this to apply to vectors:

𝒂
𝐹𝑭=𝑚𝑎
As before, remember:

is the resultant force vector.

Weight as a Vector

Until now we have As a vector, weight is

just considered a force in the
weight as a force: downwards
direction.

kg kg

𝑚𝑔
( 0
− 𝑚𝑔 )
Given that and are typically positive in the
right and upwards direction, the weight
component should have a negative
value.
Determine an Acceleration Vector
Two forces, and
( act on a particle of mass kg.
Find the acceleration of the particle.

Because has been used for the other

𝑭 𝟐 (30 𝒊+35 𝒋) forces, let’s use for the resultant
force.
Begin by finding the resultant force
vector:
𝑹=𝑭 + 𝑭𝟏 𝟐
𝑹 𝑹=30 𝒊+35 𝒋+50 𝒊− 25 𝒋
kg 𝑹=80 𝒊+10 𝒋
Then, apply the vector form of
Newton’s 2nd Law:
𝑭 𝟏 (50 𝒊 −25 𝒋 ) This is the
𝑭 =𝑚 𝒂 acceleration
80 𝒊+10 𝒋=10 𝒂 vector – this is
It can be helpful to draw our final answer
1
a diagram to visualise (80 𝒊+ 10 𝒋)=𝒂 in this context.
the situation. 10
(8 𝒊+ 𝒋)=𝒂
Determine the Magnitude of an
Acceleration Vector
Two forces, and , act on a particle of mass kg. Find
the magnitude of acceleration of this particle.

Begin by finding the resultant force

𝑭 𝑭 =𝑷 +𝑸
vector:
𝑸
( )
−2
1
𝑷 5
3( ) 𝑭= () ( )
5
3
+
−2
1

kg
𝑭= 3( )
4
Then, apply the vector form of Newton’s 2nd
Law:

Find the magnitude of the

acceleration vector by
applying Pythagoras’
theorem to the
components. ms-1
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 555g
s/

9 Two forces, and 10 Two forces, and

( act on a particle of mass ( act on a particle of mass kg.
kg. Find the magnitude of
Find the acceleration of the acceleration of the particle.
particle.

kg
( )
𝑷 5
−7
kg 𝑷
( )
4
−2

𝑹𝑹=(− 12 )
6
𝑹
𝑸 ( )
1
−17
𝑹= ( 7
− 17 ) 𝑸 ( )
2
−8 ( )
6
− 12
=1.5 𝒂
? ?
( 6
− 24 )
=6 𝒂
(− 8 )
4 =𝒂

ms-2

ms-2
Considering Gravity
A kg object is dropped from rest. A force of N pulls on the
object as it acts under the influence of gravity.
Find the magnitude of acceleration of the object.

Find the resultant force:

A force due to gravity
(weight) is equal to in
the downwards
direction.

( 9
27.2 )
Then apply Newton’s 2nd Law:
kg

4
( 0
−𝑔 )
ms-2
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 555g
s/

11 [OCR A2 June 2018 P3 Q8i edited]

A particle of mass kg is acted on by gravity, and also by
two forces: N and N.
Find the acceleration vector of the particle.

Find the resultant force:

kg

( 15
−8 )
( −7
)5
−2
( 0
−𝑔 )𝑭 ?
Then apply Newton’s 2nd Law:
Determine a Missing Force Given an
Acceleration
A force and an unknown force act on a kg particle in order
to give it an acceleration of ms-2 in the direction.
Find the force vector .

Begin by visualising this Find the resultant force that is required

problem with a diagram. to give an acceleration of for a kg
particle:
𝑸 ( )
𝑭 =2 0 4
0
kg 𝑭=
( )
80
0
Now solve the equation:
𝑭 =𝑸 +𝑷
It is standard for to act in
the right/East direction
( )
80
0
= 𝑸+
( )
60
−5

and to act
upwards/North.
𝑸=
( ) ( )
80
0
−
60
−5
𝑸=
( )
20
5
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 555h
s/

12 A particle of mass kg is acted on by three forces, ,

and .
Given the acceleration vector for the particle is ms -2,
find the values of and .

Find the resultant force that is required to give

an acceleration of for an kg particle:

𝑹=8 ( 0.5
− 0.75 )
𝑹=
( )
4
−6
?
Now solve the equation:
𝑹=𝑭 𝟏+ 𝑭 𝟐 + 𝑭 𝟑

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
4 = 3 + −1 + 𝑥
−6 −1 0 𝑦

( 𝑦 ) (− 5 )
𝑥
=
2
and