Lecture 03:

1-D Statics and Dynamics

Newtons Laws

Forces

Free Body Diagrams

Springs

Tension

2-D Statics Examples

Dynamics

Apparent Weight

Newtons 1st Law of Motion

If the sum of all external forces on an object is zero, then its

speed and direction will not change. (Know as the Law of
Inertia.)

Example: air hockey table

When the puck travels with no net force on it, it moves in
a straight line with constant speed.
The only time the speed or direction changes is when a
net force (from the walls or mallets) is exerted on the
puck!

Newtons 2nd Law of Motion

If a nonzero net force is applied to an object its motion will

change. (The change is described by the equation F= ma.)

Example: dropping a book

When you drop a Calculus book from your 10th story
dorm window, there is a net force acting on it (gravity)
thus it begins to accelerate toward the street below!

Newtons 3rd Law of Motion

In an interaction between two objects, the forces that each

exerts on the other are equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction.

Example: rowing a boat

When you row, you are pushing the water backwards
Thus the water pushes your paddle (and therefore you)
forward!

Forces

Quantifies interactions between objects.

4 Fundamental Forces
Gravity
Electromagnetic
Strong Nuclear
Weak Nuclear

Forces are Vectors

Have magnitude and direction
SI units are Newtons (N)

Gravity

Any two objects with mass are attracted.

m1m2
F G 2
r

On the surface of the earth, the force of attraction is referred

to the force of gravity or weight.
rearth = 6.4x106 m, mearth = 6x1024 kg, G = 6.67x10-11 N-m2/kg2
Thus near the earth: Weight = Fg = m*g (mass in kg, g = 9.8 m/s2).

Example: a persons weight

Consider a person with a typical mass of 80 kg.
Near the earth, his weight (or force of gravity pulling him down

toward the center of the earth) would be Fg = 784 N.

Contact Forces

An object in contact with a surface may have a normal force and

force of friction acting on it.
The normal force is always perpendicular to the surface. There is no

equation for the normal force its magnitude depends on the situation.
The frictional force is always parallel to the surface (opposing motion).
The frictional force depends on the coefficient of friction between the
object and surface.
Kinetic friction (object sliding on a surface): Ff = k*FN
Static friction (no sliding): there is no definite equation for static friction, but
its maximum value is given by: Ff s*FN

Example: a sled sliding across a snowy field

The ground is pushing up on the sled (to keep it from
falling into the earth), and the ground is pushing against
the sleds motion (slowing it down a little).

Free Body Diagrams

The key to success in Physics 121!

Simple picture of just the object of interest.
Choose coordinate system (x,y).
Identify all forces acting on object and draw

arrows showing the directions.

FN

Example: a dresser being pushed

down the hall of your apartment as
you move in.
There are four forces: gravity, the
normal force, friction, and you
pushing on the dresser.

Ff

Fp

y
x

Fg

Summary

Newtons Laws of Motion

Inertia
F=ma
Equal and Opposite Force Pairs

Forces:
Non-Contact: Gravity
Contact: Friction and Normal

Free Body Diagrams

Isolate One Object
Each Direction is Independent

Example: The Dresser

Lets return to the dresser FBD and do some

calculations(I will solve the horizontal direction
and you will solve the vertical direction)

Given: the dresser has a

mass of 120 kg and you
are pushing on it with a
force of 345 N to make
it slide down the hall at
a constant velocity.

FN
Ff

Fp

y
x

Fg

Example: The Dresser

m = 120 kg and Fp = 345 N

Once the FBD is drawn and we have picked a

coordinate system we must apply Newtons
Second Law:

FN

F = ma

Ff

We know the horizontal acceleration is zero (the velocity is constant).

F = 0

Fp

y
x

Fg

Example: The Dresser

m = 120 kg and Fp = 345 N

Now start to substitute in what is known:

FN

F = 0

Ff

We know there are two forces in the x-direction (the push and friction).

Fp F f = 0

Fp

y
x

Fg

Example: The Dresser

m = 120 kg and Fp = 345 N

Solve for the unknown:

FN

Fp Ff = 0
The force of the push is given as 345 N.

Ff

Fp

(345 N) Ff = 0
y

Ff = 345 N

Fg

Example: The Dresser

Follow-up: now we can find the coefficient

of kinetic friction between the dresser and
the floor
FN
Ff = k*FN

Ff

(345 N) = k*(1176 N)
k = 0.29

Fp

y
x

Fg

Contact Force: Springs

Force exerted by a spring: Fspring = k*x

The greater the compression or extension of the

spring, the greater the force.

The greater the spring constant (a characteristic
of the spring), the greater the force.

Contact Force: Springs

Force exerted by a spring: Fspring = k*x

The greater the compression or extension of the spring,

the greater the force.

The greater the spring constant (a characteristic of the
spring), the greater the force.

Example: When a 5 kg mass is suspended from a spring,

the spring stretches 8 cm. Determine the spring constant.

FBD:

Fs

y
x

Fg

Newtons Second Law:

F = ma

Fs- Fg = 0
Fs = Fg
kx=mg

Contact Force: Tension

Tension in an Ideal String:

Magnitude of tension is equal everywhere.
Direction is parallel to string (only pulls).

Contact Force: Tension

Tension in an Ideal String:

Magnitude of tension is equal everywhere.
Direction is parallel to string (only pulls).

Example: Determine force applied to string to

hold a 45 kg mass hanging over pulley
FBD:

FT

y
x

Fg

Newtons Second Law:

F = ma

FT - Fg = 0
FT = Fg
FT = m g

Summary

Contact Force: Spring

Can push or pull, force proportional to displacement
F = k x

Contact Force: Tension

Always Pulls, tension equal everywhere
Force parallel to string

Next, A Two Dimensional Example:

Choose coordinate system
Analysis of each direction is independent

Example: Force at Angle

A person is pulling a 150 kg refrigerator across a floor with

k= 0.4 at a constant speed. If she is pulling down at an angle
of = 25 with respect to the horizontal, what is the
magnitude of the force she exerts on the refrigerator (the
tension)?
We will choose a standard x,y coordinate system.
There are 4 forces in the FBD (Gravity, Normal, Friction, Tension).
FN

y
x

Ff
Fg

FT

Example: Force at Angle

A person is pulling a 150 kg refrigerator across a floor with

k= 0.4 at a constant speed. If she is pulling down at an angle
of = 25 with respect to the horizontal, what is the magnitude
of the force she exerts on the refrigerator (the tension)?
Tension is in both the x and y directions, so we must break it down into

its x and y components.

y
FN

FTcos

Ff
Fg

FTsin

Example: Force at Angle

A person is pulling a 150 kg refrigerator across a floor with

k= 0.4 at a constant speed. If she is pulling down at an angle
of = 25 with respect to the horizontal, what is the
magnitude of the force she exerts on the refrigerator (the
tension)?
Now we will write Newtons Second Law for each direction.
In each direction the acceleration is zero.
x-direction:

FTcos - Ff = 0

FN

FTcos

Ff

F = ma

y-direction:
F = ma

Fg

FTsin

FN - FTsin - Fg = 0

Example: Force at Angle

A person is pulling a 150 kg refrigerator across a floor with

k= 0.4 at a constant speed. If she is pulling down at an angle
of = 25 with respect to the horizontal, what is the magnitude
of the force she exerts on the refrigerator (the tension)?
1. In the first equation, replace F f with *FN.
2. Solve the second equation for F N, and replace Fg with m*g.
3. Now substitute the expression for F N into the first equation and solve.

x-direction

y-direction

combine

FTcos - Ff = 0

FN - FTsin - Fg = 0

FTcos = (FTsin + mg)

FTcos = FN

FN = FTsin + mg

FT = mg / (cos - sin)

Example: Force at Angle

A person is pulling a 150 kg refrigerator across a floor with

k= 0.4 at a constant speed. If she is pulling down at an
angle of = 25 with respect to the horizontal, what is the
magnitude of the force she exerts on the refrigerator (the
tension)?
Finally, substitute in the given numbers! (note: it is usually easier to

wait until the very end to do this)

FT = mg / (cos - sin)

FT = 798 N

Dynamics: F = ma

We have

already dealt with

situations where a = 0.

But

when the net force is not

zero, there IS an acceleration!

Dynamics Example
A tractor is pulling a trailer with a constant acceleration. If
the forward acceleration is 1.5 m/s2, Calculate the force on
the trailer (m = 400 kg) due to the tractor. (Consider just the
trailer.)

FBD:

x-direction:

FN

FT = ma

FT
Fg
y

F = ma
FT = 600 N

y-direction:
F = ma
FN - Fg = 0

FN = 3920 N

FT = 600 N

Apparent Weight

Recall: F = m a
Consider person accelerating in an elevator.

FN

Draw FBD
Apply F = m a
FN mg = ma
FN = m ( g + a )

Fg

Apparent weight is normal

force from scale or floor.

Note: in free fall a = -g so N = 0.

33

Apparent Weight Example

You are standing on a scale inside an elevator. Normally you weigh

600 N, but the scale reads 720 N. What is your acceleration?

First, note that your mass is (600 N)/(9.8 m/s 2) = 61.2 kg.
Second, use: FN = m ( g + a ).

(720 N) = (61.2 kg) ( 9.8 m/s2 + a )

a = +1.96 m/s2

Your acceleration is 1.96 m/s2 UP.

Summary of Concepts

F = m a
Draw Free Body Diagram
Write down equations
Solve

Apparent Weight
If object is accelerating in vertical direction

weight appears different

Accelerating up increases apparent weight
Accelerating down decreases apparent weight