Newton’s Laws

The Study of Dynamics

Isaac Newton Arguably the greatest physical genius

ever. Came up with 3 Laws of Motion to

explain the observations and analyses of Galileo and Johannes Kepler.

Invented Calculus. Published his Laws in 1687 in the book

Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. (the Principia)

What is Force? A force is a push or pull on an

object. Forces cause an object to

accelerate… To speed up To slow down To change direction

Newton’s First Law The Law of Inertia. A body in motion stays in motion at

constant velocity and a body at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force.

(note:)This law is commonly applied to the horizontal component of velocity, which is assumed not to change during the flight of a projectile.

The First Law is Counterintuitive

Aristotle firmly believed this.But Kell Physics students know better!

A force diagram illustrating no net force

A force diagram illustrating no net force

A force diagram illustrating no net force

A force diagram illustrating no net force

Another example illustrating no net force

Newton’s Second Law A body accelerates when acted upon

by a net external force. Net F = ma The acceleration is proportional to

the net force and is in the direction which the net force acts.

In projectiles, this law is commonly applied to the vertical component of velocity.

Newton’s Second Law ∑Fvectors = ma

where ∑F is the net force measured in Newtons (N)

m is mass (kg) a is acceleration (m/s2)

Newton (SI system) 1 N = 1 kg m /s2

1 N is the force required to accelerate a 1 kg mass at a rate of 1 m/s2

Pound (British system) 1 lb = 1 slug ft /s2

Units of force

Newton’s Third Law For every action there exists

an equal and opposite reaction.

If object A exerts a force F on B, then B exerts a force of -F back on A.

This is rocket science.

Flat surfaces – 1 D

N = mg for objects resting on horizontal surfaces.

mg

N

2-Dimensional problem

Larry pushes a 20 kg block on a frictionless floor at a 45o angle below the horizontal with a force of 150 N while Moe pulls the same block horizontally with a force of 120 N.a) What is the acceleration?b) What is the normal force?

20 kgFL FM

FG

N

Step 1: Draw the problem

Larry pushes a 20 kg block on a frictionless floor at a 45o angle below the horizontal with a force of 150 N while Moe pulls the same block horizontally with a force of 120 N. What is acceleration?

Working a Newton’s 2nd Law Problem

20 kgFL FM

Step 2: Diagram

Force diagram

Working a Newton’s 2nd Law Problem

Free Body diagram

20 kgFL FM

FG

N

FL

FM

FG

N

Step 3: Set up equationsF = maFx = max

Fy = may

Working a Newton’s 2nd Law Problem

Always resolve two-dimensional problems into two one-dimensional problems.

Step 4: Substitute Make a list of givens from the word problem.

Substitute in what you know.

Working a Newton’s 2nd Law Problem

Step 5: Solve Plug-n-chug. Calculate your unknowns. Sometimes you’ll need to do

kimematic calculations following the Newton’s 2nd law calculations.

Working a Newton’s 2nd Law Problem

Gravity as an accelerating force

A very commonly used accelerating force is gravity. Here is gravity in action. The acceleration is g.

Gravity as an accelerating force

In the absence of air resistance, gravity acts upon all objects by causing the same acceleration…g.

The pulley lets us use gravity as our accelerating force… but a lot slower than free fall. Acceleration here is a lot lower than g.

Gravity as an accelerating force

The problem of weight

Are weight and mass the same thing?

No. Weight can be defined as the force due to gravitation attraction.

W = mg

Friction The force that opposes a sliding motion.

Enables us to walk, drive a car, etc.

Due to microscopic irregularities in even the smoothest of surfaces.

There are two types of friction

Static frictionexists before sliding occurs

Kinetic frictionexists after sliding occurs

In general fk <= fs

Friction and the Normal Force

The frictional force which exists between two surfaces is directly proportional to the normal force.

That’s why friction on a sloping surface is less than friction on a flat surface.

Static Friction fs sN

fs : static frictional force (N) s: coefficient of static friction

N: normal force (N) Static friction increases as the

force trying to push an object increases… up to a point!

A force diagram illustrating Static Friction

Applied Force

Frictional Force

Normal Force

Gravity

A force diagram illustrating Static Friction

Bigger Frictional Force

Normal Force

Gravity

Bigger Applied Force

A force diagram illustrating Static Friction

Frictional Force

Normal Force

GravityEven Bigger Applied Force

The forces on the book are now UNBALANCED!

Static friction cannot get any larger, and can no longer completely oppose the applied force.

Kinetic Friction fk = kN

fk : kinetic frictional force (N) k: coefficient of kinetic friction N: normal force (N)

Kinetic friction (sliding friction) is generally less than static friction (motionless friction) for most surfaces.